Pierre-Marc Bouchard

Template:Short description Template:Infobox ice hockey player Pierre-Marc Bouchard (born April 27, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Bouchard played his junior hockey with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), and is the older brother of François Bouchard. Bouchard was selected eighth overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild and also played with the New York Islanders. He is the cousin of P. A. Parenteau.

Playing career

As a youth, Bouchard played in the 1998 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the College-Français Rive-Sud minor ice hockey team from South Shore, Montreal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Bouchard appeared in professional play for the first time in the 2002–03 NHL season in which he posted 7 goals and 13 assists for a total of 20 points in 50 games for the Minnesota Wild. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, he played for the Wild's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Houston Aeros. Within this time period, Bouchard vastly improved his game. This was proved in the 2005–06 NHL season, where he posted 17 goals and 42 assists for 59 points in 80 games.Template:Citation needed

During his career, Bouchard was regarded as a creative playmaker and strong team player who often attempted unorthodox techniques during play. An example of one of these techniques was performed during an overtime shootout attempt in which he converted by utilizing a variation of a "spin-o-rama" against Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin. He repeated this move several years later, again against Khabibulin, though he did so during regulation play on a breakaway, rather than during an overtime shootout attempt.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bouchard later credited the move to his younger brother François Bouchard.Template:Citation needed

On July 25, 2008, Bouchard signed a five-year, $20.4 million contract with the Wild.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After suffering a hit to the head late in the 2008–09 season, Bouchard missed the rest of that season and all but the season opener of the 2009–10 season with post-concussion syndrome. Bouchard resumed play on December 1, 2010, against the Phoenix Coyotes after a 13-month absence, having missed 112 games. Bouchard scored a goal in his second game back, a 3–2 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames.<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore </ref>

On July 5, 2013, Bouchard signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the New York Islanders. On February 6, 2014, he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks (along with Peter Regin) in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, and was assigned to the Blackhawks' AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On July 8, 2014, Bouchard signed a one-year contract with Swiss club EV Zug of the National League A (NLA). The contract also included an NHL out clause if he could reach a deal with a club prior to July 15.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In his debut season with Zug in 2014–15, Bouchard's transition was seamless in producing as their top-line centre with 51 points in 49 games. On December 23, 2014, he signed a two-year contract extension with Zug.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Team captains and coaches of the NLA teams voted Bouchard MVP of the 2015–16 regular season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On March 18, 2016, Bouchard announced his retirement from professional hockey. Bouchard, who missed more than a year with concussions during his career, commented on his decision, saying he did not want to risk any further health issues.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1999–2000	Collège Charles-Lemoyne	QMAAA		42	28	45	73	20		9	4	8	12	6
2000–01	Chicoutimi Saguenéens	QMJHL		67	38	57	95	20		6	5	8	13	0
2001–02	Chicoutimi Saguenéens	QMJHL		69	46	94	140	54		4	2	3	5	4
2002–03	Minnesota Wild	NHL		50	7	13	20	18		5	0	1	1	2
2003–04	Minnesota Wild	NHL		61	4	18	22	22		—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Houston Aeros	AHL		67	12	42	54	46		5	0	1	1	0
2005–06	Minnesota Wild	NHL		80	17	42	59	28		—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Minnesota Wild	NHL		82	20	37	57	14		5	1	1	2	0
2007–08	Minnesota Wild	NHL		81	13	50	63	34		6	2	2	4	2
2008–09	Minnesota Wild	NHL		71	16	30	46	20		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Minnesota Wild	NHL		1	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Minnesota Wild	NHL		59	12	26	38	14		—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Minnesota Wild	NHL		37	9	13	22	18		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Minnesota Wild	NHL		43	8	12	20	8		5	1	1	2	0
2013–14	New York Islanders	NHL		28	4	5	9	12		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Bridgeport Sound Tigers	AHL		20	6	11	17	4		—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	Rockford IceHogs	AHL		24	3	17	20	10		—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	EV Zug	NLA		49	17	34	51	16		6	3	2	5	0
2015–16	EV Zug	NLA		49	12	55	67	20		4	3	2	5	14
NHL totals				593	110	246	356	190		21	4	5	9	4

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2001	Canada Quebec	U17		4	0	1	1	2
2002	Canada	WJC18		8	4	8	12	16
2003	Canada	WJC		6	2	3	5	2
Junior totals				18	6	12	18	20

Awards

• CHL Player of the Year – 2001–02
• NHL YoungStars Game – 2004
• NLA top scorer – 2015–16<ref>2015-16 NLA MVP of the regular season</ref>

External links

• Template:Ice hockey stats