Francis Bouillon was recently released by the Montreal Canadiens, as they are trimming down their roster and making room for the younger players. The 38 year old is in a tough spot now, as most rosters are being finalized, and there isn’t much of a market for a veteran blue liner, just yet. But if a team suffers a rash of injuries on their defense squad, then Bouillon may be in luck. If he is still around, that is.
The small defenseman, listed at 5″8 and 198 lbs, but still incredibly strong and always a physical presence, started his junior career back in 1992-93 with the Laval Titan, spending four years with three different teams, but was unable to get noticed by the big leagues. After graduating from the QMJHL, he spent a year in the ECHL with the Wheeling Nailers, then getting up to the IHL in 1997-98. Then in the 1998-99 season, he signed with the Fredericton Canadiens, the former Habs farm team from 1990 up to 1999. He made a huge impact on that team, who was coached by none other then Michel Therrien, leading all defensemen on the “Baby Habs” with 19 goals and 55 points. He made the Habs in the 1999-00 season, and from then on, he was a mainly consistent part of the Habs line-up, save for some time spent in the AHL up until 2003-04, when he was finally recognized as an NHL full timer. He spent the next four seasons with the Habs, and then just before the 2009-10 season started, after being let go by the Habs, he signed with the Nashville Predators, the only other NHL team he played for, with a four game stint with the Preds in 2002-03. He stayed with the Preds for the next three seasons and was let go once again. The Habs picked him up on an one year deal for the 2012-13 season, and his play warranted another one year deal. But at the end of the 2013-14 season, Marc Bergevin stated that they would be parting with Bouillon. They did bring him back on a PTO for the 2013-14 training camp, but he could not stick with the team, and Bergevin made the hard choice of letting him go.
In total, Bouillon spent parts of eleven seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, and he was a dependable defenseman throughout his tenure. His advanced stats were not great, his CF% and FF% in 5 on 5 situation for 2013-14 was a 43.8 and 44.8 rating, respectively, but his career average dating back to 2007-08 was a decent 47.2 and 47.5. For the 2013-14 season, his CF/60 was a 51.6, and his CA/60 was a high 66.2, but his PDO was a nice 98.9. But he was effective defensively, as from 2007-08 he played 419 games and had 398 blocked shots, and 739 hits.
Bouillon was beloved by fans for wearing the Habs crest with so much love and pride. So what’s next for him? Rumor is that he has offers to play in Europe, specifically in a Swiss league. His personality may also make him an attractive target to be an analyst for RDS. This may be a good option for Bouillon, if he does decide to hang up the skates. But if he does still want to play, and what veteran doesn’t want to keep playing, then going to Europe may be his best option, due to teams already locking up roster spots, and it could be a good three to four months until a team is desperate to sign a defenseman if/when they are hit with an injury bug. Whatever Bouillon does decide though, he should know this. Habs fans will always remember him for his consistent, strong, bleeding the Bleu-Blanc et Rouge, and fast play. We wish him the best in future endeavours.
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