Boucher strives to get healthy, have chance to make Senators roster

OTTAWA --Tyler Boucher just wants to play a full season of professional hockey, and if it happens with the Ottawa Senators, so much the better.

"I've been waiting for it my whole life," the 20-year-old forward said at Senators development camp earlier this month. "Whether that's in Belleville (of the American Hockey League) or with the Senators, it doesn't matter to me. I'm going to have the same approach. I've got a great support group here with both clubs. I know they'll take care of me."

Before that happens, Boucher, selected by Ottawa with the No. 10 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, must recover from a shoulder injury that limited him to 21 games with Ottawa of the Ontario Hockey League last season. He was not able to fully participate in development camp, avoiding all contact drills and mini-games, but he vows to be ready for rookie camp in September.

"It doesn't mean I'm not skating," said Boucher, the son of former NHL goalie Brian Boucher. "I think I just skated for two hours there. I think just taking it slow, making sure we do it right, that's kind of the plan we've had, and making sure there's no hiccups come training camp. It feels great, it feels strong and I feel confident.

"I feel like I'm in a great spot. The staff here are unbelievable, and they're taking care of me every day. I've been here for about two months now, so it's kind of just a day-to-day process."

The Senators understand the importance of Boucher playing games; he has fallen far behind in that category since being drafted. Due to suspensions and injuries, he was limited to 45 games over two OHL seasons after leaving Boston University in late 2021. That's part of the reason Ottawa convinced him to opt for surgery when he reinjured his shoulder in early March. Each sides must think long term.

Last week, Senators general manager Pierre Dorion told TSN 1200 he ran into Boucher's father in Las Vegas during the Stanley Cup Final.

"We ended up talking, (Boucher's) dad and I," Dorion said. "And I said, 'You know what? Your son's going to be a really good NHL player. He just needs a bit of time, but he needs to play. The best thing for him would be to play however many games there are in Belleville, play that amount. And if by Christmas time, he's pushing us to call him up, so be it. Or if it's a year in Belleville, it's not the end of the world.' "

At development camp, Dorion said Boucher was already back to shooting the puck as hard as he was before the surgery.

"We've always done it right with our prospects, not pushing them, developing them the right way," Dorion said. "And I think with Tyler, with his power game and all the attributes he brings, just play. Just play."