Every year since the 2018-2019 season, it’s been the same thing. Alex Barré-Boulet dominates in the American League, but within an organization that aims again and again for the Stanley Cup. The Quebecer therefore sharpens his patience, without having any expectations.
The Press met Barré-Boulet in the Laval Rocket locker room on Sunday afternoon. Do not be afraid ; you haven’t missed a trade in the last few hours. The Quebecer is one of the players invited to the American League All-Star game, which takes place at Place Bell until Monday evening.
“It’s fun! he exclaimed from the outset. My family will be able to be there in the stands. I was able to bring my wife and my guy. We’re three guys from Syracuse and there’s Richy [Anthony Richard]Belgium [Alex Belzile]. These are guys I know well. »
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
Gabriel Dumont, Anthony Richard and Alex Barré-Boulet
Again this season, the native of Montmagny rolls his bump with the Syracuse Crunch. Here he is with 54 points in 41 games, figures that hardly surprise anyone. He is his team’s leading scorer, as he has been most of the time since turning pro in 2018-19.
Over the seasons, Barré-Boulet has had chances in the NHL. In 2020-21, he scored three goals in 15 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Last year, he had three goals and two assists in 17 NHL games (with the Lightning and the Seattle Kraken). This season, he was called up for one game at the end of November, playing just 10 minutes and earning no points.
Since then, he has returned to Syracuse, where he continues to dominate. With the Lightning injury-free, the 25-year-old forward can only wait.
“I have to take care of controlling the things that I can control,” he says when we approach his situation.
They won’t give someone a chance just to give someone a chance if they have a good team. It’s up to me to work hard, to be patient, to control what I can control.
Alex Barre-Boulet
Things to improve
Although Barré-Boulet has already shown much of his know-how in the American League, he still has “some things to improve”. In this sense, this extended time in the circuit is beneficial in that it allows him to refine his game. Question of being even more ready when a new opportunity arises.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
Alex Barré-Boulet during the skills competition organized on the sidelines of the American League All-Star Game
” Whether [le Lightning] doesn’t call me back and finds that I still have things to improve, it’s up to me to work even harder, to be positive to eventually get the call back, ”he says.
It’s a question of details. In the National League, everything is faster. I still have strength and speed to gain. I can make time to do that in Syracuse, so I’ll do it.
Alex Barre-Boulet
Barré-Boulet still has a year and a half left on his three-year contract. As the Crunch has a “good group of guys”, according to the Quebecer, “it’s easy to get motivated and want to play for the guy to the left and right of you in the room”.
To know what his expectations are by the end of his contract, the attacker who will be 26 years old in May offers an affirmation that sounds like a cliché, but which is effective: “I’m going one day at a time”.
“It’s something I learned last year, when I had a few encores and got knocked down a few times. I learned to take it one day at a time so I don’t have expectations. Since doing this, it’s been great. »