Francis Bouillon

Francis Joseph Bouillon (born October 17, 1975) is an American-Canadian former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Montreal Canadiens and Nashville Predators. He also played a season for HC Ambrì-Piotta in the National League A (NLA), the top-tier league in Switzerland. He is currently a Development Coach for the Montreal Canadiens.[1]

Francis Bouillon
Bouillon playing for the Montreal Canadiens in 2014
Born (1975-10-17) October 17, 1975
New York City, New York, U.S.
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight 200 lb (91 kg; 14 st 4 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Left
Played for Montreal Canadiens
Nashville Predators
Leksands IF
HC Ambrì-Piotta
National team  United States
NHL Draft Undrafted
Playing career 1996–2015

Early life

Bouillon was born in New York City to a Haitian father and a French Canadian mother. Bouillon moved to Quebec City, Quebec with his mother when he was only 3 years old.[2] He played Junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Laval Titans and the Granby Predateurs. He was Granby's captain when they won the 1996 Memorial Cup.

Playing career

Francis made his professional debut the 1996–97 season in the ECHL with the Wheeling Nailers and played the following season in the IHL with the Quebec Rafales before he was signed as a free agent to an NHL contract by the Montreal Canadiens in 1998.

He played the next 11 seasons, the majority of his career (except for a short stint with the Predators in 2002–03) within the Canadiens organization. At 5'8" and 194 lbs,[3] Bouillon is considered small for an NHL defenseman but is never one to shy away from physical play. According to Pierre Houde, he is one of the strongest players in the NHL, according to official physical tests.

On September 30, 2009, just prior to the 2009–10 season, Bouillon was signed to a one-year contract as a late inclusion to the Nashville Predators after joining the team on a tryout for training camp.[4] In returning to the Predators after an initial four-game stint in 2002, Bouillon established himself within the Predators defense as a stay-at-home defenseman to appear in 81 games, missing only a single game, for 3 goals and 11 points. On June 18, 2010, he signed a two-year extension to remain with the Predators.[5]

On July 1, 2012, Bouillon signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million with the Montreal Canadiens. His play during that season earned him a one-year extension with the team. Following the 2013–14 season, the Canadiens declined to offer Bouillon a contract and on July 1, 2014, he became an unrestricted free agent. Bouillon attended the Canadiens' training camp for the 2014–15 season on a tryout, but was released by the team on October 6, 2014.[6] On October 14, 2014, he signed with HC Ambrì-Piotta in the Swiss National League A.[7]

He announced his retirement on September 25, 2015.[8]

Personal life

Francis is separated from his wife Ginette with whom he has two sons, Michael and Anthony.[9] Bouillon resides in Montreal with his girlfriend.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1992–93Laval TitanQMJHL4607745—————
1993–94Laval TitanQMJHL6831518129—————
1994–95Laval Titan Collège FrançaisQMJHL7282533115203111421
1995–96Granby PredateursQMJHL68113546156212121430
1996–97Wheeling NailersECHL6910324277302210
1997–98Quebec RafalesIHL718273576—————
1998–99Fredericton CanadiensAHL7919355417452130
1999–00Montreal CanadiensNHL743131638—————
2000–01Quebec CitadellesAHL40000—————
2000–01Montreal CanadiensNHL2906626—————
2001–02Quebec CitadellesAHL388142230—————
2001–02Montreal CanadiensNHL2805533—————
2002–03Nashville PredatorsNHL40002—————
2002–03Hamilton BulldogsAHL291121331—————
2002–03Montreal CanadiensNHL203142—————
2003–04Montreal CanadiensNHL732161870110007
2004–05Leksands IFAllsv216121834—————
2005–06Montreal CanadiensNHL673192234612310
2006–07Montreal CanadiensNHL623111452—————
2007–08Montreal CanadiensNHL742686171234
2008–09Montreal CanadiensNHL545495310000
2009–10Nashville PredatorsNHL8138115060006
2010–11Nashville PredatorsNHL44191027—————
2011–12Nashville PredatorsNHL66471133100332
2012–13Montreal CanadiensNHL4818921500017
2013–14Montreal CanadiensNHL522463492024
2014–15HC Ambrì-PiottaNLA310111130—————
NHL totals 776 32 117 149 536 55 4 7 11 50

International
Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2003 United States WC 13th 6 0 1 1 0
Senior totals 6 0 1 1 0
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See also
  • List of Black ice hockey players

References
  1. "Canadiens name Francis Bouillon player development coach". Sportsnet. July 5, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  2. "Francis Bouillon signs on for extra year". CTV Montreal. March 21, 2013. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
  3. "Francis Bouillon player page". National Hockey League. January 2, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  4. Labbé, Richard (September 21, 2009). "Bouillon à Nashville pour moins d'argent" [Bouillon to Nashville for less money]. cyberpresse.ca (in French). Archived from the original on September 24, 2009. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
  5. "Predators sign Bouillon to 2-year deal". Nashville Predators. June 18, 2010. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
  6. "Canadiens release defence veteran Francis Bouillon after pro tryout". Globe and Mail. Canadian Press. October 6, 2014.
  7. "Free Agetn Bouillon signs in Switzerland". rds.ca (in French). October 14, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  8. "Former Canadiens, Predators defenceman Bouillon retires". ctvnews.ca. September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  9. "Predators 2010 media guide" (PDF). Nashville Predators. February 3, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
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