Bouchard's NHL out-clause in his one-year contract with EV Zug allowed the unrestricted free agent (UFA) to sign with another NHL team until July 15. This deadline has expired last night, without success. The former first-round pick is expected to arrive in Zug in the last week of July.
So far, the 30-year-old Canadian winger scored 114 goals and added 251 assists in more than 600 NHL games. Eleven seasons had been under contract with the Minnesota Wild, who drafted him 8th overall in 2002. From 2005, Bouchard posted between 57 and 63 points over three seasons until he suffered a severe concussion in 2009 and missed the whole season 2009/10.
Since then, Bouchard hasn’t played a full NHL season, suffering another concussion in 2011. A year ago he moved on to the New York Islanders, where he played only 28 games (4 goals, 5 assists) before getting sent down to the Bridgeport Soundtigers in the AHL. Finally, he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, suiting up only for their AHL affiliate Rockford IceHogs.
