Could the Bruins be signing Francis Bouillon?

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Aug 29, 2009 2:51 PM EDT

CKAC, a French language sports radio station in Montreal, is reporting that the Bruins are close to signing defenseman Francis Bouillon. Bouillon has spent his entire 9 season NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens aside from a 4 game stint with the Nashville Predators in 2002. The 5'8", 200 lb blue-liner has recorded 102 points (21-81-102) in 485 career NHL games with a lifetime +/- of minus-24. If Bouillon is signed by the B's, he will likely be a 3rd pairing or depth defensman. Although Bouillon is under-sized, he is not afraid to play physical. According to those who have seen him play on a regular basis, he is like Rudy on skates. One poster on HFBoards described Bouillon as " big heart, small talent". The scouting report on Bouillon seems to be that is a decent puck handler, who can log a lot of time, but has some trouble in his own end of the rink, especially moving big forwards out from in front of the net. Perhaps Francis Bouillon was another casualty of the Habs' new policy of no forwards over the height of 5'9" and no defenseman under 6'4". The New York Rangers have also been rumored to be suitors for the free agent defenseman's services.

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Hopefully this is true

Bouillon was one of the few Habs that I respected. The guy has tons of heart and is actually a pretty decent fighter.

If this signing happens I wonder if it means the B’s will be trading away another defenseman soon?

Go Leafs and Bruins!

www.mma-elite.com

by Brad Ackerson on Aug 29, 2009 4:16 PM EDT reply actions

I doubt that a defenseman would get moved. You can never have enough depth at D. Right now the B’s only have 6 defensemen with solid NHL experience.

Go Leafs and Bruins? Huh? Not sure I can support that kind of intra-division hockey polygamy.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Serving of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Aug 29, 2009 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm iffy on the signing

Don’t get me wrong he does have great heart, but I can’t see trading away what we have to make room for him. The odd man out in my eyes would be Ference, who in my eyes is better then Bouillon. The B’s top four will be Chara, Wideman, Hunwick, and Morris. Stuart and Ference are left. Stuart is young and developing into a solid defensive D-man,and has shown great durability and production in his career so far (played all 164 games in last two seasons, was +22, with 25 pts.) Andrew Ference and Bouillon are comparable in stats, but I feel you could get Boullion for cheaper then the 1.4Mil owed to Ference this season. Ference, however, has really bought into the Claude Julien system and has had great presence to the Bruins when healthy. If he can be had cheaply, though, Bouillon would make a great 7th D-Man. Right now that position is held by Boychuck,who has talent but little experience. Throughout the season our defense will get banged up and we need solid veteran fill-ins. Bouillon would be perfect in that spot if cheap enough

by Dangles-McDonnybrook on Aug 29, 2009 5:59 PM EDT reply actions

great presence to the Bruins when healthy

That’s the key. "When healthy". He never seems to be able to stay healthy and I’m not sold on him even when he is 100%. He is too much of a tweener. He moves the puck OK but not great and is too undersized to be a real physical presence.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Serving of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Aug 29, 2009 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions

So gets traded now?

by Eric B on Aug 29, 2009 7:22 PM EDT reply actions

I mean who gets traded now.

by Eric B on Aug 29, 2009 7:23 PM EDT reply actions

What...

anybody remember this…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDP5EN9fnrY

His injury last year came from a slapshot from the blueline that happened to nail him near the ankle.
He isnt like a Ward who aimlessly and awkwardly hits someone and goes down.
Ference does what he has to do for the team even if it causes injury…give him that much.

by cafua's b's on Aug 29, 2009 8:16 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, his leg broke, he got up and killed the penalty, then went off. SCoC just doesn’t like andy for some reason.

Also, if you click the “Reply” button under a post you can reply directly to it and it keeps conversations nicely organized.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Aug 30, 2009 8:01 AM EDT up reply actions

That was a pretty rare occurance. I’m surprised you didn’t post his little slap and tickle fight with Sidney Crosby.

Stanley Cup of Chowder: A Hearty Serving of Hockey in The Hub

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Aug 30, 2009 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions

“Bullion? Like those little cubes you put in water to make soup?”

This guy sucks. I wish management would stop screwing around with B-list defencement and start signing some damn goal scorers……(kessel ::cough cough::)

by delta on Sep 1, 2009 7:39 AM EDT via mobile reply actions