Barre-Boulet Breaks Syracuse Crunch Franchise Goals Record and Closes In On Two More

Apr 15, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Alex Barre-Boulet (60) shoots against the Florida Panthers during the first period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Alex Barre-Boulet (60) shoots against the Florida Panthers during the first period at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Barre-Boulet scored goal number 108 of his Syracuse Crunch career against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) Saturday night, surpassing Mark Hartigan (2003-07) to become the franchise leader in goals scored.

The record-setting, and important game-tying, goal came off a redirect of an initial shot by Sean Day.

Barre-Boulet had also scored the record-tying goal earlier in the game.

With the two-goal night, Barre-Boulet completed his season of re-writing the Crunch’s record books for individual career scoring records after previously moving into the top spots for assists and points.

With six games left, and the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs around the corner, Barre-Boulet is still chasing Crunch franchise records.

The team was back on the ice Sunday afternoon facing the Utica Comets (NJD), and Barre-Boulet’s two-assist performance increased his season assist total to 55 and put him in striking distance of former Crunch forward Bill Bowler’s tally of 58 assists in 2000-01 for the most in a season.

However, a larger achievement looms for Barre-Boulet as Carter Verhaeghe’s team record of 82 points in a season (2018-19) is also within reach. Currently at 78 points, he only needs five points in six games — not a tall order for the forward averaging 1.24 points per game.

Through all the success, Barre-Boulet has been a polarizing prospect since signing with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018. After immediately scoring 34 goals and 68 points on his way to winning AHL Rookie of the Year his first season, he has so far been unsuccessful in carving out a spot in the NHL.

Now 25, and soon to be 26 in May, Barre-Boulet’s time of being considered a prospect is nearing the end, and already gone in the eyes of some. However, Darren Raddysh, 27, has proven over the past month that age is not a deciding factor as he played his way into a regular defense role on the Lightning after having the best AHL season of his career — something ABB will try to emulate.

Barre-Boulet is signed for one more season with the Lightning before he becomes a UFA.