Emile ‘Butch’ Bouchard got it all throughout his hockey career. Well, except for the Norris Trophy as top defenseman but the award wasn’t first presented until the twilight of Bouchard’s career. Stanley Cups, All-Star selections, Hockey Hall of Fame induction, number retirement and even a trophy named after him in the QMJHL. Those honours and more represent Bouchard’s life in hockey.
Butch Bouchard – Junior and Minor Pro
Bouchard played junior hockey in the QJAHA with the Verdun Maple Leafs from 1937-38 to 1939-40 and with the Montreal Junior Canadiens in 1940-41. In his first season with Verdun, the Maple Leafs won the league title with a victory over the Montreal Victorias. Verdun then beat the Quebec Castors for the Quebec junior hockey championship. At the Eastern Canada Memorial Cup semi-finals, the Maple Leafs fell to the Perth Blue Wings.
Butch Bouchard Collection
In his second year, Verdun once again won the QJAHA title over the Montreal Junior Canadiens. The Quebec Castors once again fell victim to the Maple Leafs for the Quebec championship. Verdun went as far as the Eastern Canada Memorial Cup finals before losing out to the Oshawa Generals.
In 1940-41, while still a junior with the Montreal Junior Canadiens, Butch saw his first pro hockey action. Bouchard appeared in nine regular season American Hockey League games with the Providence Reds. He also appeared in four Calder Cup playoffs games with the Reds losing to the Cleveland Barons in the opening round.
Providence finished first overall and first in the East Division. In the backwards playoff format of the AHL at the time, their opening round opponent Cleveland Barons finished first in the West Division. That series featured a brotherly coaching duo with Bun Cook coaching the Reds and Bill Cook coaching the Barons.
Butch Bouchard – NHL
Bouchard played 785 regular season games in the National Hockey League between 1941-42 and 1955-56. Over the time, the defenseman scored 49 goals and assisted on 145 for 194 points. His entire NHL career was played with the Montreal Canadiens.
In the Stanley Cup playoffs, Butch added eleven goals and 21 assists. Over 15 seasons, he played in the Stanley Cup finals nine times. Bouchard was part of four Stanley Cup championship teams in Montreal: 1943-44 over the Chicago Blackhawks, 1945-46 and 1952-53 over the Boston Bruins, along with 1955-56 over the Detroit Red Wings. The Canadiens were finalists in 1946-47 (vs. Toronto), 1950-51 (vs. Toronto), 1951-52 (vs. Detroit), 1953-54 (vs. Detroit) and 1954-55 (vs. Detroit).
Bouchard was team captain for the Habs from 1948-49 to 1955-56. He replaced Toe Blake and was replaced by Doug Harvey. Butch was a First Team All-Star in 1944-45, 1945-46 and 1946-47. He was a Second Team All-Star in 1943-44.
Butch was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966, along with Max Bentley, Frank Brimsek, Ted Kennedy, Elmer Lach, Ted Lindsay, Babe Pratt and Ken Reardon. In 2009, the Canadiens retired number 3 in honour of Bouchard. In the same year, he was given the Order of Canada. Since 1975-76, the Emile Bouchard Trophy has been handed out to the top defenseman in the QMJHL.
Butch Bouchard – Rookie Card
The Butch Bouchard rookie card appears as number 3 in the 1951-52 Parkhurst set. The card shows him with the Montreal Canadiens and is valued at more than three times that of a common card.
His 1954-55 Parkhurst card refers to his restaurant business. In fact, Bouchard had a popular restaurant named ‘Chez Butch Bouchard’. That card also refers to the fact that his 31 points over 92 Stanley Cup playoff games makes him the NHL’s all-time leader for blue liners. With one additional point, he still sits 112th overall, tied with Andre Dupont, Patrice Brisebois, Mike O’Connell, Dallas Smith and Dennis Wideman.
| Season | Team | Lge | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1940-41 | Providence Reds | AHL | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| 1941-42 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 44 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 38 |
| 1942-43 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 45 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 47 |
| 1943-44 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 39 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 52 |
| 1944-45 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 50 | 11 | 23 | 34 | 34 |
| 1945-46 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 45 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 52 |
| 1946-47 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 60 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 60 |
| 1947-48 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 60 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 78 |
| 1948-49 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 27 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 42 |
| 1949-50 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 69 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 88 |
| 1950-51 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 52 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 80 |
| 1951-52 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 60 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 45 |
| 1952-53 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 58 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 55 |
| 1953-54 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 70 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 89 |
| 1954-55 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 70 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 81 |
| 1955-56 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| NHL Totals | 785 | 49 | 145 | 194 | 863 |