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Syracuse Crunch head coach Joel Bouchard will take on additional responsibilities as he has been named the general manager of the team. The announcement was made by the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning, the parent club of the Crunch, on Monday (July 7). Bouchard, who joined the Crunch in 2023, has led the team to consecutive appearances in the American Hockey League (AHL) playoffs, including reaching the North Division Finals in 2024.
Bouchard, 51, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. Before coaching, he played over 360 games in the NHL with teams such as Calgary, Nashville, and the New York Rangers. As a coach, he has overseen 386 AHL games, achieving a record of 187-147-30-22. Prior to joining the Crunch, Bouchard served as the general manager and head coach of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), where he led the team to significant success.
According to the AHL, Bouchard also managed the Canadian National Junior Team, assembling rosters that won a gold medal at the 2018 World Junior Championship and a silver medal in 2017.
As the new general manager, Bouchard will continue to serve as head coach, balancing both roles as the Crunch prepare for the upcoming season. Syracuse Crunch fans will be eager to see how Bouchard's leadership will shape the team's future success.