Former NHL head coach Guy Boucher announced Wednesday that he won't be renewing his contract with SC Bern of the Swiss National League A, indicating that he's North America-bound in 2016-17.
"The decision to return to North America at the end of the season is a big relief for me," Boucher said in a release announcing the move, via Swiss Hockey News. "It has been a process within my family over a couple of months. The decision has nothing to do with SCB, where I feel very comfortable, nor with other professional perspectives."
The 44-year-old Boucher spent about two and a half seasons behind the bench for the Tampa Bay Lightning between 2010 and 2013. He joined SC Bern in Jan. 2014 and turned the franchise's fortunes around immediately, helming them to a semifinals berth last season. He currently has the team in fifth-place through 19 games this year.
Boucher was said to have been close to taking the Toronto Maple Leafs gig this offseason before Mike Babcock swooped in at the last moment. It wasn't the first time he's been mentioned in conjunction with an NHL opening and with his pending move, it almost assuredly won't be the last.
Because while Boucher may have cited family concerns in his decision to return to North America, it's almost certainly based on his desire to return to the head coaching ranks in the NHL.
