Eric Boulton

Eric Boulton
Eric Boulton
	Boulton with the Atlanta Thrashers in April 2010
Born	August 17, 1976 (age 47); Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Buffalo Sabres; Atlanta Thrashers; New Jersey Devils; New York Islanders
NHL draft	234th overall, 1994; New York Rangers
Playing career	1996–2017

Eric Boulton (born August 17, 1976) is a

enforcer

.

Playing career

Boulton was drafted in the ninth round, 234th overall by the

2004 NHL Lockout, he played for the Columbia Inferno of the ECHL. After the Lockout ended, Boulton began playing with the Atlanta Thrashers

.

In October 2005, Boulton was suspended for six games after elbowing Tampa Bay Lightning rookie Paul Ranger, causing a hairline fracture of the jaw and a concussion.^[1] The incident occurred at the end of a 6–0 rout of the Thrashers on October 20, 2005. NHL vice-president Colin Campbell said, "It is clear Mr. Boulton's actions were careless and caused injury. There is no circumstance that can justify this type of action." Only a week earlier, Boulton had made a similar move in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, almost injuring Eric Lindros.

Boulton was re-signed by the Thrashers in 2008 to a two-year deal. He recorded his first career

hat trick on December 18, 2010, against the New Jersey Devils. He then signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Devils for a 2-year contract worth $575,000 in the first year and $750,000 in the second, joining former Thrashers teammates Ilya Kovalchuk and Johan Hedberg.^[2] After a dismal season in which the Devils did not record a single goal for with Boulton on the ice, Boulton was bought out of the final year of his contract on June 30, 2012. The next day, Boulton proceeded to sign a one-year deal with the New York Islanders.^[3] He re-signed with the Islanders for the next three consecutive seasons as well, all on one-year deals.^[4]

Boulton is the Thrashers' all-time leader in penalty minutes with 639 penalty minutes.

After the

2016–17 season, Boulton ended his professional career, however continued his association with the Islanders in accepting a scouting role.^[5]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

			Regular season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1993–94	Oshawa Generals	OHL	45	4	3	7	149	5	0	0	0	16
1994–95	Oshawa Generals	OHL	27	7	5	12	125	—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Sarnia Sting	OHL	24	3	7	10	134	4	0	1	1	10
1995–96	Sarnia Sting	OHL	66	14	29	43	243	9	0	3	3	29
1996–97	Charlotte Checkers	ECHL	44	14	11	25	325	3	0	1	1	6
1996–97	Binghamton Rangers	AHL	23	2	3	5	67	3	0	0	0	4
1997–98	Charlotte Checkers	ECHL	53	11	16	27	202	4	1	0	1	0
1997–98	Fort Wayne Komets	IHL	8	0	2	2	42	—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Kentucky Thoroughblades	AHL	34	3	3	6	154	10	0	1	1	36
1998–99	Florida Everblades	ECHL	26	9	13	22	143	—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Houston Aeros	IHL	7	1	0	1	41	—	—	—	—	—
1999–00	Rochester Americans	AHL	76	2	2	4	276	18	2	1	3	53
2000–01	Buffalo Sabres	NHL	35	1	2	3	94	—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Buffalo Sabres	NHL	35	2	3	5	129	—	—	—	—	—
2002–03	Buffalo Sabres	NHL	58	1	5	6	178	—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Buffalo Sabres	NHL	44	1	2	3	110	—	—	—	—	—
2004–05	Columbia Inferno	ECHL	48	23	16	39	124	4	2	3	5	8
2005–06	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL	51	4	5	9	87	—	—	—	—	—
2006–07	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL	45	3	4	7	49	4	0	0	0	24
2007–08	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL	74	4	5	9	127	—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL	76	3	10	13	176	—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL	62	2	6	8	113	—	—	—	—	—
2010–11	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL	69	6	4	10	87	—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	New Jersey Devils	NHL	51	0	0	0	115	—	—	—	—	—
2011–12	Albany Devils	AHL	2	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	New York Islanders	NHL	15	0	0	0	36	—	—	—	—	—
2013–14	New York Islanders	NHL	23	2	2	4	88	—	—	—	—	—
2014–15	New York Islanders	NHL	10	2	0	2	30	—	—	—	—	—
2015–16	New York Islanders	NHL	6	0	0	0	2	—	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Bridgeport Sound Tigers	AHL	2	0	1	1	0	—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals			654	31	48	79	1421	4	0	0	0	24