Born in Windsor, Ontario, Pat Boutette went the college route, playing his NCAA hockey with the University of Minnesota-Duluth, following a season with the London Knights of the OHA. Boutette was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 9th round of the 1972 NHL Entry Draft (139th overall) and would spend the first two years of his professional career with the organization’s CHL affiliate in Oklahoma City. In 1975-76, he was called up to the big club and skated on a line with Dave “Tiger” Williams and Jack Valiquette.
In his fifth season with the Leafs, Boutette was traded to the Hartford Whalers, a team he would average nearly a point per game with over a season and a half. Following the 1980-81 season, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins where he would spend the next four seasons before returning to Hartford for a brief stint. Boutette retired in 1985 and finished his NHL career with 756 regular season games played, scoring 171 goals and adding 282 assists for 453 points.
