Known for his acrobatic style in the crease, goaltender Rollie Boutin was selected 111th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft from the WCHL's Lethbridge Broncos. Despite the fact Boutin posted a very average 64-64-23 record in junior, scouts were impressed by his knack for making the big save at crucial points throughout the game.
Turning professional in 1977, Boutin appeared in 58 games with the Port Huron Flags of the IHL and played his first two NHL games in 1978-79 with Washington, allowing ten goals against in 90 minutes of action. When the 1979-80 began, Boutin was the number-one goaltender with the AHL's Hershey Bears. At the same time, the Capitals were juggling between Wayne Stephenson, Gary Inness and Jim Bedard, none of whom were able to improve the club's defensive prowess. With Boutin sitting at 11-2, and a strong 2.48 gaa, he received the call to join the Caps. His first game that season was a success, with the Caps recording a 5-4 come-from-behind win over the New York Rangers. The first nine games of the year were great for Boutin, who posted a 6-2-1 record. However, the last six games resulted in a 1-5 mark, giving him a final record of 7-7-1 in 18 games. It was a rollercoaster career, and it was basically all over in the span of 18 games.
Boutin played two more games in a Capitals' uniform in 1980-81, and that was it for his NHL career. A 22-game resume, with an official 7-10-1 record. After brief stopovers in the CHL with Birmingham and Salt Lake, Boutin played his last professional season in 1983-84 as a member of the Binghamton Whalers, starting 45 games.
