Nicolas Blanchard is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He was selected in the 6th round, 192nd overall, by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Blanchard was signed to a three-year entry level contract with the Hurricanes on March 4, 2007. Blanchard while on the Albany River Rats was involved in a bus crash which took him to hospital in a serious condition and injured five members of the team. Although Blanchard played 9 games with the Hurricanes during the 2012-13 NHL Season, he spent the rest of his career with the organization playing for its AHL affiliate. After the 2013-14 season, Blanchard became an unrestricted free agent and did not re-sign with the team.