Newly acquired forward Zachary Bolduc has finally arrived in Montreal. He has be seen practicing with teammates last week for the first time since being traded. Bolduc was acquired by the Canadiens on July 1st in exchange for defensive prospect Logan Mailloux. While Mailloux has top-four potential, Montreal seems to think that Bolduc can be an even more valuable piece to the team’s future. Let’s analyze his potential and project the first season in Montreal for newcomer Zachary Bolduc.
Analyzing Montreal Canadiens Zachary Bolduc Starting With The Trade
Trading Bolduc for Mailloux was a no-brainer for Montreal. The team has an abundance of defencemen on the roster, as well as in their system. Noah Dobson, who was just acquired, created a logjam on the right side. Furthermore, former fifth-overall pick David Reinbacher will also be vying for a role on the team. With players like Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble also in the mix, trading Mailloux was from a position of strength.
Adding Bolduc gives Montreal a much-needed offensive boost. He posted 19 goals and 36 points during his rookie season in only 72 games. His play elevated as the season progressed, and we saw what he can bring to a team’s lineup. He brings some grit and physicality, as well as finishing ability. While he doesn’t fill the centre void for the Canadiens, Zachary Bolduc adds value to the team’s top-nine forward group now, and in the future.
Where He Fits in the Lineup
It’s unclear exactly where and who Bolduc will play with to begin the season. People have suggested he could play down the middle, but even Bolduc himself has admitted it’s not a position that he has played since his youth, so that seems unlikely. The more plausible solution is that we see Bolduc slot somewhere on the wing in the top nine. He should also receive time on the second power play unit. The first unit is pretty much set in stone. Therefore, it’s unlikely Bolduc finds his way into that group, despite his previous success on the St. Louis power play. Still, he should be able to find some offence on a much-improved second unit that will likely feature Kirby Dach, Patrik Laine, and Dobson.
We know that rookie Ivan Demidov will be a fixture on the team’s second line. If healthy, Dach should be his centreman, at least to begin the season. This will leave an internal battle between Laine and Zach Bolduc for the final spot on that line. Both can bring different elements to the line. Laine brings pure offence and an elite sniper for Demidov and Dach. However, his defensive game left much to be desired last year, and pairing him with a rookie and Dach, who had his own defensive struggles, could be a recipe for disaster. However, if put in a role with mostly offensive starts, the trio could find success. Bolduc seems like a better fit as he brings scoring touch as well. However, he adds more defensive responsibility and is a great fit on the line. It will be interesting to see who starts in that role. For Montreal, it’s nice to have options moving forward.
Bolduc’s Potential for the Canadiens
Bolduc is only 22 years old and won’t turn 23 until February. He fits right into the age group of Montreal’s young core. Bolduc almost hit twenty goals and forty points in his rookie year and only got better down the stretch. The young forward has the potential to be a key piece for Montreal now and in the future. He brings a new element to the Canadiens’ lineup, adding some much-needed physicality to the team’s top nine. Bolduc has the potential to be similarly effective as a player like Sam Bennett or Tom Wilson. He doesn’t bring quite the same physicality as those two, but he has a bit more offensive potential. The Quebec native should be a vital piece for the Canadiens moving forward. It should be a fun season for Bolduc and the Canadiens as a whole.
Main Photo Credit: Jeff Le – Imagn Images
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