Why We Shouldn’t Worry About Zack Bolduc

It’s very clear that Bolduc is a great shooter, but he has lacked consistency in his game since joining the Habs. Oftentimes, Bolduc gets points in bunches before disappearing off the scoresheet for 7-8 games at a time. However, this seems to be a pattern that happens a lot early on when Bolduc starts off with a new team.

Boisvert explained early in his QMJHL career, Bolduc struggled to produce consistently out of the gate during his first two years with the Rimouski Oceanic. Once he was traded to the Quebec Remparts, things started to click quickly, as he would go on to have 2-50 goal seasons before he transitioned to the pro game. His first partial season with the St. Louis Blues was a challenge, as he scored 5 goals and 9 points in 25 games. Meanwhile, his numbers at the AHL show why he needed time to transition, as it took him a while to get going, only scoring 8 goals and 25 points in 50 games with the Springfield Thunderbirds.

After making the Blues straight out of camp during his 2nd pro season last year, he had a pretty slow start to his first full NHL season. Before the 4-Nations break with the Blues, he had just 6 goals and 18 points in 47 games. His pre-tournament numbers were very similar to what he is producing with the Habs this season. In 45 games so far this season, he has scored 10 goals and 17 points.

Following the 4-Nations break was when Bolduc really broke out as a potential top 6 forward. He scored 13 goals and 18 points in the final 24 games of the year. With that being said, it could really be that Bolduc heats up late in the regular season once again and finds his way to scoring his first 20-goal season in the NHL this year.

One thing that will need to happen for Bolduc to get to that stage is that he finds chemistry with some linemates in the very near future, as he’s yet to work well on any line that he has played on. He is now playing with Brendan Gallagher and Phillip Danault, but it’s sadly not looking like a long-term option for the Habs sniper. However, with Kirby Dach, Jake Evans, and Josh Anderson ready to come back to the lineup soon, there may be someone of these guys that he finally clicks with like he did with Brayden Schenn last season, which allowed his game to take off.

According to Snake, his current struggles are not something to worry about, and Bolduc will eventually figure things out in Montreal; whether it’s closer to the end of the season or over the next few games remains to be seen. Bolduc has a great package of physicality and shooting ability, which can make a great player; it’s just a question of whether or not he can put it together.

Has Bolduc’s recent play started to worry you, or are you patient like Snake and believe he will take time before he finds his game consistently with the Habs?