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Zachary Bolduc Starting to Make Waves With the Canadiens

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Old Prof | Last updated Dec 19, 2025 3:52 PM ET

Sometimes a player just sort of slides into your lineup without making a fuss. That’s been Zachary Bolduc this season with the Montreal Canadiens. He didn’t come in with much noise, or didn’t get packaged as a “thing.” He just played, kept playing, and didn’t give the coaches a reason to take him out of the lineup. Somewhere along the line — and it’s hard to say exactly when — he stopped feeling temporary.

Here are three reasons why Bolduc has become a go-to player with the Canadiens.

Reason 1. Bolduc Doesn’t Vanish When Things Go Quiet

Every young player hits a stretch where the puck stops following them around. Bolduc hit that wall in November. The goals dried up. The points disappeared. And that’s usually where you learn what kind of player someone is.

Bolduc didn’t sulk, didn’t drift, didn’t start cheating for offence. He kept throwing hits, kept shooting, and kept going to the hard areas where you don’t get rewarded right away. That matters. Coaches notice who still plays the right way when the box score isn’t cooperating.

A lot of rookies need production to feel useful. Bolduc doesn’t. That’s a big deal in Montreal, where patience is thin and the spotlight never really turns off.

Reason 2. Bolduc Fits With Skill Without Losing Himself

When Bolduc was bumped up to play with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, he didn’t suddenly try to become something he isn’t. He didn’t overhandle the puck. He didn’t float around waiting for tap-ins.

Bolduc went to the net, got his stick free, and timed his routes. He did the work that keeps skilled players skilled. That’s how you earn repeat invitations to the top six instead of a one-week experiment.

The goals he scores tell the story, too. Tips. Rebounds. Slot shots. Not many freebies. Those are “I’m here to stay” goals, not “look what I can do” goals.

Reason 3. Bolduc Is Learning the Canadiens’ Way

Montreal has always loved players who show it rather than say it. Bolduc fits. He blocks shots and finishes checks. He plays through mistakes without theatrics. You don’t see him begging for ice time or looking rattled after a bad shift.

Over time, that stuff builds trust. Trust turns into responsibility. Responsibility turns into identity. Bolduc isn’t a star yet. Maybe he never becomes one. But he’s becoming something else just as valuable — a player you pencil into the lineup without thinking, because you know what you’re getting.

And for a 22-year-old still figuring out the league, that’s how real Canadiens careers begin.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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