Now that the Montreal Canadiens have acquired forward Zachary Bolduc in exchange for defenceman Logan Mailloux, it’s time to take a look at what the newest member of the organization is expected to bring to the table.
ON TOPIC: Canadiens Trade Defenceman Mailloux To St-Louis Blues
Salary Cap Implications
Bolduc is on the final year of his entry-level contract, which means he should provide the Canadiens with great value in 2025-26. The other side of the coin is that he will require a raise next season, as he’s set for a significant raise due to his impressive production. The concern about the cost of his raise should be mitigated slightly by the fact that the NHL’s salary cap is on an upward trajectory.
Bolduc Impact On The Ice
With 19 goals and 17 assists in 72 games last year, the 22-year-old enjoyed a fantastic year from an offensive standpoint, especially when we consider 12 of those goals were scored at even-strength.
On that note, he also made a positive impact on St-Louis’ powerplay, as evidenced by his Evolving Hockey player card embedded below. His versatility should serve him well, not to mention provide head coach Martin St-Louis with a few more options as he assembles his lineup.
Bolduc can, and probably should be used in the top six, and it’s not a matter of being hypnotized by the new shiny toy. His defensive prowess is excellent, which means St-Louis should have no problems trusting Bolduc in high-pressure situations.
Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks
I’m sure some will lament the loss of Mailloux, but Kent Hughes traded an AHL defenceman for a 20-goal scorer, and you’d be hard-pressed to argue it was a bad deal.
The Canadiens addressed a need while using a surplus to get it done, and that’s exactly the name of the game when it comes to asset management.
The trade should also remove some of the pressure on the top line of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkosvky, as the Habs will finally be able to ice at least two solid forward lines.
It’s also a nice bonus that Bolduc happens to be a Quebec native, but let’s make one thing clear, that’s not why the Habs acquired him, at least not primarily. He’s highly talented, and what’s more, at 22 years old he should fit in nicely with one of the youngest lineups in the league.