When the phone rings and it’s Sidney Crosby on the other end, best to answer. Especially when you’re a budding teenage hockey player with NHL aspirations.
That was the case for Canadiens winger Zachary Bolduc in 2019.
The Trois-Rivières native attended training camp with the junior Rimouski Océanic, but was uncertain whether that path would lead to a pro career. Instead, he signed with Sioux City of the USHL, playing two games with the Musketeers before receiving a call from Crosby, the Pittsburgh Penguins superstar and, undoubtedly, the most-famous Océanic alumnus.
The call was enough to dissuade Bolduc from remaining in the USHL.
“It was special for sure. I didn’t expect that call,” Bolduc said after Tuesday’s practice in Brossard and before the team flew to Toronto for Wednesday night’s season-opener against the Maple Leafs. “You never expect that call.
“He told me how great Rimouski was for him. Some of the coaches he had were still there. It was a special moment for sure. I’ll remember that for a long time.”
The call from Crosby changed Bolduc’s career path and proved to be the best decision he could have made.
Playing on a line with Alexis Lafrenière, selected first overall by the New York Rangers in 2020, Bolduc led QMJHL rookies with 30 goals in 55 games and was named the league’s offensive freshman of the year. The following season, although limited to 27 games, Bolduc scored 10 goals and 29 points and was named the league’s best pro prospect.
Bolduc spent his final two junior seasons with the Quebec Remparts and became an offensive force. Over 126 games, he produced 105 goals and 209 points. Bolduc was selected in the first round (17th overall) by St. Louis in 2021 and won the Memorial Cup with the Remparts in 2023 to conclude his junior career.
The Canadiens acquired Bolduc in a July 1 trade from the Blues for defenceman Logan Mailloux. Despite missing Montreal’s final exhibition game against Ottawa last Saturday with a lower-body injury, the 6-foot, 187-pound Bolduc was expected to skate on a line with Kirby Dach and Brendan Gallagher against Toronto.
Bolduc also finds himself on the Canadiens’ top power-play unit, complementing Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky and defenceman Lane Hutson, the NHL’s reigning outstanding rookie.
Still only 22, Bolduc has played a modest 97 career NHL games. but scored 19 goals and 36 points in 72 games last season, and joins a team that had only four players who scored 20 goals or more last season. Any offence Bolduc can supply will be welcomed by head coach Martin St. Louis. But the coach also believes Bolduc can provide some much-needed grit up front.
“He has speed and attitude,” St. Louis said on Tuesday. “He has to play that way. We need that. From an offensive standpoint we know he has a very good shot and he’ll help us on the power play. He has assets to complement what we already have.”
Raised 90 minutes from Montreal, it goes without saying Bolduc was a Canadiens fan and hoped to be drafted by the team. He undoubtedly was ecstatic to learn about the trade.
“First of all, it’s his potential. But it’s also his style of play,” Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said at the time. “He’s a good skater and we saw a big improvement in his physical side, how physical he became over the course of the season last year. He adds to our forechecking. And it’s also his offensive potential. He was a very good offensive player all through his amateur career. He was a 17th pick overall, so that speaks to his offensive talent and while averaging about 13 minutes a game he nearly scored 20 goals this season.”
Bolduc says he believes the Canadiens remain a playoff team after securing the Eastern Conference’s final wild-card berth last season in their 82nd game. He’s impressed by the club’s character and how the players are committed to the team’s success.
Following two seasons in St. Louis, where baseball’s Cardinals dominate the sports landscape, Bolduc is eagerly anticipating playing in a true hockey market, while understanding every move will be closely monitored and dissected.
“I’m excited,” he said. “We’ve been working for a month now. Working hard at practices. All the group here is ready to go, healthy. It’s different playing in Montreal. Here the Montreal Canadiens are the main show. Everyone’s following the team; how they’re doing. It has been fun. People are passionate. I’m just super happy to be part of this team.
“It’s a good opportunity for me to play on the first power play. I’m playing with Dach and Gallagher. These are good players. Gallagher has been in the league for such a long time and Dach has so much talent.”
Meanwhile, forwards Alex Newhook and Oliver Kapanen are expected to help out on the penalty kill to begin the season — replacing Christian Dvorak and Joel Armia, who signed as free agents with Philadelphia and Los Angeles, respectively.
“They’re two players that complement each other,” St. Louis said. “I see two guys that are embracing that and they’re doing what the team needs them to do. That’s the most important thing. I feel they can be very efficient together. Newhook has that jump. He doesn’t get tired easily. I feel he can be a threat short-handed because of it. Kapanen is very cerebral. He makes great reads off the puck offensively.
“I wasn’t sure who they were going to be. It became very evident to me I’ve got two guys that can be really good at it.”
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