DALLAS – Minnesota Wild winger Matt Boldy has been down this road before. His second NHL season ended in the playoffs versus the Dallas Stars. He had just turned 22 at the time, and contributed with three assists in the six-game series loss.

It was only three years ago, but looking back now, it seems like a different life for Boldy, who went into Saturday’s Game 1 in Texas coming off his first 40-goal regular season with the Wild.

“I feel like, looking back at that, I was so young and not as comfortable in my own game, and confident in myself,” Boldly said, following the team’s Friday practice at American Airlines Center. “I didn’t really know as much about myself and how to win, and try to be a leader, and stuff like that, as I do now. So, that seems like a long, long ways away.”

For a guy who just turned 25 earlier this month, it has been a long journey for Boldy — from his childhood outside Boston, playing with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program in Michigan, getting picked by the Wild in the first round of the 2019 draft, a two-year stint at Boston College, and a rapid climb up the ladder to being a vital part of the offense in Minnesota.

And that’s not even counting the gold medal he won with Team USA two months ago at the Winter Olympics.

But in addition to posting a career-best 42 goals this season — second on the team behind Kirill Kaprizov’s 45 — Boldy’s line with Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Johansson has become a powerful two-way force for the Wild, known as much for stifling opponents as the offense they provide. The winger is solidly a part of the opponent scouting reports.

“He’s probably got one of the hardest sticks in stick battles. He’s strong on his stick, right?” Stars forward Jason Robertson said, reflecting on myriad regular season battles with Boldy. “So, you notice that playing against him for all these years. Guys have to try to equal, and match that and not be surprised by it.”

With Kaprizov missing half of the 2024-25 season due to injuries, the Wild offense ran primarily through Boldy and Marco Rossi, who was traded to Vancouver in December. That allowed opponents to focus their defense on shutting down Boldy, and his numbers dropped as a result. By contrast, with Kaprizov healthy this season on the Wild’s top line, coach John Hynes could spread the offensive wealth, and the result was a pair of 40-goal scorers for the first time in franchise history.

“He’s such an impact guy when he’s moving his feet, he’s playing physical, hard on the puck, great execution,” Hynes said of Boldy. “Just what he does is really sticking to his identity. He’s been like that, you’ve seen it all year long with us. You saw his impact in the Olympics. He’s a play driver. He’s a highly, highly competitive guy that’s got high-end skill, and if he brings that type of game, he’s going to help us.”

That competitive nature stays well-hidden in the face Boldy shows to the public and media. He is soft-spoken with microphones in his face, taking his time to think out answers, keeping an even keel, win or lose. But teammates say that quiet side disappears when the puck is dropped.

“He’s not (quiet) and he shouldn’t be, with what he’s capable of and what he’s done this year,” Johansson said. “He’s one of the best players in this league, I think, and he’s proven it all year. It’s fun to watch.”

With his 6-foot-2 frame and that aforementioned strong stick, Boldy thrives on play close to the net, muscling his way into the dirty areas and often not leaving until he sees the red goal light illuminated. Asked about his individual success, Boldy talks about the advantage of playing with his linemates, and learning from more veteran players about the grit it takes to be effective and productive, especially in the playoffs.

“I want to give a lot of credit to playing with Ekky over there for the last handful of years,” Boldy said. “I think he’s taught me so much about that. Demanded it from me, too. So, when you play with a guy that’s always in the trenches, it’s hard not to be there with him.”

Three years ago, the Stars managed to keep the 22-year-old Boldy from scoring a goal over the course of six playoff games. This season, the 25-year-old version of the Wild’s breakout young goal-scorer may have the chance to write a new chapter in Minnesota playoff history.