Jeff Gorton, currently the executive vice-president of hockey operations for the Montreal Canadiens, previously served as an NHL Network panelist. During a broadcast evaluating prospects as they were being drafted, just four months before he formally accepted his current role with Montreal, Gorton had an opportunity to comment on future talent.
He paid particular attention when Zachary Bolduc was selected 16th overall by the St. Louis Blues.
“Beautiful skater, lots of talent here,” Gorton stated at the time. He noted that Bolduc had played alongside Alexis Lafreniere in junior and had scored 30 goals as a 16-year-old, indicating he had been on the radar for some time. While perhaps slightly undersized then, Gorton believed that as Bolduc grew bigger and stronger, he possessed the potential to become “a real top-six player for somebody.”
This past Tuesday, shortly after the NHL`s free agency period began, Gorton and Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes made a significant move, betting that Bolduc could become that impactful player for their organization.
Now 22 years old, Bolduc has indeed added size since his draft day. He is not necessarily expected to step into a top-six forward role immediately in Montreal.
In the most recent season with the Blues, he registered 19 goals and 36 points in 72 games while primarily utilized in a fourth-line capacity. If he can replicate similar production from a bottom-six position for the Canadiens next season, it would represent a solid contribution.
The Canadiens recently included Emil Heineman—a six-foot-two, 23-year-old forechecking winger who recorded 10 goals and 18 points over 62 games last season—in the trade package to acquire Noah Dobson last week. The sentiment, expressed by sources well beyond the Canadiens` immediate circle on Tuesday, was that Bolduc effectively replaces Heineman`s role on the roster.
A Western Conference executive, assessing Bolduc, texted: “Good skills, doesn’t cheat the game, puck follows him, good hockey brain.” He also added, “He’s got size, too.”
A scout consulted on Tuesday afternoon agreed, stating that Bolduc offers higher offensive potential than Heineman and possesses “some edge there, as well.”
These external observations align with comments made by GM Hughes to the media, where he emphasized: “We really saw an improvement in terms of (Bolduc’s) physical play and physical implication over the course of the year, and that was something important to us.”