Zachary Bolduc (born February 24, 2003) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a winger for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 17th overall, by the St. Louis Blues in the 2021 NHL entry draft.

Playing career

Junior Growing up in the Saint-Grégoire area of Bécancour, Bolduc began his junior ice hockey career with the Trois-Rivières Estacades of the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League (QMAAA). After a successful season with the Estacades in which he registered 54 points across 42 games played, Bolduc then made two Tier I appearances with the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) before choosing to play major junior with the Rimouski Océanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in October 2019. After leading all first-year players in goals (30) and finishing second in total points (52), he was named as the league's rookie of the year as well as recipient of the Michel Bergeron Trophy for his offensive output.

The following season, Bolduc was awarded the Michael Bossy Trophy as the QMJHL's best draft-eligible prospect. He was then selected by the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the first round (17th overall) of the 2021 NHL entry draft and immediately signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the team.

In August 2021, Bolduc was traded to the Quebec Remparts in exchange for draft picks. Under head coach Patrick Roy, he produced consecutive 50+ goal campaigns, culminating with a QMJHL championship and ensuing Memorial Cup victory in 2022–23.

Professional

St. Louis Blues (2023–2025) With the conclusion of his major junior career, Bolduc joined the Blues organization via their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, to begin the 2023–24 season. Appearing in 48 games with the Thunderbirds, he scored eight goals and tallied 23 points before being recalled by St. Louis on February 20, 2024. Two days later, he made his NHL debut against the New York Islanders, followed by his first career NHL goal in a 6–1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on February 24, being his 21st birthday. Bolduc's first multi-point effort came with a goal and an assist in a 5–2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on April 10. With his team eliminated from playoff contention, he was one of three players reassigned to Springfield, capping his rookie season at five goals and nine points across 25 games for the Blues.

Securing a full-time NHL roster spot at the onset of the 2024–25 season, Bolduc had a breakout performance, scoring 19 goals and 17 assists in 72 games, including a stretch where he led all rookies in goals following completion of the league sanctioned 4 Nations Face-Off tournament held in mid-February 2025.

Montreal Canadiens (2025–present) On July 1, 2025, Bolduc was traded by the Blues to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenceman Logan Mailloux. He scored his first goal for the team in the first game of the season on October 8, a 5–2 loss to their rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Bolduc was used up and down the lineup over the course of the season, and was made a healthy scratch on occasion during the second half of the campaign due to lack of production, finishing with 12 goals and 18 assists in 78 games. The Canadiens made a deep run to the conference final in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, and Bolduc had seven points in 19 postseason games.

Concluding his entry-level contract, Bolduc entered the off-season as a restricted free agent, and he was tendered a qualifying offer by the Canadiens on June 29, 2026. On September 13, he signed a four-year, $16.8 million extension with the team.

International play

Early into his junior career, Bolduc was a member of Team Quebec at the 2019 Canada Winter Games, capturing a gold medal. Thereafter, he participated in the annual World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where his team ultimately finished in fifth place.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2018–19 Trois-Rivières Estacades QMAAA 42 17 37 54 34 9 3 2 5 8 2019–20 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2019–20 Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 55 30 22 52 36 — — — — — 2020–21 Rimouski Océanic QMJHL 27 10 19 29 18 — — — — — 2021–22 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 65 55 44 99 36 12 8 4 12 6 2022–23 Quebec Remparts QMJHL 61 50 60 110 50 18 11 8 19 8 2023–24 Springfield Thunderbirds AHL 50 8 17 25 24 — — — — — 2023–24 St. Louis Blues NHL 25 5 4 9 6 — — — — — 2024–25 St. Louis Blues NHL 72 19 17 36 37 7 0 1 1 16 2024–25 Springfield Thunderbirds AHL 4 0 2 2 2 — — — — — 2025–26 Montreal Canadiens NHL 78 12 18 30 28 19 3 4 7 22NHL totals 175 36 39 75 71 26 3 5 8 38

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2019 Quebec CWG 6 0 3 3 4 2019 Canada Red U17 5th 5 2 3 5 10Junior totals 5 2 3 5 10

Awards and honours Award Year RefQMJHL All-Rookie Team 2020 Michel Bergeron Trophy 2020 RDS Cup 2020 Michael Bossy Trophy 2021 Second All-Star Team 2022, 2023 Gilles-Courteau Trophy champion 2023 CHL Second All-Star Team 2023 Memorial Cup champion 2023

References

External links