Zachary Bolduc Searching for His Scoring Touch, But Staying the Course in Montreal
When Zachary Bolduc opened the Canadiens’ season with three goals and four points over the first three games, it looked like Montreal had struck gold. Acquired from the St.
Louis Blues in a July 1 deal for AHL defenseman Logan Mailloux, Bolduc came out flying - a winger with speed, skill, and an eye for the net. But fast forward to late January, and the narrative has shifted.
Bolduc hasn’t scored since December 23 in Boston - a 15-game drought - and in that span, he’s managed just two assists. His role has shifted as well. Once skating in the top six, Bolduc now finds himself on the Canadiens’ fourth line, flanking Jake Evans and Kirby Dach.
Through 52 games, Bolduc has 10 goals and 19 points. But more concerning for the coaching staff is his team-worst minus-13 rating - a stat that, while not always the most telling, does reflect some of the struggles he’s faced at both ends of the ice.
Still, Bolduc isn’t letting the pressure of playing in a hockey-mad market like Montreal shake his confidence. The 2021 first-round pick (17th overall) knows the expectations are high, but he’s focused on the process, not the noise.
“For sure, you always want to score some goals on a regular basis,” Bolduc said after Monday’s practice. “Right now, I’m having chances, I just can’t get it in. I just want to keep working, keep shooting at the net and keep creating offence.”
That’s the mindset the Canadiens are hoping to see. Bolduc’s not sulking or shying away - he’s staying engaged, staying physical, and trying to impact the game in other ways while he works through the slump.
And to his credit, he’s doing just that. At 6-foot and 187 pounds, Bolduc has started to lean into his physical game.
He ranks third on the team in hits with 106, trailing only Arber Xhekaj (125) and Joe Veleno (111). That’s not nothing - especially for a young forward trying to carve out a consistent role.
“Even if I’m not scoring goals, I can bring some other stuff to the table,” Bolduc said. “I can be good on the forecheck.
I can be physical. I’m still creating offence; it just doesn’t go in right now.
I’ll keep doing what I’m doing. I think it’s going to turn on my side at some point.”
He’s had his share of linemates this season. Early on, he skated with Dach and Brendan Gallagher.
Then came a stretch with Veleno and Owen Beck. Injuries opened the door for a short stint on the top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, replacing Juraj Slafkovsky - a move that raised some eyebrows but showed the coaching staff was still willing to bet on his upside.
Head coach Martin St. Louis has continued to tinker with the bottom six, pairing Bolduc with rookies like Oliver Kapanen and Ivan Demidov. But it was Slafkovsky who ultimately reclaimed that first-line role, showing stronger chemistry with Suzuki and Caufield.
Still, Bolduc remains in the mix. His versatility and willingness to adapt - whether it’s playing up the lineup or grinding it out on the fourth line - give him value.
And while the goals aren’t coming right now, he’s not far off. He’s getting looks, staying involved, and bringing the kind of physical edge that coaches love to see from a player trying to break through.
In Montreal, slumps don’t go unnoticed. But Bolduc isn’t running from the spotlight. He’s embracing the challenge, trusting the work, and waiting for the puck to bounce his way again.
And if it does? That early-season version of Bolduc - the one who looked like a steal - might not be gone. He might just be waiting to re-emerge.