The Canadiens have already locked in a big chunk of their young core, and Zachary Bolduc looks like the next name on the list.
Montreal has handed long-term deals to Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson, giving Kent Hughes a foundation he can build around. Bolduc, after a promising first season in Montreal, now sits at the center of the next contract conversation as a restricted free agent.
The likeliest path is a bridge deal. That fits the moment.
Bolduc had a very encouraging year, but he still doesn’t have the NHL track record that usually comes with a major long-term commitment. The Canadiens also have a crowded group of young forwards pushing for prime minutes, with Demidov, Slafkovsky, Caufield, Newhook and Suzuki all expected to play significant roles in the years ahead.
With that kind of competition, Montreal may want more time before deciding exactly where Bolduc fits over the long haul.
A two- or three-year bridge would give both sides what they need. Bolduc would get another chance to prove he belongs, and the Canadiens would get a cleaner read on his place in the lineup before making a bigger financial bet.
Hughes has tended to move with patience, and when he has handed out long-term deals, it’s usually been after the organization had a firm grasp on the player’s role. Bolduc may simply need another couple of seasons to settle that question.
If the Canadiens go that route, the number could land around $3 million per season. That would reflect Bolduc’s progress without pretending he’s already established himself over several NHL seasons. It would also fit neatly into Montreal’s cap picture as the salary cap keeps rising, leaving the club plenty of room while Bolduc keeps developing.
There is another route, though, and it comes with a very different kind of commitment. Mavrik Bourque recently signed a six-year deal with the Nashville Predators at $5.5 million annually, and that contract offers a useful reference point. Like Bolduc, Bourque was viewed as a young forward with real upside and still room to grow at the NHL level.
A deal in that range would make sense only if both sides believe Bolduc is ready to become a steady top-nine forward. For Bolduc, it would mean long-term security. For Montreal, it could turn into a bargain if his offense keeps climbing.
That’s the real choice here: less risk now, or more certainty later. A bridge deal protects the Canadiens, but if Bolduc takes off, it could cost more down the road. A longer contract asks for more up front, but it could save money over time if he becomes the player Montreal thinks he can be.
Either way, the Canadiens clearly see him as part of what comes next. Bolduc brings skill, skating, compete level and a willingness to play physically.
He has already flashed enough offense to matter, while also giving Martin St. Louis the kind of intensity he wants every night.
He may not be the guy carrying the attack the way Suzuki or Caufield do, but Bolduc has the tools to become a dependable top-six winger who can score 20 goals and still play a responsible two-way game. That kind of player matters, especially when he’s developed in-house.
So whether the final number ends up closer to a two- or three-year bridge at about $3 million per year, or a longer six-year commitment like Bourque’s, Montreal and Bolduc have good reason to meet somewhere in the middle.
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