A new contract elsewhere in the NHL may have nudged the Zachary Bolduc talks into a tougher spot.
According to David Ettedgui on BPM Sports, Mavrik Bourque’s recent $33 million deal could be influencing how Bolduc and the Montreal Canadiens view the numbers. Bourque, who has a profile similar to Bolduc’s, may have reset the market in the player’s mind, and that has reportedly affected what the Quebecer is looking for from Montreal.
That’s where the hold-up may be coming from. The two sides appear to be working with different ideas of what the deal should look like, and that mismatch could help explain why nothing has been finalized yet.
Bolduc still has a case for a strong raise after what he did last season. He put up 12 goals and 18 assists in 78 games, doing it in a limited role and with some of the lowest ice time on the team. Even with that usage, he produced.
There is still optimism that a deal can get done. Eric Engels recently believed an agreement was still likely before medical testing begins on September 16, so the door is not closed by any means.
The timing just adds another layer of pressure. Training camp is getting closer, and both sides will have to find some common ground soon if they want this resolved without the tension dragging on.
Bourque, 24, finished last season with 41 points in 82 games. Bolduc, 23, had 30 points in 78 games while playing fewer minutes per game.
In Other News...
Patrik Laines Next Deal May Be Getting Easier To Predict
A familiar September market may be starting to take shape for Patrik Laine. After a limited run with Montreal last season, the former Canadiens forward is still looking for his next NHL opportunity, and the type of short-term, prove-it arrangement that recent veterans have taken around the league could offer a template for how teams view him right now.
Eeli Tolvanens new one-year arrangement with the Rangers is the kind of contract that can reset expectations for players in Laines lane, even if the situations are not identical. Laine has 537 NHL games and 422 points on his rsum, but after barely seeing the ice for Montreal last year, the question hanging over him now is whether another club will bet on that track record in a similar low-risk way. [Read more 🡒]
Martin St-Louis Has Canadiens Fans Watching For The Next Update
Martin St-Louis drew attention this week by showing up around Canadiens practice, a sight that naturally had fans and observers reading into it. His extended stay in Montreal lines up with a busy stretch of team business, and with the coach entering the final year of his current deal, every appearance tends to carry a little extra weight.
The Canadiens are expected to hold media availability soon, and St-Louis is slated to take part, which should at least provide some clarity on why he is in town and what comes next. Until then, the timing is enough to keep the conversation going, especially for a fan base that knows how quickly routine team business can turn into a bigger storyline. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Are About To Learn What Zach Bolduc Really Brings
Zach Bolduc is still waiting on his next contract as Canadiens training camp approaches, but the expectation around the organization is that the situation will be settled soon enough for him to report to Brossard without any real drama. Montreal brought him in for his offensive upside, and the early read is that the team wants to see more of it this season, with Bolduc in line for a bigger look in the top six.
For a player still trying to define his ceiling, the opportunity matters as much as the talent. If Bolduc gets the minutes and the role Montreal appears ready to offer, this could be the season he puts up a career-best point total and starts looking like more than just a promising addition. The Canadiens did not acquire him to be a depth piece, and camp should offer the first real glimpse of how much of that upside he can turn into production. [Read more 🡒]