Zachary Bolduc’s future with the Montreal Canadiens is still up in the air, and the money is clearly part of the conversation.
The 23-year-old forward still does not have a contract for next season, but he struck an upbeat note this morning in Lévis. Speaking during the Celebrity Golf Classic, Bolduc suggested a deal could be close, and there was no sign of worry in the way he talked about it. Journal de Québec reporter Kevin Dubé met with him on site.
What Bolduc made clear is that he wants to stay in Montreal for the long haul. The Quebec native did not try to hide the financial side of the equation either.
"I'd definitely like to establish myself here for the long term, but at the same time, it's all about the money," he said.
That line drew plenty of reaction, but it also fits the reality of where he is in his career. At 23, with a chance to land a much bigger payday, it makes sense that he would be thinking about maximizing his next deal.
Nothing is guaranteed in pro hockey, and the risk of injury always hangs over these negotiations. At the same time, some players have already taken less money for the chance to wear Canadiens colors, so there is room for both viewpoints.
On the ice, Bolduc put up 30 points in 78 games, which is a fairly modest total in his second full NHL season. His playoff work, though, gave him a stronger case, as he put together a very solid postseason overall.
The market has also helped his hand, especially after Mavrik Bourque’s recent contract situation in Nashville.
So the question now is simple: how far are the Canadiens willing to go?
Bolduc is still playing on an entry-level deal worth $863,334, and the difference between that number and what he is likely seeking may be the reason the two sides still have not reached an agreement.
In Other News...
Canadiens Still Have A Real Shot At The Center They Need
The Canadiens are still searching for the kind of center who can match their young core and help push the team deeper into the postseason picture, which is why Dylan Larkin keeps coming up as a name worth watching. Detroit has not moved him despite his trade request earlier this year, and his no-trade protection has made any possible deal complicated from the start.
Montreal would make sense if Larkin ever broadens the list of places he is willing to go, because the fit is obvious enough to keep the idea alive around the league. For now, the question is whether that door has opened at all, and until it does, the Canadiens can only stay ready and hope the situation shifts in their direction. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Add Another Defenseman With Something To Prove
The Canadiens organizational depth chart got a little more interesting with the Trois-Rivires Lions confirming the return of a defenseman who arrived midway through last season and will now get a full year to settle in. He brings a varied background through the Elite Ice Hockey League, the OHL and Western University, and his next stop is expected to include a look at Montreals training camp in September.
For a club always searching for defenders who can handle more than a placeholder role, the appeal is obvious. A full season in Trois-Rivires should give him a better runway to show where he fits in the Canadiens system, and camp will offer the first real chance to see whether he can press for something beyond simple organizational depth. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Finally Give Martin St-Louis The Bench Help Fans Wanted
Martin St-Louis is getting a more experienced bench partner as the Canadiens look to strengthen the coaching side around him. Montreal has moved to add a veteran assistant after the opening was created when Jim Hiller did not retain Derek Lalonde on the Maple Leafs staff, giving the Canadiens a chance to bring in someone with a long track record behind an NHL bench.
Lalonde arrives with championship pedigree from his time with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he was part of a staff that reached the leagues biggest stage year after year. For a Canadiens team trying to give St-Louis the support fans have wanted, the move adds a proven voice and a steadier hand to a coaching setup that should look a little deeper now than it did before. [Read more 🡒]