Zachary Bolduc is sending the right kind of signal to Martin St-Louis before camp even opens.
With his next contract still unsigned, the Montreal Canadiens forward is making it clear he’s not interested in talking his way into a larger role. He wants to earn it.
In an interview with RDS, the 23-year-old handled the question of his usage with a level of maturity that should stand out in a locker room. Asked about what comes next for him, Bolduc didn’t try to push for anything. He kept it simple:
"You always want a bigger role, more responsibility, and more ice time, but those are all things you have to earn. It'll be up to me to show up to camp and prove that I can help this team when I'm out on the ice, earn my minutes, and take on more responsibility. I don't really dwell on it-those are things I can't control, so I leave that in my coach's hands."
- Zachary Bolduc
That’s the kind of answer coaches love to hear. No entitlement, no complaints, no noise. Just a player putting the focus on what he can control.
Bolduc’s first season in that supporting role produced 30 points, including 12 goals, in 78 games. Now he heads into training camp with a chance to climb the depth chart and force his way into a bigger job.
The opportunity is there. A top-six role is in play if he can show enough to earn it, and that’s exactly the sort of challenge that will matter to St-Louis.
For Bolduc, the message is straightforward: the next step won’t be handed to him. He’ll have to take it.
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