Bolduc's "physical play"

[Harry York 37]

Unless they're a top-5 pick, I don't follow players much until they're with the NHL team. Between his cross check to a player on the ice and that gangbang drive by he put on Lindgren today, the kid has a dirty side I was unaware of.

Does he have a history of these types of plays in the minors/juniors?

No. In fact, his reputation in Jrs was the opposite. He was a kitty cat. Lots of skill but shied away from the rough stuff. Was a force in the regular season but was much less effective in the playoffs when the checking increased.

So I’m not sure what got into him or who got in his head but he’s turned probably his biggest weakness into now a strength. He’s been borderline dirty out there and I’m loving the passion from him.

That borderline play we had from Sunny, Barbashev and others in 2019 has been sorely missed. Bolduc is one guy bringing it back. Love to see it.

Right on.
It was early in the season, when we had a glut of “potential” and it was uncertain if Bolduc would even stay with the team. He was getting scratched, due to the glut of new and promising faces. He used that time to work hard on playing away from the puck, mastering safe and steady ways to headman the puck North ( he needed work, there), and to beef up the physical side of his play.
I have said it for a good while, Bolduc is the poster boy for how to break in to the NHL.

He's still not drawing top-6 minutes on the 3rd line, he has more to give when the Blues need to tap it. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see him net 30 but the top-6 on this team is crowded. Should draw more consistent PP time next season and he'll have a more offensively skilled center at 5v5 once DD gets established. Good fantasy league buy.

Of course he isn’t getting big minutes in that line. Have you seen his line mates at even strength?

That is not his fault at all….is it?
Sunny is a gem on special teams, both PP and PK , and nobody plays better PK than MJ.
At even strength… those two have little business on the top 9.
This is why I got excited about Texier again. He scored as many ES goals and assists on that line in three games than either of those two have scored in MONTHS. MJ hasn’t had an ES goal in twenty games. He has two ES assist in the last fourteen games.and one of those two was in the three games Texier was there.
Sunny… boy what a hockey IQ and epic hockey heart. He has not scored an ES goal since December. Think about that. Sunny has two ES Assists in the last dozen games.

The lack offensive production- other than Bolduc, on the third line has been apparent since the surge, and even before.All we can hope for is that the line is not a liability, and because both Sunny and MJ both give every shift their utmost, they are not.



Blaming Bolducs TOI at even strength on him… make zero sense.

[zamadoo]

Bolduc's final year in Jrs he worked on rounding out his game, and I watched a game at the end and some clips of him I think from playoff games where he looked noticeably engaged physically and defensively. I believe his coach was Patrick Roy who told him he needed to address these weaknesses to prepare for the NHL, and he did, and now we see that even more than before.

[Old_Goat]

Unless they're a top-5 pick, I don't follow players much until they're with the NHL team. Between his cross check to a player on the ice and that gangbang drive by he put on Lindgren today, the kid has a dirty side I was unaware of.

Does he have a history of these types of plays in the minors/juniors?

No. In fact, his reputation in Jrs was the opposite. He was a kitty cat. Lots of skill but shied away from the rough stuff. Was a force in the regular season but was much less effective in the playoffs when the checking increased.

So I’m not sure what got into him or who got in his head but he’s turned probably his biggest weakness into now a strength. He’s been borderline dirty out there and I’m loving the passion from him.

That borderline play we had from Sunny, Barbashev and others in 2019 has been sorely missed. Bolduc is one guy bringing it back. Love to see it.

Right on.
It was early in the season, when we had a glut of “potential” and it was uncertain if Bolduc would even stay with the team. He was getting scratched, due to the glut of new and promising faces. He used that time to work hard on playing away from the puck, mastering safe and steady ways to headman the puck North ( he needed work, there), and to beef up the physical side of his play.
I have said it for a good while, Bolduc is the poster boy for how to break in to the NHL.

He's still not drawing top-6 minutes on the 3rd line, he has more to give when the Blues need to tap it. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see him net 30 but the top-6 on this team is crowded. Should draw more consistent PP time next season and he'll have a more offensively skilled center at 5v5 once DD gets established. Good fantasy league buy.

Of course he isn’t getting big minutes in that line. Have you seen his line mates at even strength?

That is not his fault at all….is it?
Sunny is a gem on special teams, both PP and PK , and nobody plays better PK than MJ.
At even strength… those two have little business on the top 9.
This is why I got excited about Texier again. He scored as many ES goals and assists on that line in three games than either of those two have scored in MONTHS. MJ hasn’t had an ES goal in twenty games. He has two ES assist in the last fourteen games.and one of those two was in the three games Texier was there.
Sunny… boy what a hockey IQ and epic hockey heart. He has not scored an ES goal since December. Think about that. Sunny has two ES Assists in the last dozen games.

The lack offensive production- other than Bolduc, on the third line has been apparent since the surge, and even before.All we can hope for is that the line is not a liability, and because both Sunny and MJ both give every shift their utmost, they are not.



Blaming Bolducs TOI at even strength on him… make zero sense.

Good post! Dvorsky and Snuggerud on the way...next season plus many more will be even brighter for Bolduc with the potential for 3 excellent scoring lines and two very dangerous power play units! And this does not even count other prospects.

[LGB73]

Given his play over the last month I think our best 1st line would be Holloway-Thomas-Bolduc.

[Boomac]

It's been incredible to witness Bolduc's evolution, especially since the Winter Classic. We were truly lucky he spent his final junior year under Patty Roy's guidance; Roy’s influence significantly contributed to rounding out Bolduc’s overall game.

While his skating, shot, and hockey sense were apparent when he was drafted, his progress over the last year has been truly outstanding.

Dvorsky and Snuggerud are poised to benefit immensely from the team’s current atmosphere, learning from the recent established growth of players like Neighbours, Holloway, and Bolduc.

As Blues fans, we are entering a very promising and entertaining era.

[larueskee]

He sure is playing different than I thought he would. The kid gives no quarter and as a scorer he will make room for himself. Looks completely different than I expected but in a good way.

[Harry York 37]

It's been incredible to witness Bolduc's evolution, especially since the Winter Classic. We were truly lucky he spent his final junior year under Patty Roy's guidance; Roy’s influence significantly contributed to rounding out Bolduc’s overall game.

While his skating, shot, and hockey sense were apparent when he was drafted, his progress over the last year has been truly outstanding.

Dvorsky and Snuggerud are poised to benefit immensely from the team’s current atmosphere, learning from the recent established growth of players like Neighbours, Holloway, and Bolduc.

As Blues fans, we are entering a very promising and entertaining era.

It was the mundane and routine plays that Bolduc mastered.
At the beginning of the year if he saw a breakout pass coming his way and an opponent was closing, he often batted it forward, without any thought of “making a play”. Kyrou was even worse last season and the year before. Unforced turnovers during breakouts KILL momentum, and often wind up in great chances for the opponents.

Winning board battles and staying “on the right side of the puck” were also issues for Bolduc and many others.

They both worked their (bleep) off on making plays like these routine, safe, and successful.
The entire team has bought in and now, the puck moves swiftly and predictably North, and remains in our possession.
That is playing hockey the right way, and it makes for hard offensive hockey and relentless play.

This is so goddanged..healthy… to witness and admire.

This is a very, very good team.

[Russdv14]

Give some credit to the goaltending acting like D men at times, and the actual defensemen pushing the puck forward and not afraid to go & stay on offense, while trusting the other players on the ice to cover for them on the points. The D men are just playing a lot more mobile with the trade for Broberg & Fowler and Colt 55 playing aggressively.

[DawgDad]

Give some credit to the goaltending acting like D men at times, and the actual defensemen pushing the puck forward and not afraid to go & stay on offense, while trusting the other players on the ice to cover for them on the points. The D men are just playing a lot more mobile with the trade for Broberg & Fowler and Colt 55 playing aggressively.

They are playing to Army's vision when he signed Krug but that never really reached this exalted level of offensive support AND solid defense. The 2022 team had some one-way offensive forwards who weren't fully bought in.

[theograce]

You know how every big hit is met with someone jumping the hitter which is so stupid.

Paul Coffey was talking about this last night and about how stupid it is. The NHL needs to step in with more instigator penalties and maybe even fines. It’s the worst part of the NHL right now imo

[MikoTython]

It isn't that complicated. Every team, or any decent team, needs FA insurance. He's the FO department.

[hotrivets]

Before the break one of my complaints was they were not physical enough. Remember how the 2019 Blues pounded the other teams especially the Sharks? Sharks could hardly compete by game 6. I am really happy to see somebody other than the 4th line and Schenn punishing the opposition. Got to put that thought in the heads of their D every time they turn to chase a puck that they may get creamed- legally of course.

[dhsux]

It's been incredible to witness Bolduc's evolution, especially since the Winter Classic. We were truly lucky he spent his final junior year under Patty Roy's guidance; Roy’s influence significantly contributed to rounding out Bolduc’s overall game.

While his skating, shot, and hockey sense were apparent when he was drafted, his progress over the last year has been truly outstanding.

Dvorsky and Snuggerud are poised to benefit immensely from the team’s current atmosphere, learning from the recent established growth of players like Neighbours, Holloway, and Bolduc.

As Blues fans, we are entering a very promising and entertaining era.

It was the mundane and routine plays that Bolduc mastered.
At the beginning of the year if he saw a breakout pass coming his way and an opponent was closing, he often batted it forward, without any thought of “making a play”. Kyrou was even worse last season and the year before. Unforced turnovers during breakouts KILL momentum, and often wind up in great chances for the opponents.

Winning board battles and staying “on the right side of the puck” were also issues for Bolduc and many others.

They both worked their (bleep) off on making plays like these routine, safe, and successful.
The entire team has bought in and now, the puck moves swiftly and predictably North, and remains in our possession.
That is playing hockey the right way, and it makes for hard offensive hockey and relentless play.

This is so goddanged..healthy… to witness and admire.

This is a very, very good team.

I remember an interesting take on Bolduc last fall on 101.

Not sure it was Rivers may have been Kelly but the point was how well Bolduc takes instruction from the staff. How well he implements.

He was being praised for his positive response to the coaching staffs instructions.

He's smart, talented, serious and he listens on how to play the game.

[Hockey Pete]

Unless they're a top-5 pick, I don't follow players much until they're with the NHL team. Between his cross check to a player on the ice and that gangbang drive by he put on Lindgren today, the kid has a dirty side I was unaware of.

Does he have a history of these types of plays in the minors/juniors?

No. In fact, his reputation in Jrs was the opposite. He was a kitty cat. Lots of skill but shied away from the rough stuff. Was a force in the regular season but was much less effective in the playoffs when the checking increased.

So I’m not sure what got into him or who got in his head but he’s turned probably his biggest weakness into now a strength. He’s been borderline dirty out there and I’m loving the passion from him.

That borderline play we had from Sunny, Barbashev and others in 2019 has been sorely missed. Bolduc is one guy bringing it back. Love to see it.

Right on.
It was early in the season, when we had a glut of “potential” and it was uncertain if Bolduc would even stay with the team. He was getting scratched, due to the glut of new and promising faces. He used that time to work hard on playing away from the puck, mastering safe and steady ways to headman the puck North ( he needed work, there), and to beef up the physical side of his play.
I have said it for a good while, Bolduc is the poster boy for how to break in to the NHL.

Both spot on...

If you would have told me that Zach would have played a full season producing 35 points, 100+ hits at a +19 while only skating 12:30+ minutes a game, I would call that a major first step for the young forward... and that's exactly what is happening. Flat out solid season for the kid.

Regarding his playing time on the 3rd line, he's also a bit of victim in not having the right players to play along side. The skill is there, but that line suffers from usually having three left handed shots on the same line (we only have 3 RH shots in the entire forward ranks, and two of those are centers), and it shows in both Zach's and Jake's shot totals. There's a big reason why the ONLY RH/RW on the the team (Jordan) has almost 50 more shots on goal than the 2nd leading player in the category has (Dylan).

Now Snuggy moving up could help with that, and IMO he has the ability to play the full-sheet game the 3rd line plays, but Jimmy is going to have to beat out a darn good player to get that chance.

Just my 2 cents...

[somni]

Before the break one of my complaints was they were not physical enough. Remember how the 2019 Blues pounded the other teams especially the Sharks? Sharks could hardly compete by game 6. I am really happy to see somebody other than the 4th line and Schenn punishing the opposition. Got to put that thought in the heads of their D every time they turn to chase a puck that they may get creamed- legally of course.

Exactly. It's also refreshing to see the boys stick up for one another rather than just skate away.