Zachary Bolduc Leaving Lasting Impression in St. Louis Blues Camp

The St. Louis Blues went into the 2023 preseason with a forward group that was all but set. With the signings of Oskar Sundqvist, Mackenzie MacEachern, and Nick Ritchie being brought in on a tryout, all that was left to be decided was who would play with whom to begin the year.

Zachary Bolduc didn’t have a great chance of making the opening night roster for the Blues this season. Nikita Alexandrov, Zach Dean, Nathan Walker, and Ritchie were more likely to earn opening-night positions on the team.

Bolduc has, however, made a lasting impact on the coaching staff and should be well on his way to being one of the first players called up during the regular season.

He had a rough start to begin the preseason, as he was on the ice for three goals against in his debut against the Arizona Coyotes on September 23. In his next game against the Blackhawks, he received time on the Blues’ top powerplay but failed to record a point.

He did have some noteworthy shifts with some of the team’s top talent, including a powerplay in the second period that started with a great forechecking effort from the 20-year-old.

He will have one more chance to leave his mark on the St. Louis Blues higherups with a home game against the Blackhawks in the preseason finale at Enterprise Center on Saturday night.

There is tremendous potential that lies in the skill of the former 2021 first-round pick, and he has produced in every way throughout his career in junior hockey. Last season with the Quebec Remparts, Bolduc netted 50 goals and 60 assists in 61 games. He followed that spectacular regular season with 19 points in 18 playoff games.

Bolduc has clearly grown out of the QMJHL. In 126 games with the Remparts, Bolduc has recorded 105 goals and 104 assists. On top of his 209 regular-season points, the young winger has also added 19 goals and 31 points in the postseason.

The young forward core for the St. Louis Blues is incredibly bright. With established names like Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou and young prospects like Bolduc, Dalibor Dvorsky, Otto Stenberg, Zach Dean, and Jimmy Snuggerud, the Blues are in good shape to be an offensive force for the next decade.