Blues draft Zachary Bolduc with 17th pick
The St. Louis Blues selected Zachary Bolduc with the 17th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Zachary Bolduc
Position: Center
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 175 lbs
Age: 18
Club: Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)
Nationality: Canadian
| GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 10 | 19 | 29 |
(Stats source: EliteProspects.com)
Bolduc's draft year was abbreviated, but it wasn't as strong as his previous season. The Quebec-born forward racked up 30 goals and 52 points over 55 games in 2019-20, earning the QMJHL's Rookie of the Year Award.
However, while Bolduc's breakout junior campaign came on a deep Oceanic squad, Rimouski was a rebuilding team in 2020-21, winning only 13 of 39 contests.
He also sustained an injury early this past season and missed about a month after undergoing an appendectomy, making the pivot's more recent efforts commendable considering the circumstances.
NHL Central Scouting placed Bolduc 17th among North American skaters on its final rankings.
What they're saying
"Bolduc is a talented forward who has a lot of elements that will translate to the pro game," The Athletic's Corey Pronman wrote. "He can skate well and make highly skilled plays on the move. Bolduc has very good hand-eye coordination, showing the ability to make unique plays in small areas and around the net."
"His skill set jumps off the page immediately," wrote Sportsnet's Sam Cosentino. "This player may need additional seasoning time, especially after being injured in 2021, but he can make plays and create offense consistently."
"... I think Bolduc has been a little miscast as a scorer," The Athletic's Scott Wheeler wrote. "He’s confident attacking off the flank to the slot, and he gets his wrister off in a hurry (though it’s not overpowering), but I think he sees the ice at an advanced level and plays with good speed as well. Without the puck, he’s also a responsible, no-cheat player who understands his role within a system."
Expert opinions varied on whether Bolduc warranted a first- or second-round selection. For example, TSN's Bob McKenzie and Cosentino both projected him to be the 16th pick in April and May, respectively, but Pronman and Wheeler slotted Bolduc into the 33rd and 35th spots in June.