Here's my scouting notes on Rimouski's forward and 2021 NHL Draft top prospect, Zachary Bolduc. What's YOUR opinion on the Canadian prospect ? I would love to hear it in the comments bellow !
2021 NHL Draft top prospects scouting reports :
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Summary:
It was a tough game for Rimouski, who clearly had difficulties both offensively and defensively at 5v5. Still, looking closely at Bolduc, we can catch a smart 2-way center with excellent goalscoring potential.
If he didn’t generate many opportunities at even strength, Bolduc really stood out on the man advantage thanks to his great poise, decision-making and positioning. He seemed to dictate the pace of the play when he got possession, staying calm as he dissected his options. His superior hockey IQ is quickly noticeable, as he communicates information with his partners and can exploit open spaces left by the defense. His puck distribution was decent, as he opened the play well and didn’t force risky passes. That said, Bolduc is clearly more of a goalscorer than a playmaker, and he could definitely make a living off just getting open in dangerous areas and finishing the job. It didn’t translate into a goal this time around, but it was very close a few times.
Bolduc is rarely going at full speed, but he showed flashes of an excellent motor and compete to apply sounded pressure, and get back on defense quickly in transition. He’s not running around the ice chasing the puck, he prefers to stay in his spot and put calculated pressure on the puck carrier. He appears to take pride in his defensive responsibilities, getting down low to help his defensemans and get involved in corners. I was very impressed with his board play, as he showed good strength and stick work to separate many attackers from the puck, leading to many takeaways. If that is something he can do on a consistent basis, he could be one of the best defensive center of the draft.
All things considered, I would still like to see him get more involved in the game, whether it be with more puck touches in transition, or simply use his quickness to get into spots quicker. He can be a fraction of a second too late on a play, simply because he seemed so relaxed or got caught watching the puck. He clearly processes information swiftly, as he made great decisions in pressured situations and jumped quickly on some loose pucks. That said, he’s rarely ready to explode off the blocks, which is a result of a lack of consistency in his intensity or/and quickness. He’s too often drifting around without much intent, maybe trying to conserve is energy.
Bolduc seemed to have nice leg extensions on his strides and a decent speed, but he never really used it at his advantage, often gliding around and using his smarts to make plays. I find his mobility to be really interesting though, as every movement appears to be fluid and effortless. He flashed nice edgework and quick, seamless turns with the puck.
With the departure of multiple big pieces for Rimouski, including Lafrenière, Bolduc has the opportunity to really take the reins of this team. Today, his elite skillset was evident, but he failed to really move the needle for his team in even strength situations and had a few consistency issues. I want to see him carry the puck more, move his feet quicker and get to the net more often. He has good flashes in every area, just needs to find consistency. I’ll keep an eye on how this develops for him, but at worst, I could definitely see Bolduc translating as a smart two-way goalscorer who might play more often than not away from the puck.
Can’t wait to see how he adjusts his play to his new role with Rimouski throughout the season.
Twitter : @AndyLehoux1
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Footage taken from NeuLion and the QMJHL
