Zack Bolduc

There is considerable debate as to who is the Blues top prospect with Bolduc in the talk, along with Jake Neighbours. Bolduc had 55 goals and 99 points in 65 regular season games and then chipped in eight goals and four helpers in 12 post-season contests. "Bolduc had an injury coming out of the Quebec league playoffs and we didn't see the benefit of him pushing through that after what he had been through, the number of games that he played," GM Doug Armstrong said. "But yes, he did open our eyes. We have very healthy internal debates on who our No. 1 prospect is. Is it (Jake) Neighbours or Bolduc, Boldic or Neighbours? Because they both are dynamic players, both are different players in the way they affect the game but both have a major affect on the game. It's exciting to see those two players and then you don't have to look just through rose-colored glasses to envision them playing with Robert Thomas and (Jordan) Kyrou and now all of the sudden, you might have four of your top six in your team within 12-18 months moving forward. Like Robert Thomas, I think this is the last day I can say it, but I think he's still 22. I think he might turn 23 tomorrow and Kyrou's young. There's some good, skilled players in our group now with Kyrou, Thomas, Bolduc and Neighbours that maybe we haven't had in a number of years. That's a hat's off to the amateur staff."

Bolduc wasn't available for the Traverse City Prospects Tournament because of a lower-body injury. He was hurt during Canada's World Junior training camp this past summer, but he is ready to get back to playing. "I'm really excited," Bolduc said. "It's my first game. I'm going to enjoy it as much as I can and have fun and learn through that process." He is slated to play alongside Kyle Clifford and Logan Brown, who was acquired last Saturday from Ottawa. 

Bolduc scored 10 goals and 29 points in 27 QMJHL games this season. The St. Louis Blues selected him with the 17th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. "I would describe myself as a guy who can play center or on the wing, a guy who can skate pretty well and has a great shot," Bolduc said. "Also can pass it. I'm creative with the puck, I like to create some plays. I can (play a) physical, fast, skilled game. I can play any type of game. That's me." He needs some more time to develop, but he certainly has the potential to be a good top-six forward in the future.

With Quebec League teammate Alexis Lafreniere off with the New York Rangers in 2020-21, Bolduc became the big man on campus with the Rimouski Oceanic last season. The 18-year-old managed to finish first on the team in scoring (29 points in 27 games) and he was one of three players on his team to hit double figures in goals (he scored 10 times). Bolduc is a smart player with good offensive instincts, but the points seem to come and go over the course of a season. He has good size (six-foot-one, 180 pounds) and a nice shot, but he needs to prove that he can be more consistent. He has the tools to become a second-line center for the Blues down the road, but he has a lot to prove before he gets there.