The New York Islanders drafted defenseman Samuel Bolduc in the second round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Since then, the 6’4 defenseman has been tearing up the QMJHL. Bolduc played in 61 games last year and recorded 11 goals and 32 assists for a total of 43 points. His +/- was great too, coming in at a +13, that stat doesn’t really matter, though.
Bolduc, who is now 20 years old, will have a shot to prove his worth in the minors. And I believe that he will surprise many and become the next “guy” for the Islanders. What are the expectations for Samuel Bolduc for the upcoming season?
Role
There’s no doubt in my mind that Bolduc will be on the top pairing in Bridgeport by the end of the year. Brent Thompson might be a terrible coach, but it’s hard to misjudge a guy like Bolduc. Samuel Bolduc is a big defender, and that’s exactly what the Islanders need. But there’s no way Bolduc gets pulled up this year. He’s not beating out Noah Dobson, Nick Leddy, Andy Greene, or Sebastian Aho.
Islander fans will have to wait at least two more years for him to be truly ready. I still think Bolduc plays well in his first year at Bridgeport. The kid has been pretty much dominant at every level so far. I have high hopes for the Islanders’ 2019 second-round draft pick.
Scouting Report
All I’ve done so far is praise Samuel Bolduc, but I’ve stated no evidence to back this praise up. Bolduc has an absolute cannon of a slapshot, and he relies on it a lot. It’s nowhere close to what Ryan Pulock does, but it’s still a heat-seeking missile. Bolduc should use his wrist shot a bit more often, it would confuse defenders for sure. Sometimes Bolduc is really great with his breakout passes, sometimes he’s a mess. That’s something that has to be cleaned up, you can’t play at the next level and make those mistakes. I think Bolduc could use his body a bit more, he’s a big guy, and he needs to throw his weight around. His skating could also be better and his decision making. Most of these unwanted qualities will be fixed before Bolduc hits the NHL ice. Mark my words, Samuel Bolduc will become a top 4 defenseman.