Matt Boldy Is Ready for the Next Level

Matt Boldy, 22, ended his first full NHL season looking just like the superstar that the Minnesota Wild expected him to be. (Ignore the off-season. No one played their best at that point!) With 31 goals and 32 assists, he finished the year with 63 points. Boldy is still young, so he has plenty of time to work out any kinks in his hockey career.

Last Season

Boldy’s sophomore season showed how much more comfortable he is in the NHL. After his linemate Kevin Fiala signed with the Los Angeles Kings during the last off-season, there was a question of who could fill his spot. Bringing Marcus Johansson in at the trade deadline proved to be a great idea because he can match Boldy’s speed. When Kirill Kaprizov went through his scoring drought, Boldy stepped up and went on an absolute scoring tear. Overall, Boldy had a great season.

Strengths

It isn’t hard to figure out Boldy’s biggest strength: he’s a born goal-scorer. He can stickhandle like a pro, and he’s got soft hands, but his speed really sets him apart. When he’s paired with another speedy player like Johansson, he is able to turn on the jets and make a quick play. He’s also got a quirky “office” where he tends to score from. Click here for a good breakdown because it is a unique one that needs some explanation!

Weaknesses

Boldy only seems to have one weakness, and thankfully, it is something that will dwindle with time. After 128 games in the NHL, Boldy is feeling more and more comfortable on the ice. There are still times that instead of taking the shot, he defaults to passing the puck to a more mature player. As his confidence builds, he makes better plays because he decides to take the shot. This was evident last season when he picked up the slack while Kaprizov was out.

Next Season

One interesting question will be, who is centering the second line? Joel Eriksson Ek did well between Boldy and Johansson at the end of last season, but Freddy Gaudreau has also been a good center for Boldy at times. It’ll be a good thing to watch as the season gets underway.

If Boldy can start the season with confidence and hold onto it, he should easily be able to put up plenty of points this season. In the 2022-23 season, Boldy had 63 points in 81 games. That’s nothing to sneeze at, but Boldy is nowhere near the limit of his abilities. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him put up 75, 80, or maybe even 85 points during the 2023-24 season.