Zachary Bolduc

Zachary Bolduc (born February 24, 2003) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who plays for the Springfield Thunderbirds in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a prospect to the St. Louis Blues in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by the Blues with the 17th overall pick in the draft.

Playing career
Bolduc initially began down the college hockey path, playing 20 games with Mount Saint Charles Academy and two games with the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League before choosing to play major junior hockey with the Rimouski Océanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in October 2019. In his rookie season in 2019–20, Bolduc led all rookies in goals with 30 and finished second in points with 52. He was named the QMJHL's rookie of the year, named to the all-rookie team and was awarded the Michel Bergeron Trophy as offensive rookie of the year. He spent two seasons with Rimouski, collecting 40 goals and 81 points in 82 games. Bolduc won the Michael Bossy Trophy as the QMJHL's best prospect on May 31, 2021. On August 3, 2021, Bolduc was traded to the Quebec Remparts for four draft picks. He then played his final two seasons under coach Patrick Roy, scoring 50 goals in both seasons. In the 2022–23 season, Bolduc and the Remparts won the Gilles-Courteau Trophy as the champions of the QMJHL playoffs and the Memorial Cup. At the end of the season Bolduc was named a Canadian Hockey League Second Team All-Star.

Bolduc was selected by the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the first round, 17th overall, in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Blues on August 24, 2021. With the conclusion of his major junior career, Bolduc joined the Blues but was assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, to begin the 2023–24 season. Bolduc played in 48 games with the Thunderbirds, scoring eight goals and 23 points before being recalled by the Blues on February 20, 2024. He made his NHL debut on February 22 against the New York Islanders, who were being managed by his former coach with the Remparts, Patrick Roy. Bolduc scored his first NHL goal in his second game, a 6–1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on February 24, his 21st birthday. Bolduc registered his first multi-point game with a goal and an assist in a 5–2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on April 10. With the Blues eliminated from the playoffs, Bolduc was one of three young players assigned to Springfield on April 18. He appeared in 25 games with the Blues, scoring five goals and nine points.