Steady Progression Has Bolduc On The Cusp Of Full-Time NHL Duty

Player development is never a straight line from point A to point B.

For some, the transition to pro hockey is a simple adjustment in a few areas of the game.  Some spend several years honing their craft in preparation for their first NHL recall.

Others see their NHL dream slowly fade away, whether due to lack of progression or the unlucky fate of being trapped in a large group of players on the organizational depth chart.

It wasn't an overnight transition, but his steady work both on and off the ice the past two-plus seasons in the American Hockey League (AHL) has Bridgeport Islanders third-year defenseman Samuel Bolduc approaching his peak potential - playing big minutes in the AHL with Bridgeport while awaiting his next NHL opportunity with the New York Islanders.

"You know, just the evolution of  him," head coach Brent Thompson began when asked about how Bolduc's game has progressed. "Each guy matures at a different point and at a different pace.  And I think right now Sam is understanding how effective his shot is, you know, how the first pass is a key to his success and defending and so he's progressing in a real good path right now. And obviously, we want to keep pushing him and keep going in that direction."

Bolduc, the Islanders' 2nd round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, blossomed in the Quebec Major-Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) into a big-bodied defenseman possessing offensive instincts uncommonly found in players of his build. In his final season of junior hockey in 2019-20, Bolduc put up 11 goals and 32 assists in 61 games.

Entering the pro ranks during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season only allowed for Bolduc to appear in 24 games his rookie season, but he certainly made the most of it - recording six goals and adding eight assists in what added up to a mini-season of exhibition games between Bridgeport, Hartford and Providence.

"Even the COVID-year with 24 games I learned a lot," Bolduc recalled of his rookie campaign. "I just tried to follow the older guys."

One area Bridgeport has unquestionable depth in is the sheer number of veteran players available for their prospects to learn from. Bolduc has had plenty of experienced defenders to lean on over the course of his time in Bridgeport, noting the organization does a good job of bringing in all kinds of different players to the organization and that he's taken pieces from multiple players to implement into his own game.

"I've learned a lot. We have a good group of veterans," Bolduc explained to InsideAHLHockey.com. "Like, when you watch these guys every day you learn a lot from them. I think the three years [here with Bridgeport has] really helped me a lot."

While he didn't have much success offensively last season - just seven points in 57 games in 2021-22 - an improvement in his ability to read the play in front of him a little quick has made all the difference as he came firing out of the gates to begin this season to the tune of 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in his first nine games.

"I mean, for a defenseman to be point for game... you don't see that often," Bolduc told InsideAHLHockey.com back in December, at a time when he had recorded 18 points in his first 19 games.

"I'm just trying to keep my game simple, and when I see something just do it right away. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, [just have to] weather the storm."

Thompson noted a subtle change to Bolduc's approach to playing with the puck in the offensive zone has opened up his offensive potential at the AHL level.

"His offensive production is just as simple as getting pucks to the net as quick as he can," Thompson said of Bolduc's offensive surge this year. "And getting his opportunity on the powerplay and taking advantage of the opportunities. You always saw the big shot, and you always knew it was there, but it wasn't getting off last year as much. This year he's actually putting it on net, and it's getting there."

Bolduc's offensive accolades were noticed leaguewide as the Islanders defenseman was selected to participate in the 2023 AHL All-Star Classic, though he had to miss the event as he got his first NHL call up two weeks prior to the AHL's premiere event.

Instead, he made his NHL debut on January 23 and appeared in six NHL games - scoring his first career NHL goal in his fifth career game at home against Seattle on February 7.

Back with Bridgeport for what appears to be the stretch run as the AHL Islanders push toward the playoffs, Bolduc has a barometer of what it's like at the NHL and what he needs to work on to be more prepared the next time the NHL club comes calling for a defenseman from Bridgeport.

"I think I would say my consistency," Bolduc noted of what he's trying to key on while in the AHL. "But I think since I got to the pro league it has [continued to] get better," he added, noting getting comfortable at the AHL level has also been a key factor in his finding another gear to his game this season.

As for what Thompson would like to see from Bolduc while he's in the AHL, it's not earth-shattering stuff. It's being reliable defensively and in the defensive zone.

"Yeah, I mean, listen, everybody does. At the end of the day, you have to be able to defend and I think the whole team needs to be a little bit better defending and Sam's no different," Thompson said of the importance of defense.

Bolduc's bench boss also noted that he doesn't think the third year pro is too far off from breaking through to the NHL full-time. It's apparent from talking to anyone surrounding the team that Bolduc is thought of as a piece of the future on the Islanders blue line. His attributes appear to fit seamlessly with what the Islanders are trying to build at the NHL level.

"I mean, I think he's such a big man - he's got an NHL body and an NHL shot," Thompson said, complimenting Bolduc's attributes. "The defensive side of things, if he continues to work on his footwork and just closing plays off or ending plays with his physical presence, he'll be in the NHL for a very long time."