Welcome to our latest offseason series where we will take a look at each player’s impact this past season, what their future holds in Minnesota and what to expect in 2023-24.
The 6-foot-2 forward had a very impressive sophomore season for the Minnesota Wild. So much so, the Wild signed him to a seven-year, $49 million contract extension that begins next season, making him a long-term core piece.
Boldy notched 12 goals and 29 points through 42 games at the time of the extension. After the extension, Boldy racked up 19 goals and 34 points in 39 games for the Wild, which helped him finish his sophomore season with 31 goals and 63 points.
The Wild traded a third-round pick on Feb. 28 to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Marcus Johansson, who made a huge impact playing on a line with Boldy. This is Johansson’s second stint with the Wild, with the first being when the organization traded Eric Staal to the Buffalo Sabres for Johansson before the 2020 season.
Johansson had never played with Boldy before, but he had an immediate impact when Wild head coach Dean Evason put the two on a line with center Joel Eriksson Ek. The newly constructed trio had sparked the Wild with another high-end scoring line behind the Mats Zuccarello, Ryan Hartman, and Kirill Kaprizov line.
After the Johansson trade, Boldy went on to score 15 goals in 21 games for the Wild and picked up eight assists along the way. Johansson notched six goals and 18 points in 20 games with Boldy, while Eriksson Ek picked up two goals and 14 points in 18 games.
This success also led to a contract extension for Johansson, who earned a two-year deal worth $2 million annually.
It Isn't Just About The Offense For Boldy
This may come to some as a surprise, but the offense isn’t all that Boldy brings to the Wild. Sure, Boldy finished the season with 31 goals in 81 games, but he also finished second on the team in Even Strength Defensive Goals Above Replacement (which measures a player's defensive impact) behind only Jared Spurgeon, according to Evolving-Hockey.
Boldy also finished third on the team in goals against per 60 behind Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin and ranked second on the Wild in expected goals against per 60 behind Spurgeon.
This means you could make a case in saying Boldy was the Wild’s best defensive forward during the 2022-23 season, while also eclipsing the 30-goal mark.
What’s Next For Boldy?
The former Boston College Eagle is set to enter into his new seven-year contract extension next season for the Wild where he will be relied on to continue the success he's had so far in his young career.
Believe it or not, but Boldy still has time to develop even more. He worked on his defensive game a lot and his improvement in that area is evident. I think what is next for him is to step up a little more in the playoffs. He has played two years of playoff hockey now, so that experience will do nothing but help.
The good news is, even in rough patches throughout the year, Boldy still plays elite-level defense, which allows you to go a stretch of games without playing to the offensive side that is expected of you.
2023-24 Matt Boldy Prediction: 35 goals and 42 assists for 77 points. — Dylan Loucks
2023-24 Matt Boldy Prediction: 37 goals and 45 assists for 82 points — Aaron Heckmann