Islanders Ink Bolduc to 2-Year Extension, What He Showed in Year 1
On Tuesday, the New York Islanders inked 22-year-old defenseman Samuel Bolduc to a two-year extension.
Defenseman Samuel Bolduc was one of six players to make their NHL debut with the New York Islanders in 2022-23. After a breakout season in the AHL and a cup of coffee in the NHL, the 22-year-old has inked a two-year extension, the club announced on Tuesday.
Per CapFriendly, the deal is worth $800,000 annually and is a one-way contract.
In 17 regular-season games with New York, Bolduc scored a goal with two assists, averaging 14:24 TOI.
Bolduc, the Islanders' second-round pick in 2019, took a bit to develop at the minor league level.
Injuries and COVID-19 stunted his development to the point when people questioned if he could really turn into the player the Islanders hoped he would be.
But for the first time in his pro career, Bolduc entered the 2022-23 season healthy.
Having a clean bill of health allowed Bolduc to dominate from the get-go as he was hands down the Bridgeport Islanders' strongest defenseman, with eight goals and 18 assists in 40 games.
Bolduc had this to say ahead of his first NHL game, which took place on Jan. 23 up in Toronto, as he played in place of an injured Noah Dobson.
"It helps to be able to [play] right away," Bolduc said. "But I just think confidence, just after three years, confidence goes up."
In his first NHL game, Bolduc showed off quick decision-making and an unwillingness to stand down to anyone, bodying off Auston Matthews in the corner a few shifts into the game.
He used his six-foot-four, 220-pound frame to box out opponents and played like a 10-year veteran. And Bolduc also showed zero hesitation to shoot the puck.
Following a six-game stint with New York, Bolduc returned to Bridgeport when the Islanders backed back to full strength. What he showed in those six games was that he not only had the potential to be an NHLer but that he may be a key part of the equation in 2023-24.
Despite a successful first stint, Bolduc's second one from Mar. 21 through the first two postseason games showed that the youngster has more to learn.
The things that Bolduc was doing so well to start his NHL career were not coming as easy. His decision-making was off. He was getting beat to pucks, taking the wrong routes, and just seemed lost on the ice.
It led to quick benchings from first-year head coach Lane Lambert, as the Islanders had no room for error as they fought for one of the final wild-card spots.
When defenseman Alexander Romanov failed to return from injury in time for the postseason, Lambert had no choice but to rely on his young defenseman against a tough Carolina Hurricanes team.
Unfortunately, Bolduc's struggles to end the regular season seeped into his playoff performance.
After watching from the bench for the final 8:30 of the third period in New York's 2-1 defeat on Monday night after a shaky performance, he sat for longer in Game 2's 4-3 overtime loss on Wednesday.
With 15:59 to play in the second period and the Islanders down 1-0, Bolduc got his stick up on Carolina defenseman Brett Pesce, earning him a double-minor for high sticking, the Islanders' second such penalty of the evening.
The Islanders did kill off the infraction, a penalty kill that went five-for-six on the night.
However, Lambert had seen enough from his 22-year-old defenseman as he sat and watched the remaining 41:02.
"He hadn't played too many games up here, and with every young player that comes up, there's a continual learning process, and playoffs are a completely different level," Lambert said regarding Bolduc.
"So, just getting acclimatized to that level has been a little bit of a challenge for him, but he's done some good things as well."
Although Sebastian Aho showed well this past season- one of the best defensemen for New York in the playoffs- there is still continued competition for the club's sixth and final defense spot.
Being a lefty, Bolduc would not be a Scott Mayfield replacement if the pending unrestricted free agent does walk out the door. But if the Islanders view Bolduc as an everyday player in 2022-23, maybe we will see some other changes to the backend this off-season.