With a new contract, where does Samuel Bolduc fit into the New York Islanders 2023-24 equation?
Retaining talent was the New York Islanders' priority heading into the 2023 NHL off-season. While there was no risk that 22-year-old defenseman Samuel Bolduc was walking out the door as a pending restricted free agent, he was due for a new contract and got that on Tuesday.
Bolduc's cup of coffee at the NHL level lasted 19 total game, and as explained in the piece above, it was a tale of two halves for the youngster.
READ MORE: Islanders Ink Bolduc to 2-Year Extension, What He Showed in Year 1
Here's what an NHL scout had to say about Bolduc in year one and what his role with the Islanders could look like in 2023-24:
Scout Central
It was evident that Bolduc, standing at six-foot-four, and weighing 220 pounds, has the right frame to be successful in today's NHL.
Despite his size, it's Bolduc's mobility that can separate him from the pack.
However, he's not a finished product by any stretch of the imagination.
"Skating. He needs better edgework," an NHL scout told The Hockey News on Tuesday. "He has to continue developing in terms of making decisions. They have to come quicker. And sometimes smarter, but that all comes with experience."
Another standout with Bolduc is that he doesn't hesitate to shoot the puck, with 45 attempts in just 17 games. Of his 20 shots, with 16 getting blocked and another nine missing the net, 10 came via slap shots, nine were wrist shots, and one was a snap shot, per NHL.com.
Bolduc's Fit in 2023-24
Due to Bolduc's contract being a one-way deal and the fact that he is no longer waiver exempt, one can expect him to be on the Islanders' NHL roster going forward.
Although having a similar frame to pending unrestricted free agent Scott Mayfield, Bolduc's signing has no impact on Mayfield's status with the club.
The plan, per general manager Lou Lamoriello on June 6, was to retain Mayfield if they could.
Unless major changes are made to the Islanders' backend this off-season, Bolduc will, at the very least, serve as the club's seventh defenseman.
As of now, it appears that Bolduc will battle against Sebastian Aho in training camp for that No. six spot.
2023-24 Defense Pairing Projections:
Adam Pelech--Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov--Noah Dobson
Samuel Bolduc/Sebastian Aho--Scott Mayfield/?
Like Aho, Bolduc can play on the power play, as he quarterbacked Bridgeport's top unit this past season.
Bolduc's special-team prowess is why the Islanders called him up despite having left-handed defenseman Parker Wotherspoon up at the NHL level.
Despite Noah Dobson's struggles as the Islanders' No. 1 power-play quarterback this past season, there's no reason to think Dobson won't hold that role this upcoming season as he continues to develop at the NHL level.
Dobson will only be taken off the top power-play unit if Lamoriello adds a power-play quarterback via trade or free agency.
It's rather likely that if Bolduc does make the opening night lineup, he be tasked with quarterbacking the Islanders' second power-play unit.
Bolduc played just a tad over 23 minutes on the power play this past season, with three total shots and two scoring chances, per NaturalStatrick.com. Interestingly, Bolduc was hesitant to get pucks toward the net in his limited power-play minutes but never hesitated at five-on-five.
The Islanders haven't had many prospects to boast about in quite some time. With the continual trading of first-round picks, it becomes ultra-important that Bolduc, a former second-round pick, develops into a top-four defenseman for New York.