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LW Matthew Boldy - Boston College, NCAA (2019, 12th, MIN)

Guerin has got to be extremely tempted to bring Boldy up. Seems clear his versatility will give the team a huge boost but it also may be best for Boldy's longterm development to stay in Iowa until next fall.
 
MNRube said:
Guerin has got to be extremely tempted to bring Boldy up. Seems clear his versatility will give the team a huge boost but it also may be best for Boldy's longterm development to stay in Iowa until next fall.
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I feel like bringing him up would be good long and short term, like caufield. The important thing is not to put pressure on the prospect to succeed or fuflill a certain role. Its not the case he would be in. I also think although not a finished product, his intangibles (hands, IQ) are still gonna translate well
 
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molotce said:
I feel like bringing him up would be good long and short term, like caufield. The important thing is not to put pressure on the prospect to succeed or fuflill a certain role. Its not the case he would be in. I also think although not a finished product, his intangibles (hands, IQ) are still gonna translate well
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I agree that he should at least get a taste of the NHL. There is nothing like the real thing to get you focussed on improvement. I suspect that he will be a help on the PP sooner rather than later. I will be curious to see how he deals with the physicality of the NHL.
 
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Boldy was always a really interesting member of that '19 NTDP team. Certainly didn't jump off the page the way guys like Hughes and Caufield did, but on a closer look you'd see a very smart player with great size and athleticism. A bit raw for sure, but if you were willing to project him out a few years he plays a game that translates really nicely to NHL hockey.

I certainly haven't been watching Iowa games, but looks like he's thriving. I thought he was excellent this WJC. Good to see.
 
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I've watched almost every AHL game he has played this year. He has improved in every game. Started out looking competent, with subtle but effective offensive play. Is now getting and making multiple offensive chances every game, as his understanding of the league and higher confidence level allows him to hold onto the puck longer. He seems to shine in the Ozone in tight spaces. Excellent passer with vg+ vision. Not bad on the rush, either, and a better skater than he looked at first, though he needs to keep his feet moving. VG+ shot. Above average in puck battles, but seems to win them more from smarts, reach, and skill than aggressive physicality, though he has good size. Getting lots of PP TOI in Iowa, where he is on the wall, but I also like him down below the end Red line.

Overall, a very composed, smart player. Smooth rather than flashy (like Zegras), but effective hands. I see the comparisons to Stone, though he will have to get a lot stronger, and better defensively to rival him. He has the same passing ability, and a really good shot. Will probably end up being a better skater.
 
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57special said:
I've watched almost every AHL game he has played this year. He has improved in every game. Started out looking competent, with subtle but effective offensive play. Is now getting and making multiple offensive chances every game, as his understanding of the league and higher confidence level allows him to hold onto the puck longer. He seems to shine in the Ozone in tight spaces. Excellent passer with vg+ vision. Not bad on the rush, either, and a better skater than he looked at first, though he needs to keep his feet moving. VG+ shot. Above average in puck battles, but seems to win them more from smarts, reach, and skill than aggressive physicality, though he has good size. Getting lots of PP TOI in Iowa, where he is on the wall, but I also like him down below the end Red line.

Overall, a very composed, smart player. Smooth rather than flashy (like Zegras), but effective hands. I see the comparisons to Stone, though he will have to get a lot stronger, and better defensively to rival him. He has the same passing ability, and a really good shot. Will probably end up being a better skater.
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Thanks i see it the same as you. Especially when he’s using his hands/dekes, he tends to stop moving his feet. If a coach works with him in that he is only gonna have more options!
 
molotce said:
Thanks i see it the same as you. Especially when he’s using his hands/dekes, he tends to stop moving his feet. If a coach works with him in that he is only gonna have more options!
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I see it more when he doesn't have the puck. Mittelstadt, and Johnson(2021) are the guys that tend to slow down when they have the puck. When Boldy has the rubber he is fine, IMO. He does slow things down sometimes, but he can also speed things up and has good edges so he doesn't get flatfooted.
 
57special said:
I see it more when he doesn't have the puck. Mittelstadt, and Johnson(2021) are the guys that tend to slow down when they have the puck. When Boldy has the rubber he is fine, IMO. He does slow things down sometimes, but he can also speed things up and has good edges so he doesn't get flatfooted.
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I’m curious to know from someone who watched more of his AHL games than me, does he gain the offensive zone with speed often a this level ? Btw mittelstadt has changed his game a lot to play more of a text book pro game, he’s much quicker in his decision and his pace has improved, he showed it this year a lot
 
Just played his last AHL game and put up another assist. Also hit iron twice. I saw him do things i haven't seen much earlier, and that was carry the puck through the neutral zone, evading checkers while showing off some pretty advanced edge work. He is pretty good at zone entries, but i wished his teammates understood that sometimes you have to back off the defenders as you approach the Blue line by going fast, then slowing down as you hit the line. They must've gone offside 3-4 times this game when he was setting up a zone entry on a PP.

He is starting to look really good now. More assertive, hanging onto the puck for long periods of time, and showing some speed. I think he could play in the NHL now, though it would be a bugger to stick him in the middle of a playoff.
 
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You wouldn't know he hadn't played in almost two months if you watched him tonight. Easily the best player on the ice. Every time he touched the puck he made the right play. Looks fast, looks strong, making great passes. It might be the best game I've ever seen him play, and I've seen just about every game since he was drafted. If this isn't NHL ready, I'm not sure what is. Very few holes in his game at this level.
 
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