Canadiens’ Bolduc a Good Candidate for a Bridge Deal

The free-agent focus this summer is clearly on Montreal Canadiens rookie Ivan Demidov, despite the fact his entry-level deal only expires in 2027. Re-signing restricted-free-agent (RFA) forward Zachary Bolduc still represents a more-pressing need, as his deal expires in the coming weeks. Of course, it’s understandable, based on Demidov’s upside as a franchise player, but Bolduc is no slouch, after a sneakily successful 30-point sophomore season.

Bolduc vs. Demidov

Did Bolduc suffer through a sophomore slump? Certainly. After he scored 19 goals and 36 points in 72 games in 2024-25 before being acquired by the Canadiens last offseason for defenseman Logan Mailloux last offseason, the 12 goals and 18 points he scored this one were a slight let-down.

Truth be told, after Bolduc had scored 14 goals and 21 points in his last 28 games of 2024-25 (and three goals and four points in his three games of 2025-26 after joining the Habs), his overall performance justifiably disappointed many. However, context is key, and while his disappointing performance resulted in a drop down the lineup after several failed top-six auditions, he eventually settled into a bottom-six role, where the diminished ice time paints a slightly different picture.

Bolduc’s 1.94 points per 60 minutes in the playoffs, during which he scored seven points in the team’s 19 games, actually rank higher than Demidov’s 1.11 (nine points). While they rank seventh overall per stats compiled by MoneyPuck.com, they really only trail Nick Suzuki (2.27), Cole Caufield (2.23) and Lane Hutson (1.99), among players projected to stay with the team in the long term. True, the seemingly departing Brendan Gallagher, who played in only three games, scoring a single, albeit critical goal, in limited ice time, ranks first. So, take the stat with a grain of salt, but it nevertheless represent a sign of Bolduc’s potential as a still just 23-year-old former first-round pick (No. 17 overall in 2021).

In the right light, while Demidov’s production decreased compared to during the regular season, when he led all rookies in scoring with 62 points, he still had a pretty good playoffs. Even if the points may not have flowed as freely as they once did, he was objectively impressive, especially following a slow first round during which he was clearly snake-bitten. So, in that context, using Demidov as something of a measuring stick, the Canadiens must feel pretty good about Bolduc’s development.

Bolduc vs. Newhook

The Canadiens may not be to the degree they would be willing to make a long-term commitment to Bolduc over his next deal like they are expected to with Demidov. However, in a world where Alex Newhook broke out with an oftentimes clutch seven goals these past playoffs as a 25-year-old, arguably in one fell swoop justifying his current four-year, $11.6 million deal and the perfectly legitimate trade that brought him over in 2023, it makes sense that they would sign Bolduc to similar terms.

There are other coincidences, in that Newhook is a former first-round pick himself (No. 16 overall in 2019) and, in 2022-23 with the Colorado Avalanche, when he was playing for this current contract, he also scored 30 points (14 goals), just like Bolduc this past season. Granted Bolduc is currently one year older to Newhook’s 22 at that stage, but the latter’s progression to this point, where his ceiling admittedly even now remains up in the air, is proof positive patience in a potential top-six forward can pay off. Of course it can. Any suggestions to the contrary fly in the face of a common sense and the origins of the expressions “silencing the critics” and “proving the doubters wrong.”

The Canadiens still have to be cautious here, because they obviously don’t know whether Bolduc will completely pan out, but the point is there’s little reason to get too down on his upside. Signing him for four years like Newhook would bring him to his Age 27 season, at which point he would be slated to become an unrestricted free agent (whereas Newhook will simply be restricted when his contract expires after next season). So, think a three-year pact for approximately $10 million (adjusting for inflation to give him a $3.33 million cap hit compared to Newhook’s current $2.9 million).

It’s easy to envision, along with a Canadiens team routinely contending for the Stanley Cup, one on which Bolduc is playing a huge role, a few short seasons from now. Based on what he displayed during the playoffs, he kind of already is. Him continuing to build on that success may not be a foregone conclusion, but it is a probable one, looking back to the greater scoring potential he showed during his rookie season. So, while Bolduc isn’t necessarily a long-term extension candidate, he certainly is a good bet to stay on for a good long while, well past his hypothetical next deal, whatever that will look like.