Bolduc Makes NHL Debut vs Maple Leafs

Thankfully for Samuel Bolduc, there was not a lot of traffic on I-95 on Sunday morning.
The Bridgeport Islanders defenseman got a phone call from the team around 11 a.m., telling him to meet the New York Islanders for their 2 p.m. flight to Toronto. He quickly packed a bag and drove down from Connecticut, surprising Bridgeport teammates like Parker Wotherspoon, another recent recall, when he boarded the plane.

Bolduc was beaming to be on the ice at Scotiabank Arena during morning skate for his first NHL recall.
"It means a lot," Bolduc said after morning skate. "As a young kid you dream of maybe being close to the NHL and right now, just being in the locker room with all of the guys is pretty amazing."
A few hours later he was taking the customary rookie lap. That night he played 14:28 with a shot on goal, three attempts, three hits and a block.
"It's pretty amazing," Bolduc said after the game. "At first it was hard to realize that I was realizing one of my dreams, but a couple of shifts in just come back in and focus on the game."

Bolduc's debut marked a step forward for the Islanders' 2019 second round pick (57th overall), who has 26 points (8G, 18A) in 40 games with Bridgeport. The defenseman is having his best professional year to date and will represent Bridgeport at this year's upcoming AHL All-Star Classic in his hometown of Laval.
"It helps to be healthy," Bolduc said of his offensive output in his third year in Bridgeport after one COVID-shortened season and one hampered by injury. "After three years, the confidence just goes up. We have a decent group of players in Bridgeport so that helps a lot and we have a lot of fun together and it's been fun to come to the rink."
Listed at 6'4, 220 lbs., Bolduc brings some size to the Islanders blue line. Anthony Beauvillier said Bolduc is a horse in the gym, as the two French-Canadians have become offseason training partners.
"He's definitely a big kid with a lot of skills, a lot of talent in his game and obviously a big body," Beauvillier said. "He sees the ice very well, is a great guy to be around and a horse in the gym. It'll definitely be a great add to our lineup if he is [in]."

Beauvillier said there was even a benefit to being around the team for the 22-year-old just for practice days and getting a glimpse of NHL life.
"It's a great experience for him to be around, see the day-to-day life of what we do and being a part of our video meetings," Beauvillier said. "Just being a part of the group and team for practice, it'll be a good experience for him and good to see him getting a shot at it after seeing the work he's put in over the past two summers."
The defenseman rode a little bit of momentum after scoring a pair of goals in his most recent game in Bridgeport, a 3-2 loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Prior to turning pro, Bolduc had 94 points (22G, 72A) in 189 QMJHL games with Blainville -Boisbriand Sherbrooke, but sees his game as more well-rounded after three years in the American League. Head Coach Lane Lambert said he liked Bolduc's poise in his first game.
Of course, after his first game in the NHL, Bolduc knows there's still a lot to learn and that he's only at the start of his NHL journey.
"It's still my first game so I still have a lot of things to learn," Bolduc said. "The more experienced I'm going to take, the better it's going to be."