The Vancouver Canucks need another left winger, preferably someone who can score and complete the top six. Is American Matthew Boldy that guy?
There are an abundance of options the Vancouver Canucks can take with the 10th overall pick in this year’s draft.
An interesting thing about the 2019 draft is the amount of American talent, most notably from the U.S Hockey Development Program. That includes projected first overall pick Jack Hughes, and as many as five of the top 10 picks could come from that team.
In this preview, we look at a member of that star-studded team in left winger Matthew Boldy. For a team like the Canucks, who are starved for skill and scoring on the wing — Boldy could be the perfect fit.
At 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, Boldy can be considered a modern power forward — a player who is able to drive to the net — as well as create plays with his outstanding skill and powerful skating stride.
Boldy fills a need for the Canucks, who would likely play him alongside Bo Horvat or Elias Pettersson, completing either line with high power offence. Although he looks like he could maker a near immediate impact, Boldy has committed to Boston College, meaning his NHL debut could be a year or two away. Either way, Boldy is expected to be a top 10 pick; and if he is there at 10, Vancouver should pick him.
The Diagnostics
Height: 188cm
Weight: 87kg
Birthday: April 5, 2001
Position: LW
Team: U.S National Team Development Program
During his time with the USNTDP he scored 62 goals, putting him a hair in front of Buffalo Saber and former second overall pick Jack Eichel, for eighth- most in the programs history. A lot of reports compare him to Jake Virtanen, and many would consider him an upgrade on the Abbotsford winger. His style is what many envision of Virtanen, and the selection of Boldy could make Virtanen expandable for a much needed defenceman.
In the most popular draft rankings, Boldy’s position hovers but is usually within the Canucks range.
Rankings:
The Athletic (subscription required): Seventh
Future Considerations: Seventh
As we can see, his ranking is very fluid throughout the different lists. Some have him quite high, meaning the Canucks would have to trade to get him — an unlikely thing to happen, and some have them right in Vancouver’s wheelhouse.
While he posses elite offensive skill, his back-checking commitment doesn’t come without question marks. This could very well be a moot point though. When your team is winning games in blowout fasion, there is not the utmost importance on back-checking.
Boldy is a physical, powerful player who adds an element of elite skill, making him one of the games best up and coming prospects. If he were to play with Petterson, the Canucks will have found their skilled forward, as well as a guy who can defend the Swedish centre. If Boldy is to play with Horvat, suddenly you have a physical scoring line much like the Boston Bruins — who have found success with that in recent years.
Either way, Boldy would be an invaluable addition to the Canucks prospect cupboard. In addition to being a good player, if he were on the Canucks — fans would be treated to some moments of “Boldy and Goldy.” That is if the Nikolay Goldobin, the beleaguered Russian, is to be in Vancouver when Boldy arrives.