‘He could be a 25-goal scorer’: Snake Boisvert predicts major second-half surge for Canadiens’ Zachary Bolduc

Photo credit: Vitor Munhoz/ Montreal Canadiens

Simon “Snake” Boisvert is sending an optimistic message about Zachary Bolduc, and it speaks directly to Canadiens fans.

The Quebec analyst has been everywhere in recent months. He now co-hosts a podcast about young players with The Sick Podcast and was just hired as a scout by the Gatineau Olympiques, no less. In a recent appearance on The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro, Boisvert explained that in St. Louis, Bolduc started the season quietly before taking off after the holidays.

For him, the same scenario could very well repeat itself with the Canadiens this year.
Let’s recall what the Quebec-born forward accomplished last season with the Blues. At 22, he finished the year with 36 points in 72 games – including 19 goals – and, most importantly, 14 points in his final 19 games with a +20 differential. In short, he truly exploded in the second half of the schedule.

Bolduc’s Early Season Dip and Why a Second-Half Surge Remains Possible

Today, Bolduc is now at the Bell Centre. Acquired on July 1, 2025, in exchange for Logan Mailloux, the Trois-Rivières forward stands 6 feet tall, weighs 187 pounds, and has 6 goals, 6 assists, and 12 points in 26 games with the Canadiens this season, averaging 13:42 of ice time.

His three-year entry-level contract is worth a total of about $4.0 million. For this season, he earns a base salary of roughly $832,500 with a cap hit of around $863,000, before becoming a restricted free agent in 2026.

Simon “Snake” Boisvert on Zachary Bolduc:

“I remember last year with the Blues, I noticed that at the beginning of the year, he wasn’t doing great either, and he really, really took off after the holidays. And that’s when I started thinking he could be a 25 goal scorer.

So could it be that he’s a slow starter? I have no proof of that, but I’m just saying that I felt the same way about him last year as I do now.”

– Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro

We know the last few weeks haven’t been as bright. Bolduc had a start to the season described as “tremendous,” but he later lost minutes, was moved down to the fourth line, and even played a game with just 10:32 of ice time in Buffalo.

Despite that, his numbers remain interesting. He has three power-play goals, 38 shots on goal, and a -4 differential, while also scoring in a major win in Calgary that extended his road point streak.

Seen this way, Boisvert’s reminder becomes reassuring. If Bolduc was able to turn a slow start into an offensive explosion with the Blues, nothing prevents the same movie from playing out again in Montreal – especially with a very affordable contract and only 22 years of age.

Previously on All Montreal Hockey

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‘He could be a 25-goal scorer’: Snake Boisvert predicts major second-half surge for Canadiens’ Zachary Bolduc

Do you believe Zachary Bolduc is poised for an offensive breakout with the Canadiens?

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