It’s starting to feel like everyone in this draft is coming from the same team, and Matthew Boldy is yet another highly regarded prospect from the US National U18 Team. He is heading into the draft this summer and just like his teammates, Trevor Zegras, Jack Hughes, and Cole Caufield, Boldy is expected to be drafted in the top 10. The Millis, Massachusetts native had a great season in the USDP and really showcased his skills for Team USA in under 18 World Juniors.
BSH 2019 Draft Profile: Matthew Boldy
Position/Team: LW U.S National U18 Team, USDP
2018-19 Statistics: 33G, 48A in 64GP
Size: 6’2 192 Lbs
Pre-draft rankings:
#9 Bob McKenzie
#7 ISS Hockey
What’s there to like?
Boldy may not have the top acceleration of someone like Jack Hughes, but he is still a very good skater with good speed and great edge work. He is very good at protecting the puck and he has great balance and agility. Boldy’s best skill is his shot; he is a pure sniper with a terrific wrist shot. He can score any way you want and he is always a threat in the offensive zone. He is a smart player who is not afraid to get into the dirty areas. While he is a sniper, he is also an underrated playmaker and stick-handler as well, and he has shown that he’s not just a one-trick pony. He is a good forechecker and does great work along the boards which is something that should translate pretty naturally in the NHL.
What’s not to like?
One major area where Boldy needs to improve is in the defensive zone, which to his credit he has started to work on already. He’s been known to look somewhat lost when defending in the past but he has the tools to maybe even be very good at it, it may just be a case of maturity. Boldy has been used on the Penalty kill at times this year so maybe in a year or two his defensive play could turn into a strength? Who knows, stranger things have happened.
How would he fit in the Flyers’ system?
Flyers need for a goalscorer is not a a secret and it’s been an issue for years, so i have no doubt that the Flyers would be interested in drafting him if he was available at the 11th pick. His goal scoring touch and overall skill set would fit in well with the team. Boldy is a hard player to play against and Flyers need more of those. I also think that Alain Vigneault’s fast pace system could be beneficial to someone like Boldy, who does his best work when he is active on the forecheck and in the opponents faces. Another great fit is the fact that Boldy is a natural left winger and the Flyers don’t have a lot of depth there outside of Claude Giroux and James Van Riemsdyk, especially quality depth.
Could the Flyers actually get him?
Now this is a tougher question because I think he will be drafted in the top 10. Every year there is always someone who falls and maybe Boldy will be that guy? I personally think there’s a bigger chance someone like Caufield will fall, simply because he is a smaller guy. The Flyers would most likely have to try and trade up to have a chance to get him and the prices of trading up is normally very expensive so i don’t see it happening.
