Matt Boldy has star potential. He’s not a superstar like Kirill Kaprizov, but he’s still far from the ceiling. When Kaprizov got hurt, Boldy stepped up and scored in consecutive games. While the Wild were without their superstar, Boldy was at his best. The problem was, once Kaprizov was well enough to play, Boldy was a little less noticeable.
Although Team USA just lost in the quarterfinals of the IIHF Men’s Hockey Championship, Boldy’s performance has been talked about. Although it is disappointing that they missed the playoffs, playing for Team USA may help Boldy overcome some of the shortcomings in his game heading into next season.
Matt Baldy led the U.S. team in scoring during the tournament until they were eliminated from the championship. He played on the first line next to Johnny Gaudreau and Brady Tkachuk throughout the game and his scoring was incredibly impressive.
With a different lineup, Bordy may have been more aggressive on the ice. After only a few weeks of playing together, he may not have been as confident in his ability to read the other players. Bordy’s performance would have allowed him to make more confident decisions. He had 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists) in 14 games, good for a +8. You can imagine how valuable Bordy would be if he could keep up a one-point-per-game pace during the regular season!
Another great thing about being a part of Team USA was being coached by John Hines. Hines spent most of the season with Boldy and the Wild, but with what was a very unusual season for the team, Hines must have been coaching on a day-to-day basis while the team dealt with a myriad of injuries.
Fans seem to forget that Bordy is only 23 years old. It will be very important for him to have a good relationship with the “new” head coach. If Bordy and Hines can fit in well, Hines will be able to find the key to making Bordy perform at a high level. Again, imagine Kaprizov and Bordy both being guaranteed one point per game. That would be appealing, even if it meant another year of salary cap hell.
Another indirect benefit of Boldy’s consistent play is that it could go a long way in convincing Kaprizov to sign an extension with Minnesota. I’m not personally concerned about this, but many Wild fans see this as a legitimate concern. It might take some of the pressure off Kaprizov knowing he can rely on Boldy to carry the offense on a nightly basis.
Overall, playing for the U.S. team at the World Championships will be a big boost to Boldy’s confidence. As he gains confidence, he will stop relying on older and more experienced players on the ice and start taking his own shots. It will be interesting to see how he is at the start of next season and if there are any noticeable changes.
Think you could write a story like this? Hockey Wilderness wants to nurture your voice and build an audience. We’ll pay you for it. All you have to do is fill out this form.
