2019 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Matthew Boldy scouting report

Matthew Boldy had a terrific season for the USNTDP. He should be one of the first wings selected at the 2019 NHL Draft.

The 2018-19 season was a banner season for the USNTDP. Jack Hughes, Trevor Zegras, and Alex Turcotte are attracting the most attention. This caused Matthew Boldy’s body of work to get overlooked, but he should still be one of the first players selected at the 2019 NHL Draft.

Boldy was the USNTDP’s top scoring wing, posting 33 goals and 81 points in 64 games in the USDP and 17 goals with 43 points in 28 games in the USHL. At the under-18 tournament, his impressive showing (12 points in seven games) cemented his spot as one of the draft’s best prospects.

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Prospect Profile

Height: 6’2″
Weight: 192 pounds
Teams: USNTDP (USDP and USHL); Committed to Boston College in 2019-20
Country: USA
Position: Wing
Handedness: Left-handed
Date of birth: April 5, 2001

All profile info is courtesy of Elite Prospects.

Strengths

Matthew Boldy is, in my opinion, the best two-way wing in the NHL Draft. Not only can he produce with the best of them, but he can also play in a shutdown role.

Boldy put up impressive numbers despite not getting the primetime spot with Jack Hughes on the USNTDP’s scoring line. Instead, he flanked Alex Turcotte on their hybrid shutdown-scoring line. Despite not getting deployed in optimal offensive situations, Boldy led the USNTDP wings in points. While Zegras bested him, I’d argue he’s a center, not a wing.

He has a great frame and he’s not afraid to be physical. Boldy was able to keep up with Turcotte, which is a testament to his skating and edgework. He’s not the fastest skater, but his instincts help him find soft spots in coverage. Boldy’s shot is very good and is one of the best scorers in the draft.

His most impressive strength, though, is his versatility. Over the years, Boldy has been asked to fill a number of different roles. He’s flourished in all of them. Boldy has a strong overall game and his success despite being asked to do different things is remarkable. He was a huge part of both the penalty kill and power play.

Boldy just barely missed my list of top 10 prospects, as I had him ranked at number 11. You can check out that list below if you’re interested.

Weaknesses

Boldy has a very well-rounded skill set, which means he has very few weaknesses. He lacks the sky-high offensive upside of someone like his teammate Cole Caufield. Boldy’s skating needs to improve as well. He could stand to be more consistent as well.

He isn’t as physical as you’d like a 6-foot-2 wing to be, but I’m encouraged by how he uses his size to his advantage. One of the few things I have yet to see Boldy do is drive his own line. He’s a heck of a complementary player, but he has yet to show he can lead a line.

What They’re Saying

Boldy is a unique winger in how he plays the game. His combination of puck skills and hockey IQ are among the best in the draft  – Corey Pronman from The Athletic

He put up big numbers without getting the offensive opportunities afforded to a player like Caufield. – Scott Wheeler from The Athletic

Highlights

Overall Outlook

Very few wings can drive a line. Boldy has the tools to do it, but has yet to show it. His well-balanced skill set and commitment to two-way hockey makes him one of the safest picks in the draft. If Boldy can take that next step and prove he doesn’t need Hughes or Turcotte to put up points, he’ll make whoever drafts him look brilliant.