The St. Louis Blues can only be pleased with the progression curve of Zachary Bolduc, who has developed into a true maverick with the Quebec Remparts. The Trifluvien now hopes to get his chance to break into training in the National Hockey League (NHL).

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The Missouri squad had only a slim sample of Bolduc's performance when they decided to set their sights on him with the 17th round of the 2021 draft. The former Rimouski Océanic exploded in 2021 -2022 with the Red Devils.

Well confident, the 19-year-old center player is now thinking about the best circuit on the planet.

“I believe I can compete with the best guys in the world. But at the end of the day, it's not me who makes the decision. So I will do everything I can to play in the NHL this year,” he said Sunday in an interview with the daily “St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

“I still have big improvements to make to get to the National League. Learning from veterans is a good way for me to learn,” added Bolduc.

Sniper

After his first two campaigns in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (LHJMQ), the forward had scored 40 goals in 82 games. His harvest was far from bad, but he completely eclipsed it last regular season with 55 goals in 65 games.

He was the spark plug for the Remparts, who finished first in the Courteau circuit standings, but were unable to win the President's Cup.

"It didn't end the way we would have liked," admitted Bolduc, still proud of his efforts and those of his teammates.

It's not for lack of trying: the Blues prospect has added eight goals in 12 playoff games. He explains quite simply the reasons for his success.

"Shoot more," Bolduc said. And do it in paid areas, the places where you usually score. It really changed my production when I focused on those things.”

"The 63 goals, I didn't think about it at the start of the season. I kept shooting and the goals came.

Bolduc was trailed only by William Dufour of the Saint John Sea Dogs as QMJHL leading scorers. He also had five hat tricks in the regular season.