All Matt Boldy Does is Win Shootouts
The Minnesota Wild beat the top team in the Eastern Conference without Kirill Kaprizov, Jake Middleton, Jared Spurgeon, and Jakub Lauko on Thursday. With backup goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury in net, the Wild managed to force overtime, and then a shootout, in which Matt Boldy emerged the hero once again.
Matt Boldy does it for the Minnesota Wild again
Once the Wild gained possession of the puck in overtime, they played deliberately, repeatedly retreating out of the offensive zone to the boos of the Washington DC crowd. They managed to maintain possession for about three minutes in overtime. That deliberate play put the Wild in a much more favorable position to steal another point on the road in a shootout. Fleury was perfect, Boldy scored, and the Wild improved to 14-3-3 on the road.
and everyone say thank you Matt Boldy 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/zdjbCrBDaZ
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) January 3, 2025
Although the goal doesn’t do anything to improve Boldy’s stat line the last month or so, it should do something for his confidence going forward. According to Money Puck, Boldy has posted the lowest goals above expected amongst Wild skaters for all but two days since Dec. 7, currently sitting at -3.99.
Both Ryan Hartman and Yakov Trenin scored goals on Thursday, and both have surpassed Boldy in goals above expected when playing at full strength. Since Dec. 7, Boldy has served 16 penalty minutes, scored one goal, and assisted on three others.
Related: Marco Rossi Just Keeps Getting Better… and the Minnesota Wild Need Him Desperately
The Wild are 5-7 in those games. Boldy, however, is responsible for one of those wins with the lone shootout goal to beat Utah on Dec. 11. He repeated that feat, Thursday night, and seems to do it all the time.
How good is Boldy in the shootout?
Six of Boldy’s seven shootout goals have decided games. Amongst NHL players with at least 10 shootout attempts, his 50-percent success rate ranks 17th all-time. He’s so good in one-on-one situations with the goaltender, but those situations don’t come often in the playoffs.
The 23-year-old Boldy is signed through the 2029-30 season and is making $9.7 million this season. That’s the biggest contract on the team outside of Kirill Kaprizov, and he’s not played up to it as of yet. Despite all the game-deciding goals in shootouts, the Wild might have to consider whether Boldy’s future is in Minnesota.
Chris Johnston of The Athletic believes former Wild forward Mikael Granlund is an ideal trade target for Minnesota despite San Jose lacking retention spots and Minnesota operating in long-term injured reserve.
Minnesota Wild Injury Updates – Mostly Good News on Kaprizov, Spurgeon and Middleton
Flipping Boldy for Granlund and picks would simplify that potential trade, and San Jose has the cap space to take on Boldy’s contract. It would also make it easier for Minnesota to extend Kaprizov and the ascending Marco Rossi.
The idea of trading Boldy, 23, might rub some Wild fans the wrong way, but for Minnesota to contend this season, it’ll take a lot more than Boldy has contributed thus far. Granlund can fill that void and allow salary cap relief for a team that’s just about to shed the dead money of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.
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