Johnny Gaudreau was in Matt Boldy's heart during Wild star's 3-point night

ST.

PAUL, Minn.

Growing up outside Boston and dreaming of going to school and playing hockey for Boston College, Matt Boldy idolized Johnny Gaudreau.

He watched every moment of his Hobey Baker season in 2014, a year Gaudreau scored a ridiculous 36 goals and 80 points in 40 games.

And in 2012, two days after Boldy turned 11 years old, he watched with glee as Johnny Hockey scored a spectacular goal in the third period to help lead the Eagles to the national championship as a freshman.

Advertisement Hes just an unbelievable human being, someone I looked up to so much, Boldy said.

In May, Boldy finally got to meet and spend time with his childhood hero when John Hynes, Boldys Minnesota Wild coach, put Boldy on Gaudreaus line for the United States in the World Championship in Czechia.

Boldy led the tournament with 14 points.

Gaudreau had 11.

I had my buddies texting me, like, We grew up watching this guy, thinking he was a god in Boston, and youre playing on a line with him!' Boldy said.

Boldy had no idea when he assisted on Gaudreaus short-handed goal on a two-on-one against Kazakhstan on May 19 that it would be Gaudreaus last goal.

Boldy was absolutely gutted when he learned in late August that the Columbus Blue Jackets star and his brother, Matthew, were killed in New Jersey when they were struck by an alleged drunk driver while riding their bikes.

Thursday night, the Wild and Blue Jackets kicked off the 2024-25 season.

Before the game, the Wild honored Gaudreau and his brother with a video tribute, then held a 13-second moment of silence (Gaudreaus jersey number).

Johnny Gaudreau set up Matt Boldy and USA leads 2-0.

#MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/K9Qhrbv0CZ Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) May 7, 2024 Boldy, in the starting lineup for the Wild, watched every second of that tribute and did his best to hold it together.

It was good that they did it, Boldy said.

They mean so much to the hockey world.

See how close everyone is, how much respect everyone has for the Gaudreaus.

As bad as a situation it is, its the hockey community coming together and having a moment for them, their family.

The recognition is, I think, important.

Boldy, who didnt play a second of preseason hockey because of a lower-body injury sustained on the third day of training camp, proceeded to score a goal and two assists in a 3-2 victory.

MATT BOLDY NO-LOOKER pic.twitter.com/ngW5mFZWeJ Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 11, 2024 Two years ago when Marcus Johansson was traded to the Wild, Dean Evason assembled a Johansson-Joel Eriksson Ek-Boldy line, and the trio was one of the best lines in hockey down the stretch.

Boldy, especially, erupted.

They were so good, Johansson earned a two-year, $4 million extension because where else were the cap-strapped Wild going to find a second-line left wing that inexpensive who could mesh so well with Boldy? Advertisement Now, in front of Evason in his debut as Columbus coach, the trio would combine for two goals, 6 points and seven shots.

But it was Boldy looking so good that must have the Wild feeling ecstatic.

Hynes had been subtly hinting all camp that he expects a breakout year from Boldy, who scored 60 goals and 132 points the past two years.

President of hockey operations and general manager Bill Guerin has gone further, going on Spittin Chiclets last month and saying Boldy, at some point, has the potential of scoring 50 goals and 50 assists.

What did Boldy think of Guerins prediction? I think you set your goals high, he said.

You should never set goals that are going to be easy.

I think thats why a lot of guys are in the NHL , and why guys are successful.

Its not easy.

Its a lot of work, but you strive for bigger rather than smaller.

If you look at Boldy, hes got all the tools to give Kirill Kaprizov the support of a second star on the roster.

He can fly, hes got great vision, hes as good a passer as he is a shooter and hes one smart hockey player, so smart the Wild plan to incorporate him onto the penalty kill once they can get him practice reps.

Ottawa Senators young forward Shane Pinto also played with Boldy at the World Championship and was blown away at his skill level.

This year, hes going to get like 90 to 100 points, Pinto said last month.

The way he protects the puck, hes 6-2, he shoots it hard, hes smart, fast for that big of a guy.

Its not going to be a breakout year because he already put up (69), but I think he could take definitely the next step.

Added Eriksson Ek: Just watching the end of last year, you could really tell what hes become and what hes becoming.

I think hes I dont want to pump his tires too much but I said it before I think he might be close to 100 points at some point in his career.

Hes just so smart and so big and so strong.

He loves hockey, too.

So, its just fun to watch him and share the ice with him.

Advertisement I dont think there is a ceiling for that guy, Johansson said.

Hes a pretty good hockey player.

When Evason was fired last season, Boldy had scored one goal in 12 games.

Hynes arrived and Boldy scored 28 goals and 61 points in 63 games (a 36-goal, 79-point pace over 82 games).

Boldy continued the prolific output for Hynes at worlds.

It sure seems like the two have hit it off and Boldy thrives in his system.

Boldy says Hynes has a lot of trust in me, in my game, to go out there and play within the system, but free enough to be creative and play my game.

He seems very receptive to coaching, Hynes said.

We have conversations.

I think weve had a good relationship.

I think from when Ive gotten here, theres not one thing I can point at other than theres good chemistry.

Hes willing to listen and learn, Im willing to listen to him, as well, and have different conversations.

Sometimes its just in the way that you deal with someone.

It just seems like it really worked, and Im excited about that because hes not only a great player for our team, but hes a young guy and theres so much upside to him.

So I think when you can continue to foster that relationship and help him continue to grow, and you trust each other, thats usually how it happens.

If the Wild are going to get back to the playoffs after missing the dance last season for only the second time since 2012, they are going to need a big year from Boldy and particularly the second line to take pressure off Kaprizov.

Boldy knows it and wants to do everything to support Kaprizov and learn from the superstar.

For me, just being able to look up to him and follow his lead, hes a superstar, Boldy said.

Hes one of the best players in the league.

I think the way he does it is so special.

Hes so hard and strong, and he doesnt do it the easy way.

Its admiring looking at him, how skilled he is, and the guy can score on every shot, it seems like ...

its stupid.

Hes fun to watch, and Im definitely trying to emulate him.

Advertisement Against the Blue Jackets, Boldy scored the first goal of the Wilds season with a quick shot through Eriksson Eks screen.

He then got the secondary assist on Eriksson Eks goal after a Karlstad-to-Karlstad, Sweden, connection of Johansson to Eriksson Ek.

He later assisted on the Wilds power-play winner, a scintillating pass to Mats Zuccarello .

Teamwork is really making the dream work pic.twitter.com/g8UwYD4snq Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 11, 2024 Teammates say Boldy is simply dialed in and ramping up for a monster year.

If he has a good day in practice, he snaps it back and forth and he puts it wherever he wants, goalie Filip Gustavsson said after his 31-save outing Thursday night.

And if you take it a little easy on him sometimes in shots, he scores and hes all over you for the rest of practice.

Its a very high battle between the goalies and him.

Most of all, Boldy wants to win after missing the playoffs last year.

Its embarrassing, he said.

I think guys want to do well.

Guys want to make the playoffs, and we want to do it for each other and the fans and the organization and everything.

I think it could be a good thing for us, looking back at it now.

It obviously sucked in the moment, but that extra drive to know that we have to be better, and we have to play better in those bigger games, I think its going to drive us all year.

And I want to be a big part of that.

(Photo of Matt Boldy: David Berding / Getty Images).

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