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

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Matt Boldy grew up outside of Boston and dreamed of going to school and playing hockey at Boston College. He idolized Johnny Gaudreau.

He followed every moment of his 2014 Hobey Baker season, a year in which Gaudreau scored an incredible 36 goals and 80 points in 40 games. And in 2012, two days after Boldy turned 11, he watched with joy as “Johnny Hockey” scored a spectacular goal in the third period to help lead the Eagles to the national championship as a freshman.

“He’s just an incredible person, someone I looked up to so much,” Boldy said.

In May, Boldy finally met and spent time with his childhood hero when John Hynes, Boldy's Minnesota Wild coach, put Boldy on Gaudreau's line for the United States at the World Cup in the Czech Republic.

Boldy led the tournament with 14 points. Gaudreau had 11.

“My friends wrote to me, 'We grew up watching this guy and thought he was a God in Boston and you were on the same page with him!'” Boldy said.

When Boldy assisted Gaudreau's shorthanded goal in a two-on-one win against Kazakhstan on May 19, he had no idea it would be Gaudreau's last goal.

Boldy was 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 hit by an alleged drunk driver while riding their bikes.

The Wild and Blue Jackets opened the 2024-25 season on Thursday night. Before the game, the Wild honored Gaudreau and his brother with a video tribute and then held a 13-second moment of silence (Gaudreau's jersey number).

Johnny Gaudreau set up Matt Boldy and the USA led 2-0. #MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/K9Qhrbv0CZ

— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) May 7, 2024

Boldy, who was in the Wild's starting lineup, watched every second of this 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 and how much respect everyone has for the Gaudreaus. As dire as the situation is, it's the hockey community coming together and taking a moment for themselves, their family. I think the recognition is important.”

Boldy, who had not played a second of preseason hockey because of a lower-body injury suffered on the third day of training camp, scored a goal and two assists in the 3-2 win.

MATT BOLDY NO LOOKER 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ngW5mFZWeJ

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 11, 2024

When Marcus Johansson joined the Wild two years ago, Dean Evason put together a Johansson-Joel Eriksson Ek-Boldy line, and the trio was one of the best lines in hockey across the board. Boldy in particular broke out. They were so good that Johansson earned a two-year, $4 million extension because where else would the struggling Wild find such an affordable second-line left winger who could mesh so well with Boldy?

Now, before Evason's debut as Columbus coach, the trio would combine for two goals, six points and seven shots.

But it was Boldy who looked so good that the Wild was sure to be in ecstasy.

Hynes had subtly hinted throughout camp that he expected a breakout year from Boldy, who scored 60 goals and 132 points over the last two years. President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin went a step further, saying on Spittin' Chiclets last month that Boldy has the potential to score 50 goals and 50 assists at some point.

What did Boldy think of Guerin's prediction?

“I think you’ve set your sights high,” he said. “You should never set goals that are easy. I think that's why a lot of guys are in the NHL and why guys are successful. It is not easy. It’s a lot of work, but you strive for bigger things rather than smaller things.”

If you look at Boldy, he has all the tools to give Kirill Kaprizov the support of a second star on the roster. He can fly, he has great vision, he's as good a passer as he is a good shooter and he's a smart hockey player, so smart that the Wild plan to put him on the penalty kill as soon as they can get him reps.

Ottawa Senators young forward Shane Pinto also played with Boldy at the World Cup and was blown away by his skills.

“This year he will score about 90 to 100 points,” Pinto said last month. “The way he protects the puck is 6-2, he shoots hard, he's smart and quick for such a big guy. It won’t be a breakout year as he’s already scored 69 points, but I think he could definitely take the next step.”

Eriksson Ek added: “Just looking at the end of last year you can really see what he has become and what he will become. I think he's – I don't want to pump up his tires too much – but I said it before I think he could be close to 100 points at some point in his career. He's just so smart and so big and so strong. He also loves hockey. It’s just fun to watch him and share the ice with him.”

“I don’t think there’s a ceiling for this guy,” Johansson said. “He’s 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 pace of 36 goals and 79 points in 82 games). Boldy continued Hynes' prolific performance at the World Championships.

It seems like the two have gotten along well and Boldy is thriving in his system. Boldy says Hynes has “a lot of confidence in me, in my game, to go out and play within the system, but also free enough to be creative and play my game.”

“He seems very open to coaching,” Hynes said. “We are having discussions. I think we had a good relationship. Since I arrived here, I don't think I can point to anything other than that the chemistry is right. He is willing to listen and learn, I am also willing to listen to him and have different conversations.

“Sometimes it’s just the way you treat someone. It just seems like it really worked and I'm happy about it because not only is he a great player for our team, but he's a young man who has so much potential. So I think if you can continue to nurture that relationship and help him continue to grow and you trust each other, that's usually what happens.”

If the Wild want to return to the playoffs after missing the dance last season for the second time since 2012, they will need a big year from Boldy and especially the second line to put pressure on Kaprizov.

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

“To me, the sheer ability to look up to him and follow his example is what makes him a superstar,” Boldy said. “He is one of the best players in the league. I think the way he does it is very special. He's so tough and strong and he doesn't make it easy for himself. It's admirable to look at him, how skilled he is, and the guy can score on every shot, it seems… it's stupid. He’s fun to watch and I definitely try to emulate him.”

Against the Blue Jackets, Boldy scored the Wild's first goal of the season with a quick shot through Eriksson Ek's screen. He then received the second assist for Eriksson Ek's goal after Johansson sent Eriksson Ek from Karlstad to Karlstad (Sweden). He later assisted on the Wild's power play winner, a brilliant pass to Mats Zuccarello.

Teamwork makes the dream come true pic.twitter.com/g8UwYD4snq

– Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 11, 2024

Teammates say Boldy simply enrolled and is preparing for a monster year.

“When he has a good day in practice, he shoots it back and forth and puts it wherever he wants,” goaltender Filip Gustavsson said after his 31-save effort Thursday night. “And if you make it a little easy for him sometimes with the shots, he scores and is full of you for the rest of the training. It’s a very tough battle between the goalkeepers and him.”

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

“It’s embarrassing,” he said. “I think the boys want to do well. Guys want to make the playoffs and we want to do it for each other, the fans, the organization and everything. I think it could be a good thing for us, looking back on it now. It obviously sucked in the moment, but that extra drive of knowing that we have to be better and that we have to play better in these bigger games is what's going to drive us all year long.

“And I want to be a big part of it.”

(Photo by Matt Boldy: David Berding / Getty Images)