Zachary Bolduc still without an NHL deal as Canadiens weigh a re-signing decision

Montreal’s roster plans are colliding with an offseason contract reality. Zachary Bolduc, a former St. Louis Blues first-round pick from 2021, remains without an NHL contract as the Canadiens continue discussions aimed at re-signing their current restricted free agent, according to Yahoo Sports.

The delay matters because it intersects with Montreal’s need for depth forward help and additional scoring. Yahoo frames the Canadiens as having made patience a feature of their approach in these negotiations, even as the team’s day-to-day roster construction emphasizes finding productive pieces beyond its core group.

Bolduc’s situation is also notable because it follows a common NHL development arc that can end differently than drafted expectations. A first-round selection brings both opportunity and scrutiny, but reaching an NHL contract agreement often depends on timing, fit, and how a team’s internal depth chart evolves during the lead-in to the season. In this case, the Canadiens have not yet closed the door on a deal.

From Montreal’s perspective, restricted free-agent negotiations typically include a careful balancing act. The Canadiens are looking to manage both the cost structure and the role they believe Bolduc can play, while the player-side interest is usually tied to securing a clear path to NHL minutes. Yahoo’s report highlights that the Canadiens have remained “patient” in talks, which suggests neither side has rushed to finalize terms quickly.

For St. Louis, Bolduc’s continued absence from an NHL contract also functions as an indirect reminder of how the Blues’ 2021 drafting investment can take time to translate into NHL certainty. Even when players progress through their development phases, contract leverage and organizational needs can shape whether and when they land in a defined on-ice role.

As of this reporting, the key uncertainty is whether Montreal’s patience ends with a contract that keeps Bolduc in the organization’s forward group or whether discussions drag into an even more important stage of offseason roster planning. What to watch next is whether the Canadiens provide clarity on how Bolduc fits into their depth-forward rotation and any timing markers they might use as the calendar moves forward.