wild Forward Matt Boldy Driven by Playoff Disappointment, Olympic Aspirations & Increased Role
ST. PAUL, MN – Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy is entering the upcoming season wiht a renewed focus, fueled by the sting of last year’s playoff exit and a strong desire to represent the United States on the Olympic stage. Boldy, 24, spoke candidly about his offseason training and ambitions, emphasizing his commitment to becoming a more relied-upon player for the Wild.While acknowledging his strong on-ice chemistry with Kirill Kaprizov, Boldy indicated he’s prepared for a potential shift in linemates. Coach John Hynes has indicated Boldy may begin training camp on a line with Marco Rossi and newly acquired Vladimir Tarasenko, who the Wild acquired from the Detroit Red Wings for no assets, hoping to revitalize his scoring touch. Boldy has already begun building rapport with Tarasenko, skating with him several times this summer. “The way he shoots the puck is insane,” Boldy said of the 33-year-old veteran. “So, yes, definitely something to look forward to.”
Despite the potential for a new line combination, Boldy’s larger goals remain consistent: increased responsibility and consistent performance. “I want to keep getting better, keep being a bigger impact every year,” he stated. ”Part of that is more situations, leaned on more, expected more of. For me, that’s the sign of a good player, someone that the coach can look at you in any situation, be confident in you.” He expressed a clear desire to be on the ice in crucial late-game scenarios, stating, “It’s an honor to be on the ice when you’re down a goal and there’s a minute left and you have the puck… I think if I was on the bench and not out there in those situations, I wouldn’t be very happy.”
The drive for improvement stems, in part, from the Wild’s narrow playoff berth and subsequent first-round loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.Minnesota secured their playoff spot with a last-second goal from Joel Eriksson Ek in the regular season finale, but the Round 1 defeat left a lasting impression. “I thought we played really well… leaps and bounds as a team (from) how we played in my first two playoff series,” Boldy reflected.”So, to play as well as we did and not come out on top, yeah, it stung.”
Beyond the team’s aspirations, Boldy is also focused on earning a spot on the U.S.Olympic team. He previously participated in the 4 Nations face-Off roster last winter and was invited to the U.S. Olympic orientation camp in Michigan alongside 43 other players. Despite General Manager Bill Guerin also serving as GM for USA Hockey, Boldy is taking nothing for granted. “I would do anything to be part of that team,” he said,emphasizing his commitment to a strong start to the season and helping the wild return to the playoffs.
