Bill Guerin Is Looking Very Right About Matt Boldy
Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin has a clear understanding of what it takes to be a member of the prestigious 50/50 Club, which is typically reserved for players who achieve 50 goals and 50 assists in a single season. Having spent his last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins during Sidney Crosby’s sole 50/50 season, Guerin is no stranger to what that level of performance looks like. In fact, he played a pivotal role in Crosby’s success that season, contributing to 12 of Crosby’s 51 goals and scoring 12 of his 58 assists.
Guerin also observed another 50/50 club member in Evgeni Malkin while working in Pittsburgh’s front office. Given his firsthand experience with players who have reached that elite level, it would be surprising if Guerin didn’t immediately think of Crosby and Malkin when considering what it takes to join the 50/50 ranks.
So, when Guerin mentioned during the offseason that Matt Boldy could potentially reach the 50/50 Club, it raised some eyebrows. To suggest that Boldy could reach that elite level, especially when comparing him to two of the league’s biggest stars, seemed like an overstatement—almost an unrealistic expectation for a player coming off a season with 29 goals and 69 points. However, as the season progresses, Guerin’s comments are starting to look quite prescient.
Through 21 games this season, Boldy has accumulated 11 goals and 22 points, putting him on track for a 43-goal, 43-assist season. This puts him within striking distance of joining the 50/50 Club. Currently, he ranks tied for 18th in goals alongside stars like Connor McDavid, Brady Tkachuk, and Tage Thompson. His 22 points also place him just outside the top 30 in the league, a remarkable feat considering that his teammate, Kirill Kaprizov, is leading the charge for the Wild and has received most of the spotlight.
Both Boldy and Kaprizov are featured on the top power play, and recently, coach John Hynes has reunited them on the top line. However, Kaprizov remains the undisputed leader of the team, with nearly three more minutes of ice time per game compared to Boldy, which naturally results in more scoring opportunities. While Boldy has continued to thrive alongside Kaprizov, it’s worth noting that he has also performed well when playing without him.
When looking at Boldy’s performance since Hynes took over the team in late November of the previous year, his numbers are impressive. Over the last 82 games, Boldy has scored 38 goals (ranking 15th in the NHL over that stretch) and recorded 82 points (ranking 23rd). If we consider that as a full season, it shows that a 40-goal, 40-assist season is within reach. Adding another 12 goals and six assists to those totals isn’t as far-fetched as it may seem.
A key factor in Boldy’s potential leap is the continued rise of Kaprizov, who has been on a tear. Despite missing a game, Kaprizov is on pace for 53 goals and 138 points this season. While it’s possible that he may not reach the 130-point mark, it’s not hard to imagine Kaprizov hitting a 50/50 season. Over the past 82 games, he has scored 55 goals and accumulated 118 points, which is an extraordinary pace.
The improvement of Kaprizov should only help elevate Boldy’s game. Even if Boldy doesn’t quite reach the 50-goal, 50-assist milestone, it’s evident that Guerin’s prediction wasn’t just optimistic hype. Boldy is proving himself to be a legitimate force in the NHL, and Guerin’s foresight is looking more accurate by the day. Boldy is starting to establish himself as a second star of the same caliber as other elite forwards in the league, such as Mikko Rantanen of the Colorado Avalanche, Sam Reinhart of the Florida Panthers, and Brayden Point of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
At this point, it’s clear that Matt Boldy is becoming a major player for the Minnesota Wild, and while his journey to the 50/50 Club is still uncertain, his progression this season suggests that he’s on the right track to becoming one of the NHL’s top performers.
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