On Monday, the New York Islanders re-signed defenseman Mike Reilly to a one-year deal worth $1.25 million, solidifying their backend for the 2025-26 season.
With Reilly playing the same game as Aho—minus the ability to play both sides—it didn't make much sense for New York to bring both back, given their limited cap space.
Also, with Bolduc having one more year on his deal (an expiring restricted free-agent with arbitration rights), the Islanders likely want to see him prove that he can be part of the future—hence, more minutes as a seventh defenseman rather than as the No. 8 man.
The expectation after breaking into the NHL with a 17-game stint and a few playoff games in 2022-23 was that Bolduc could have earned a starting job on the blue line for 2023-24, but that didn't happen.
After playing 30 games under Lane Lambert before his firing, Bolduc barely played under Patrick Roy, despite the new bench boss saying the plan was to have a rotation.
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After playing on Jan. 27 against the Florida Panthers, Bolduc's third game under Roy and final game before the 2024 NHL All-Star Break, Bolduc didn't play again until Game 82, on Apr. 17, when the Islanders rested their starters after clinching a playoff spot a few days prior.
He did record a goal and an assist in the regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins, a game that was wide open because it didn't matter to either side.
Bolduc's playing time was limited with Roy as Reilly proved early on to be the better fit in the new bench boss's system.
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To be fair to Roy and the Islanders, Bolduc was sent to Bridgeport on a conditioning stint—not needing waivers—which allowed him to play a handful of games rather than just sit in the press box and get rusty.
It isn't set in stone yet that Bolduc has won the seventh defenseman job.
However, the Islanders have $900,000 in available cap space, so if they are going to sign anyone, it would have to be on the cheap.
The Islanders could re-sign Robert Bortuzzo at the league minimum ($775,000).
The Islanders are believed to be still looking to acquire another forward, likely via a trade. Although Bolduc hasn't proven to be a sure-thing NHLer yet, the former second-round pick in 2019 does have value.
The 6'4, 220-pound blue liner has proven that he can skate, can make that long-stretch breakout pass, and can be physical in corners.
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But what's held Bolduc back from taking the next steps—necessary steps—is his confidence, which has been hampered by far too many hesitations in key moments.
That's part of learning what it takes to be an NHLer.
With left-side defense prospects Isaiah George and Calle Odelius joining Bridgeport this season, that puts even more pressure on Bolduc to elevate his game.
We talk a lot about assets and the Islanders lacking them.
If New York ultimately decides to bring in another defenseman, and Bolduc is serving as the eighth defenseman, does it make sense for them to dangle him on the trade market?
After the Ottawa Senators re-signed Long Island native Shane Pinto to a bridge deal, a potential perfect addition for New York if he forced his way out, the Islanders may circle back on Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers .
Bolduc only makes $800,000 annually, and his next deal is likely to be around the same price (arbitration-eligible), so it's a low-risk, high-reward move for other teams.
Out of every position, defensemen, historically, take the longest to develop at the NHL level.
So, it's certainly a risk for the Islanders to move on from Bolduc, but if he won't get the chance to play and likely won't clear waivers if sent to Bridgeport to just play games like we saw this past season, a trade may be in the Islanders' best interest.
But it looks like the seventh defenseman job on the island certainly belongs to Bolduc...for now.
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