Samuel Bolduc
Samuel Bolduc (born December 9, 2000) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract with the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL).[1][2] Standing at 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm) tall and weighing 224 pounds (102 kg), Bolduc shoots left-handed and is known for his defensive prowess and physical presence on the blue line.[1][3] Hailing from Laval, Quebec, he began his hockey journey in local youth leagues before advancing through the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and Sherbrooke Phoenix, where he recorded 22 goals and 72 assists in 189 games from 2016 to 2020.[3] Bolduc was selected by the New York Islanders in the second round, 57th overall, of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, marking him as a promising two-way defenceman with strong skating ability for his size.[4] He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Islanders on April 30, 2020, and made his professional debut with their AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders, during the 2020–21 season. In his first five AHL seasons (2020–21 to 2024–25) with Bridgeport, Bolduc recorded 28 goals and 64 assists in 211 games, earning selection to the AHL Atlantic Division All-Star Team in 2021 for his breakout performance. As of November 2025, he has added 4 goals and 2 assists in 13 games with the Ontario Reign.[5][3] Bolduc made his NHL debut with the Islanders on January 23, 2023, against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and went on to play 52 regular-season games across the 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25 seasons, recording 4 goals and 4 assists.[5][6] In the 2024–25 season, he split time between the Islanders and Bridgeport before becoming an unrestricted free agent. On July 2, 2025, Bolduc signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Los Angeles Kings worth $775,000 at the NHL level, transitioning to their AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, for the 2025–26 season.[1][7]Early life and junior career
Early life
Samuel Bolduc was born on December 9, 2000, in Laval, Quebec, Canada.[2][1][3] Laval, a northern suburb of Montreal, has established itself as a significant center for hockey talent in Quebec since the mid-20th century, with a history of junior teams like the Laval Saints and Voisins that have nurtured future NHL stars including Mike Bossy, Vincent Damphousse, Patrice Brisebois, and even Mario Lemieux during his early professional development.[8] The city's infrastructure, including arenas such as Le Colisée de Laval, has supported a vibrant local hockey scene that emphasizes youth development and community involvement.[8] Bolduc's initial exposure to the sport came through minor hockey programs in his hometown, where he played with the Association Hockey Mineur (AHM) Laval, a key organization in the region's youth leagues governed by Hockey Québec.[2] This early participation in structured minor hockey helped cultivate his skills as a defenseman amid Laval's competitive environment. He later transitioned to junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).[2]Junior career
Bolduc began his major junior career in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) during the 2016–17 season with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, after being selected in the fourth round (60th overall) of the 2016 QMJHL Entry Draft, appearing in a limited role as a 16-year-old rookie defenseman.[3][2] In just 6 games that year, he did not record any points, focusing primarily on development and adjustment to the league's pace.[3] Over his first three seasons with the Armada from 2016 to 2019, Bolduc gradually increased his ice time and contributions, transitioning into a more prominent role on the blue line while honing his defensive responsibilities and offensive instincts.[2] In the 2017–18 season, Bolduc played 57 games for the Armada, tallying 2 goals and 12 assists for 14 points, showing early promise in puck possession and zone exits.[3] His progression accelerated in 2018–19, when he appeared in a league-high 65 games, scoring 9 goals and adding 28 assists for 37 points, demonstrating improved shooting accuracy and playmaking ability from the back end.[2] This breakout campaign highlighted his growth into a reliable two-way defenseman, capable of contributing on both special teams and at even strength.[4] The 2019–20 season marked a turning point, as Bolduc started with the Armada, recording 7 goals and 9 assists for 16 points in 32 games before being traded to the Sherbrooke Phoenix on December 16, 2019.[5] Joining a competitive Phoenix squad, he thrived in an elevated role, posting 4 goals and 23 assists for 27 points in 29 games, which elevated his overall production and visibility among scouts.[2] His performance with Sherbrooke underscored his versatility as a two-way player, with strong skating that facilitated quick transitions and a physical presence on defense.[9] Across his four QMJHL seasons from 2016 to 2020, Bolduc accumulated 22 goals, 72 assists, and 94 points in 189 games, solidifying his reputation as a steady, two-way defenseman with NHL potential.[2] This body of work culminated in his selection by the New York Islanders in the second round, 57th overall, at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.Professional career
New York Islanders organization
Bolduc signed a three-year entry-level contract with the New York Islanders on April 30, 2020.[10] He made his professional debut with the Islanders' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (later renamed Bridgeport Islanders), on February 5, 2021, in the season opener against the Providence Bruins, where he scored his first professional goal two games later.[11] Over the following five seasons (2020–21 to 2024–25), Bolduc developed primarily in Bridgeport, appearing in 211 regular-season AHL games and establishing himself as a steady two-way defenseman with strong skating and puck-moving ability.[5] In the 2022–23 season, Bolduc had a breakout performance with Bridgeport, recording a career-high 35 points (10 goals, 25 assists) in 56 games, which earned him a selection to the AHL All-Star Classic.[5] He made his NHL debut with the Islanders on January 23, 2023, in a 5–2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, logging 14:28 of ice time with one shot on goal.[12] Bolduc scored his first NHL goal on February 7, 2023, a wrist shot from the left point that gave the Islanders a 1–0 lead in a 4–0 win over the Seattle Kraken.[13] On June 20, 2023, Bolduc signed a two-year, one-way contract extension with the Islanders worth $800,000 AAV.[14] Bolduc appeared in 52 NHL games with the Islanders across three seasons, tallying 4 goals and 4 assists while averaging 13:25 of ice time per game, often as a third-pairing defenseman during injury call-ups.[15] His role evolved from sporadic NHL appearances in 2022–23 (17 games) to a more consistent but still limited presence in 2023–24 (34 games), before returning primarily to Bridgeport for a full-time AHL assignment in 2024–25, where he played 69 games and recorded 35 points.[15] Following the 2024–25 season, the Islanders did not tender Bolduc a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2025.[16]Los Angeles Kings organization
On July 2, 2025, Samuel Bolduc signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Los Angeles Kings, carrying an average annual value of $775,000 at the NHL level.[17][18] Following training camp, Bolduc was assigned to the Kings' American Hockey League affiliate, the Ontario Reign, for the 2025–26 season.[5] In his first 13 games with the Reign as of mid-November 2025, he recorded 4 goals and 2 assists for 6 points, including a two-goal performance in a 3–2 victory over the Colorado Eagles on October 19.[19][5] Bolduc has adapted quickly to the Kings' system, leveraging his prior NHL experience with the New York Islanders to contribute offensively from the blue line while providing physical presence at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds.[20] His early scoring output positions him as a potential call-up option should injuries affect the Kings' defensive depth.[21] The short-term contract offers Bolduc an opportunity to re-establish himself in a new organization after his Islanders tenure, potentially setting up restricted free agency negotiations or unrestricted free agency status at age 25 following the 2025–26 season.[7]Career statistics
National Hockey League
Bolduc's National Hockey League career began with the New York Islanders in the 2022–23 season, where he has accumulated all of his professional appearances to date.[15]Regular Season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | NYI | 17 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +5 |
| 2023–24 | NYI | 34 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | -4 |
| 2024–25 | NYI | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| Career | 52 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
Playoffs
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 | NYI | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Career | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
American Hockey League and juniors
Bolduc began his professional career in the American Hockey League (AHL) during the 2020–21 season, primarily with the Bridgeport Islanders, the primary affiliate of the New York Islanders, before joining the Ontario Reign, affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings, in 2025. Over his AHL tenure through the 2025–26 season, he has appeared in 224 regular-season games, recording 32 goals, 66 assists, and 98 points, along with 77 penalty minutes.[5]AHL Regular Season Statistics
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | 24 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 10 |
| 2021–22 | Bridgeport Islanders | 57 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 16 |
| 2022–23 | Bridgeport Islanders | 56 | 10 | 25 | 35 | 31 |
| 2023–24 | Bridgeport Islanders | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2024–25 | Bridgeport Islanders | 69 | 9 | 26 | 35 | 6 |
| 2025–26 | Ontario Reign | 13 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 12 |
| Total | 224 | 32 | 66 | 98 | 77 |
AHL Playoff Statistics
Bolduc has not recorded any appearances in AHL postseason games through the 2025–26 season.[5]QMJHL Junior Statistics
Bolduc played four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) from 2016 to 2020, splitting time between the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and Sherbrooke Phoenix following a midseason trade in 2019–20. In 189 regular-season games, he tallied 22 goals and 72 assists for 94 points. He also appeared in 25 playoff games, contributing 9 points.[3]Regular Season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017–18 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 57 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 8 |
| 2018–19 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 65 | 9 | 28 | 37 | 27 |
| 2019–20 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 32 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 14 |
| 2019–20 | Sherbrooke Phoenix | 29 | 4 | 23 | 27 | 12 |
| Total | 189 | 22 | 72 | 94 | 61 |
Playoffs
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 20 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 |
| 2018–19 | Blainville-Boisbriand Armada | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Total | 25 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 4 |