# Matt Boldy
**Matt Boldy** (Matthew Boldy, born 2001) is an American professional ice hockey left wing for the [Minnesota Wild](https://www.edgepedia.org/minnesota-wild) of the [National Hockey League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-hockey-league), selected 12th overall by the Wild in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft[1](https://www.nhlpa.com/player/679/matt-boldy/) • [2](https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/matt-boldy). A 6-foot-2, 201-pound forward who shoots left, he was second on the Wild in both goals (42) and points (85) in the 2025-26 season and won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan[1](https://www.nhlpa.com/player/679/matt-boldy/) • [3](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/playoffs/minnesota-wild-2026-stanley-cup-playoff-roster-at-a-glance) • [4](https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/boldy-has-it-factor-042726).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2001, Milford, Massachusetts; 6'2", 201 lb; shoots left[1](https://www.nhlpa.com/player/679/matt-boldy/) |
| Draft | First round, 12th overall, Minnesota Wild, 2019 NHL Entry Draft[2](https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/matt-boldy) |
| College | Boston College, two seasons; top-10 finalist for the 2021 Hobey Baker Award with 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 22 games as a sophomore[5](https://www.nhl.com/sv/player/matt-boldy-8481557/bio) |
| Breakout season | 2025-26: career highs of 42 goals and 85 points in 76 games, including 11 power-play goals and 30 power-play points[4](https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/boldy-has-it-factor-042726) • [6](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/team-resets/minnesota-wild-roster-changes-for-2026-27-season) |
| International | Gold medal with Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics; four points (two goals, two assists) in six games[3](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/playoffs/minnesota-wild-2026-stanley-cup-playoff-roster-at-a-glance) |
| Playoff milestone | Overtime winner in Game 4 of the 2026 first round against Dallas, the fifth Wild player to score a home playoff overtime goal and the first to win a Game 4 in overtime for the franchise[4](https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/boldy-has-it-factor-042726) |
## Early life and development
Boldy grew up in Millis, Massachusetts, and started playing hockey at age 2, following his older brother Michael into the sport after his father, Todd Boldy, a former college football player, steered the family toward hockey instead of football[2](https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/matt-boldy) • [7](https://www.nhl.com/news/matthew-boldy-2019-nhl-draft-prospect-301467420). He has credited long sessions stickhandling a ball in the family garage while watching hockey on television for his puck skills[7](https://www.nhl.com/news/matthew-boldy-2019-nhl-draft-prospect-301467420).
With the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP), Boldy had 81 points (33 goals, 48 assists) in 64 games for the under-18 team in 2018-19[8](https://www.nhl.com/news/matthew-boldy-impressing-wild-with-size-skill-308210680). He ranked fourth on the U.S. Under-18 National Team that season and posted 12 points in seven games at the IIHF Under-18 World Championships, third in the tournament, as Team USA won bronze[9](https://bceagles.com/news/2019/6/21/mens-hockey-program-record-trio-selected-in-first-round-of-nhl-draft). He was also named most valuable player of USA Hockey's All-American Prospect Game on September 20, 2018, after two goals and an assist in a 6-4 win[7](https://www.nhl.com/news/matthew-boldy-2019-nhl-draft-prospect-301467420).
**Draft.** [The Wild](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-wild) selected Boldy 12th overall in the 2019 draft, making him the first of a program-record three [Boston College](https://www.edgepedia.org/boston-college) players taken in the first round that year, ahead of goaltender [Spencer Knight](https://www.edgepedia.org/spencer-knight) (13th, Florida) and forward Alex Newhook (16th, Colorado)[2](https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/matt-boldy) • [9](https://bceagles.com/news/2019/6/21/mens-hockey-program-record-trio-selected-in-first-round-of-nhl-draft). Pre-draft scouting reports praised his offensive creativity and unusual backhand skill while flagging his skating, particularly a lack of separation speed, as the main limit on his upside[10](https://www.eliteprospects.com/news/ep-news/brown-breaking-down-matthew-boldy-and-his-unique-backhand-talent).
## College hockey
Boldy played two seasons at Boston College[2](https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/matt-boldy). As a sophomore in 2020-21 he had 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 22 games, was named a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given to the best [NCAA Division I](https://www.edgepedia.org/ncaa-division-i) men's player, and earned All-American honors after leading the Eagles to a No. 1 ranking[5](https://www.nhl.com/sv/player/matt-boldy-8481557/bio) • [2](https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/matt-boldy).
## NHL career
In his first full season, 2022-23, he recorded 31 goals and 32 assists for 63 points in 81 games[11](https://media.d3.nhle.com/image/private/t_document/prd/ja2nacsgdcdlczlehjka.pdf). He reached 50 career points on November 9, 2022, against Anaheim, becoming the second-fastest player in Wild history to the mark at 60 games, behind only [Kirill Kaprizov](https://www.edgepedia.org/kirill-kaprizov)'s 54[11](https://media.d3.nhle.com/image/private/t_document/prd/ja2nacsgdcdlczlehjka.pdf).
His first NHL hat trick came in a 7-4 win against the [Detroit Red Wings](https://www.edgepedia.org/detroit-red-wings) on February 14, 2023, making him the fourth rookie in Wild history to score three goals in one game[5](https://www.nhl.com/sv/player/matt-boldy-8481557/bio). Later that season he scored two hat tricks in two weeks and 10 goals over seven games while Kaprizov was injured, helping Minnesota hold first place in the Central Division[12](https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2023/04/03/minnesota-wild-hockey-nhl-matt-boldy-kirill-kaprizov).
**The 2025-26 breakout.** In 2025-26, Boldy recorded the best NHL totals of his career, posting 85 points over 76 games while also reaching personal bests with 42 goals, 11 power-play goals, and 30 power-play points.[6](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/team-resets/minnesota-wild-roster-changes-for-2026-27-season) He also scored four short-handed goals, tied for second in the NHL, and finished second in Wild scoring behind Kaprizov[4](https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/boldy-has-it-factor-042726). In the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs he scored an overtime winner in Game 4 of the first round against Dallas, tipping a Jared Spurgeon shot past [Jake Oettinger](https://www.edgepedia.org/jake-oettinger) to tie the series 2-2; Minnesota went on to beat Dallas in six games, its first playoff series win since 2015, before losing to the [Colorado Avalanche](https://www.edgepedia.org/colorado-avalanche) in a five-game second round[4](https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/boldy-has-it-factor-042726) • [13](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/playoffs/why-minnesota-wild-are-eliminated-from-2025-2026-postseason). Early in 2026-27 he registered his fifth career hat trick and sixth career four-point game, the second-most four-point games in Wild history, in a 5-4 win over the St.
## International play
Boldy joined Team USA for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and won gold, recording four points (two goals, two assists) in six games[3](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/playoffs/minnesota-wild-2026-stanley-cup-playoff-roster-at-a-glance). In the gold medal game against Canada he opened the scoring six minutes in, splitting the defenders and flicking a backhand shot into the net; the United States won 2-1 in overtime, its first men's Olympic hockey gold since 1980[4](https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/boldy-has-it-factor-042726) • [14](https://apnews.com/article/13495a7dd0dbda9d660479223d3689a8). He had previously played at IIHF World Championships and the 2025 Four Nations Face-Off[4](https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/boldy-has-it-factor-042726).
## Playing style
Scouts describe Boldy as a big, skilled winger whose defining tools are his hands and shot rather than straight-line speed[10](https://www.eliteprospects.com/news/ep-news/brown-breaking-down-matthew-boldy-and-his-unique-backhand-talent) • [15](https://armchairhockeyscout.com/players/matt-boldy/2025-26/). His backhand skill is unusual at the NHL level: he passes and finishes effectively on his off side, which lets him make plays under pressure without switching to his forehand[10](https://www.eliteprospects.com/news/ep-news/brown-breaking-down-matthew-boldy-and-his-unique-backhand-talent). His shot is heavy and released quickly off the pass, and he scores much of his offense from the inner slot[15](https://armchairhockeyscout.com/players/matt-boldy/2025-26/). Wild coach John Hynes has called him a player with the "it factor" who produces when the stakes rise[4](https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/boldy-has-it-factor-042726).
## References
1. [Matt Boldy, Player Profile, NHLPA](https://www.nhlpa.com/player/679/matt-boldy/)
2. [Matt Boldy, Team USA profile](https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/matt-boldy)
3. [Wild roster at a glance for Stanley Cup Playoffs, NHL.com](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/playoffs/minnesota-wild-2026-stanley-cup-playoff-roster-at-a-glance)
4. [Boldy has 'it factor', Wild.com](https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/boldy-has-it-factor-042726)
5. [Matt Boldy Bio, Awards & Draftinfo, NHL.com](https://www.nhl.com/sv/player/matt-boldy-8481557/bio)
6. [Wild trade for 2-time Cup champions Coleman, Maatta, NHL.com](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/team-resets/minnesota-wild-roster-changes-for-2026-27-season)
7. [Boldy using offensive creativity to become top 2019 NHL Draft prospect, NHL.com](https://www.nhl.com/news/matthew-boldy-2019-nhl-draft-prospect-301467420)
8. [Boldy impressing Wild with combination of size, skill, NHL.com](https://www.nhl.com/news/matthew-boldy-impressing-wild-with-size-skill-308210680)
9. [Program Record Trio Selected in First Round of NHL Draft, Boston College Athletics](https://bceagles.com/news/2019/6/21/mens-hockey-program-record-trio-selected-in-first-round-of-nhl-draft)
10. [BROWN: Breaking Down Matthew Boldy and his Unique Backhand Talent, Elite Prospects](https://www.eliteprospects.com/news/ep-news/brown-breaking-down-matthew-boldy-and-his-unique-backhand-talent)
11. [Minnesota Wild media guide notes (Matt Boldy), NHL media](https://media.d3.nhle.com/image/private/t_document/prd/ja2nacsgdcdlczlehjka.pdf)
12. [21-year-old powerhouse Matt Boldy fuels Minnesota Wild wins, Axios Twin Cities](https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2023/04/03/minnesota-wild-hockey-nhl-matt-boldy-kirill-kaprizov)
13. [Wild lose West 2nd Round to Avalanche, NHL.com](https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/playoffs/why-minnesota-wild-are-eliminated-from-2025-2026-postseason)
14. [Hughes scores in overtime as US beats Canada for first men's hockey gold at the Olympics since 1980, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/13495a7dd0dbda9d660479223d3689a8)
15. [Matt Boldy, 2025-26, Armchair Hockey Scout](https://armchairhockeyscout.com/players/matt-boldy/2025-26/)
16. [Matt Boldy, BluelineMetrics](https://bluelinemetrics.com/player/matt-boldy)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Hockey and remaining team sports › Ice hockey players and personnel › Wingers › Active wingers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license