Bolduc had some significant help when he arrived at a crossroads in his hockey career ahead of the 2019-20 season.

The forward had attended a camp for Rimouski of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League but wasn't sure it was the right path for him and began 2019-20 with Sioux City of the United States Hockey League. But he said he changed his mind after a call from one of Rimouski's most successful alumni: Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

"He just told me how good Rimouski was for him," Bolduc told The Athletic in 2021. "He didn't tell me, 'Go there,' but he told me, 'You will really grow as a person, off the ice, but as a player with the coaching staff,' because the coaching staff was there when he was there."

Bolduc's decision worked well. He led QMJHL rookies with 30 goals in 55 games and won the Michel Bergeron Trophy as the league's offensive rookie of the year.

He was helped that season by playing on a line with Alexis Lafreniere, who was selected by the New York Rangers with the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. On his own in 2020-21, Bolduc still was a standout player. He scored 29 points (10 goals, 19 points) in 27 games and won the Michael Bossy Trophy as the best professional prospect in the QMJHL.

The St. Louis Blues selected Bolduc with the No. 17 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. He had 45 points (24 goals, 21 assists) in 97 regular-season games for the Blues before he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens on July 1, 2025.