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Zack Bolduc has a lot to prove in the 3½ weeks until the Blues’ regular season begins on Oct. 8.

That starts this weekend when St. Louis hosts the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights featuring Blues, Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild prospects. The Blues play the Blackhawks at 7 p.m. Friday, the Blackhawks play the Wild at 6 p.m. Saturday, and the Blues and Wild wrap up the weekend at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Bolduc finds himself as one of the premier players in the showcase.

In playing 25 NHL games last season, Bolduc has almost as many NHL games played as the rest of the rosters combined (30). With Chicago’s Artyom Levshunov (No. 2 pick this year) sidelined by a foot injury, Bolduc is the third-highest-drafted player on the three rosters. And unlike many of the prospects playing this weekend, Bolduc’s goal is to make the NHL roster out of training camp.

“I just want to play here,� Bolduc said Thursday after the prospects’ first practice. “I don’t really care if I’m on the second, third or fourth (line). I think I can help the team to win some games. I think with my speed and my shooting ability, I think I can play on whatever line I will be on. I’m ready to do whatever it takes to be in the lineup at the beginning of the season.�

Bolduc had four goals and five assists in the NHL last season but finished the season strong with five points in the final five games. That was when the Blues had faded from realistic playoff contention, and Bolduc was placed in the top six on a line with Robert Thomas and captain Brayden Schenn.

This year, he’ll have to navigate a crowded group of close to 20 forwards battling for 13 or 14 spots in the NHL. Bolduc knows he had a good finish to the season in the spring but conceded “nothing is acquired; I think I have to work for my spot.�

“Right now, I know that I’m able to join that top six and play against the best players on the other side,� Bolduc said. “Like I said, I’ve got to redo everything that I did last year and ensure that it wasn’t luck. It was me as a player who did it.�

Bolduc had a slow start to his professional career last year when he had just four points in his first 16 games with AHL affiliate Springfield (Massachusetts). But he later found his footing and produced eight points in his last nine AHL games before his recall to the NHL.

“Every night is a new game,â€� Bolduc said. “Every night, guys are coming in, they’re competing. ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ want to earn and keep their spot in the lineup. I think you can’t take a day off or a game off, someone’s going to take your spot.â€�

This weekend, eyes will be on NHL hopefuls like Bolduc, Zach Dean and Dalibor Dvorsky in St. Louis. Chicago is bringing two first-rounders in Frank Nazar (No. 13 in 2022) and Nolan Allan (No. 32 in 2021), while Minnesota has Carson Lambos (No. 26 in 2021).

During practice on Thursday, Bolduc skated at left wing on a line with Dean at center and Aleksanteri Kaskimaki at right wing. Dvorsky centered Juraj Pekarcik and Simon Robertsson.

Bolduc said he weighed in at 195 pounds, up slightly from the 192 pounds that he normally plays at. But this summer’s focus was simple:

“A lot of puck protection, hold on to the puck a bit more,� Bolduc said. “I think if you’ve got the puck longer on your stick, you create offense. For me, that was one big thing that I worked on. If you keep that puck in your hands, you’re going to create some offense. For me, that was my main focus. For sure, you want to get stronger, a little bit heavier, too, but that was my main focus.�

Bolduc will also serve as the team’s captain this weekend in his third prospect event. Dvorsky, Dean and Dylan Peterson will be the alternate captains.

Springfield coach Steve Konowalchuk, who is coaching the prospects this weekend, called the decision an organizational one.

“He should be able to lead the way and know the details and the work ethic in a tournament like this,� Konowalchuk said.

Last year, Nikita Alexandrov was the captain on the prospects team with Matthew Kessel and Keean Washkurak as alternates.

Bolduc is still wearing No. 76 though his preferred No. 15 is now available with Jakub Vrana’s departure. Bolduc wore No. 15 during his junior career and was No. 16 with Springfield last season.

“Maybe, I’ll see if I can make the team at the beginning of the season,� Bolduc said. “I’ll ask if I can have it.�

Defenseman Adam Jiricek, this year’s first-round pick, was on the ice at the start of practice on Thursday but departed before any contact drills. Jiricek is recovering from knee surgery and is not expected to play this weekend.

Editor's note: This article has been edited to correct the state where the AHL Springfield affiliate is located.