Ivan Boldirev | |||
---|---|---|---|
Born | Zrenjanin, PR Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia | August 15, 1949||
Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
Position | Centre | ||
Shot | Left | ||
Played for | Boston Bruins California Golden Seals Chicago Black Hawks Atlanta Flames Vancouver Canucks Detroit Red Wings | ||
NHL draft | 11th overall, 1969 Boston Bruins | ||
Playing career | 1969–1985 |
Ivan Boldirev (Serbian Cyrillic: Иван Болдирев; born August 15, 1949) is a Yugoslavian-born Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Boldirev played 15 seasons and over 1,000 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1970 through 1985. He featured in the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals with the Vancouver Canucks. Boldirev was noted during his career as one of the sport's best stickhandlers.
Born in Zrenjanin, Yugoslavia (now Serbia), Boldirev's family emigrated to Canada when he was two. Growing up in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, he was known as a shy child. Boldirev felt that his shyness "probably goes back to when I first came over to Canada and didn't speak any English. My first grade teacher sent a note home telling my parents that we should speak English at home, but they didn't speak it so they couldn't even read the note!". [1]
Boldirev started playing junior hockey as kid, initially joining his hometown Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League before moving to the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey Association in 1967-68.
He was the first choice (11th overall) of the Boston Bruins in the 1969 NHL amateur draft after two stellar seasons with the Generals.
Boldirev turned pro in 1969 and spent his entire first season with Boston's CHL affiliate in Oklahoma City. Boldirev was called up to Boston as a spare player for the 1970 NHL playoffs, but he didn't play a game as Boston romped to their first championship since 1941. However, in a quirk of history, he managed to get his name engraved on the Stanley Cup before he dressed for his first NHL game--the only forward or defencemen ever to do so. After the 1969-70 season, the NHL tightened its policy so that players must have participated in a playoff game to have their names engraved on the Cup.
Boldirev was back in Oklahoma City for the 1970–71, although he received his first NHL action with a two-game callup to the Bruins. During this period, Boston was one of the best, deepest squad in the NHL, and for a young player to crack their roster was a formidable task. Boldirev was in a group of players (Reggie Leach and Rick MacLeish, each of whom would star for Flyers later in the decade, were others) who were good enough to play for many NHL squads but were instead stuck in Boston's system, and would need a trade to get the opportunity they needed.
Boldirev started the 1971–72 as a depth player in Boston, but received his big break partway into the season when he was dealt to the hapless California Golden Seals. On the talent-starved Seals, Boldirev received the chance he needed and blossomed into a solid NHL player, finishing fourth on the team with 16 goals and 41 points. By 1973–74, he finished second on the Seals with 25 goals and 56 points.
In 1974, Boldirev was dealt to the Chicago Black Hawks, where he would go on to the most productive phase of his career. He immediately established himself as one of the team's top players, posting 24 goals and 67 points in 1974–75. He posted 60+ points in each of his five seasons in Chicago, and by the late 1970s had replaced Stan Mikita as the team's top offensive player. He led the Black Hawks in goals, assists, and points in 1976–77 and 1977–78, and was selected to play in the 1978 NHL All-Star Game.
Boldirev was leading the Black Hawks in scoring again in 1978–79 when he was dealt to the Atlanta Flames late in the season in a huge nine–player trade. He contributed 14 points in 13 games after joining the Flames, but his stay in Atlanta would last less than a year before he was dealt to the Vancouver Canucks. Darcy Rota was moved along with Boldirev in both trades, and the two would be teammates (and frequently linemates) for nearly a decade with three different organizations.
After joining the Canucks, Boldirev went on a goal scoring binge to close out the 1979–80 season with 16 goals in 27 games. In Vancouver, he continued to be a consistent productive performer, and continued to dazzle fans with his elegant, effort displays of stickhandling. He was a standout performer in Vancouver's run to the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals, scoring eight goals in 17 games after a 73-point regular season.
Boldirev's production dropped off in the 1982–83 season, as he registered just five goals and 25 points in his first 39 games. Thinking Boldirev (now in his mid-thirties) was in decline, the Canucks sent him to the Detroit Red Wings for journeyman forward Mark Kirton. Boldirev proceeded to undergo a resurgence in Detroit, scoring 13 goals and 30 points in just 33 games with the Wings. In 1983–84, he had the most productive season of his career, matching his career high of 35 goals and setting a career high of 83 points. Boldirev combined with rookie Steve Yzerman to form an excellent one-two punch down the middle, and helped Detroit back to the playoffs for the first time since 1978.
In 1984–85, Boldirev played in his 1000th NHL game and notched his 500th assist, but his production waned as he failed to notch 50 points for the first time since 1973. He retired at the end of the season with career totals of 361 goals and 505 assists for 866 points in 1052 NHL games. He currently does periodic work on behalf of the Blackhawk Alumni Association.
Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
1967–68 | Oshawa Generals | OHA | 50 | 18 | 26 | 44 | 76 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1968–69 | Oshawa Generals | OHA | 54 | 25 | 34 | 59 | 101 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1969–70 | Oklahoma City Blazers | CHL | 65 | 18 | 49 | 67 | 114 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1970–71 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1970–71 | Oklahoma City Blazers | CHL | 68 | 19 | 52 | 71 | 98 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 9 | ||
1971–72 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1971–72 | California Golden Seals | NHL | 57 | 16 | 23 | 39 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1972–73 | California Golden Seals | NHL | 56 | 11 | 23 | 34 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1973–74 | California Golden Seals | NHL | 77 | 25 | 31 | 56 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1974–75 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 80 | 24 | 43 | 67 | 54 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | ||
1975–76 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 78 | 28 | 34 | 62 | 33 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
1976–77 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 80 | 24 | 38 | 62 | 40 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
1977–78 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 80 | 35 | 45 | 80 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
1978–79 | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | 66 | 29 | 35 | 64 | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1978–79 | Atlanta Flames | NHL | 13 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
1979–80 | Atlanta Flames | NHL | 52 | 16 | 24 | 40 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1979–80 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 27 | 16 | 11 | 27 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
1980–81 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 72 | 26 | 33 | 59 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
1981–82 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 78 | 33 | 40 | 73 | 45 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 4 | ||
1982–83 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 39 | 5 | 20 | 25 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1982–83 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 33 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
1983–84 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 75 | 35 | 48 | 83 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | ||
1984–85 | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 75 | 19 | 30 | 49 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
NHL totals | 1,052 | 361 | 505 | 866 | 507 | 48 | 13 | 20 | 33 | 14 |
Richard Gary Bowness is a Canadian former professional ice hockey coach and player. He was selected in the second round, 26th overall, by the Atlanta Flames in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft. Bowness has also played for the Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, and the original Winnipeg Jets. As a coach, Bowness has also served as head coach for Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas Stars, the original Winnipeg Jets, and the current Winnipeg Jets. He likewise held the position of associate coach with the Vancouver Canucks and Tampa Bay Lightning.
Samuel Olof Påhlsson is a Swedish former professional ice hockey player who last played with Modo Hockey of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Påhlsson spent the majority of his playing career in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins, Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Vancouver Canucks. He was originally drafted 176th overall by the Colorado Avalanche at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, though he never played for the team.
Thomas Kjell Gradin is a Swedish associate head scout for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL) and a former professional ice hockey centre who played in the NHL and the Swedish Elite League (SEL) from 1975 to 1990.
The 1984–85 NHL season was the 68th season of the National Hockey League. The Edmonton Oilers won their second straight Stanley Cup by beating the Philadelphia Flyers four games to one in the final series.
The 1972–73 NHL season was the 56th season of the National Hockey League. Sixteen teams each played 78 games. Two new teams, the New York Islanders and the Atlanta Flames, made their debuts. The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup by beating the Chicago Black Hawks four games to two in the Stanley Cup Finals.
The 1971–72 NHL season was the 55th season of the National Hockey League. Fourteen teams each played 78 games. The Boston Bruins beat the New York Rangers four games to two for their second Stanley Cup in three seasons in the finals.
The 1970–71 NHL season was the 54th season of the National Hockey League. Two new teams, the Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks made their debuts and were both put into the East Division. The Chicago Black Hawks were moved to the West Division, and the Oakland Seals were renamed the California Golden Seals. The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup by beating the Black Hawks in seven games in the finals.
The 1973–74 NHL season was the 57th season of the National Hockey League. The Philadelphia Flyers won the Stanley Cup championship, the team's first. The team was the first of the post-1967 teams to win the Cup.
The 1974–75 NHL season was the 58th season of the National Hockey League. Two new teams, the Washington Capitals and Kansas City Scouts, were added, increasing the number of teams to 18. To accommodate the new teams, the NHL re-organized its divisional structure and playoff format. The regular season was expanded to 80 games per team. The Philadelphia Flyers won the Stanley Cup for the second consecutive year.
The 1975–76 NHL season was the 59th season of the National Hockey League. The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup, defeating the two-time defending champion Philadelphia Flyers in the final.
The 1977–78 NHL season was the 61st season of the National Hockey League. The Montreal Canadiens won their third Stanley Cup in a row, defeating the Boston Bruins four games to two in the Stanley Cup Finals.
The 1978–79 NHL season was the 62nd season of the National Hockey League. The Montreal Canadiens beat the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup finals four games to one for their fourth consecutive Cup; two "Original Six" teams would not meet again in the Finals for the next 34 years, when Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Boston Bruins in the 2013 Finals. The Bruins faced the Canadiens in the 1979 semifinals, marking the last appearance by three Original Six teams in the final four for the next 35 years, when the Blackhawks, Canadiens and Rangers reached the semifinals of the 2014 playoffs.
David D. Bolland is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player.
Darcy Irwin Rota is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who spent eleven seasons in the National Hockey League. He featured in the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals with the Vancouver Canucks.
Christopher Roy Oddleifson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1972 until 1981. He is best known for his time with the Vancouver Canucks, where he was one of the team's top players for much of the 1970s and served as team captain in 1976–77.
Harold John Snepsts is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who spent 17 seasons in the National Hockey League between 1975 and 1991, including two stints with the Vancouver Canucks. Snepsts featured in the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals with the Canucks.
Reginald Alan MacAdam is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who spent 12 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1973 and 1985, and was twice selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game. He is best known for his time with the Minnesota North Stars, where he was one of the franchise's top players in the early 1980s. Most recently MacAdam has served as a scout for the Buffalo Sabres.
Victor John Stasiuk was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger and coach. He played in the National Hockey League from 1949 to 1963 and then served as a coach from 1969 to 1973.
David Ross Lonsberry was a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins. He had his best seasons in a Flyers uniform and was a member of Philadelphia's back-to-back Stanley Cup championship teams in the mid-1970s.
The 1978–79 Chicago Black Hawks season was the 53rd season of operation of the Chicago Black Hawks in the National Hockey League. The club was coming off a first-place finish in the Smythe Division in 1977–78. In the 1978 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Black Hawks were swept by the Boston Bruins in four games in the quarter-finals.