Dave Bolland could be more than just checker for Leafs

[hockeywiz542]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...-than-just-checker-for-leafs/article14737175/

The comparison was a tough one.

And it was, in some ways, a little unfair.

But so they come sometimes with the spotlight that shines on the Toronto Maple Leafs and so it was on the first Saturday night of the NHL season, when Don Cherry drew a straight line between a Hockey Hall of Famer and Leafs newcomer Dave Bolland.

“Does Bolland not remind you of Dougie Gilmour? … Does he not look like him?” Cherry said excitedly to Ron MacLean to open his segment. “Banging and smashing? Look at that pass there. Beautiful pass just like Dougie.”

Bolland, who grew up watching Gilmour, Cherry and the Leafs in nearby Mimico, Ont., could only chuckle quietly when asked about such heady praise on Monday.

“That’s a little bit of a… a little out there,” Bolland said. “Being in that kind of category. I think Dougie was a great player when he played and when I was younger I sort of modelled myself the way he was and the way he presented himself on the ice.

“Any way I can play the game like him, it could be a nice career.”

In fairness to the dean of Hockey Night in Canada, he seemed to make the connection more based on appearance than anything.

Similar to Gilmour, Bolland is a scrappy, undersized centre, and his No. 63 is also an obvious homage to Gilmour’s famed No. 93, one that can look mighty similar in the heat of play with his jersey creased on his back.

But where Gilmour was a superstar in his time in Toronto – including two seasons with more than 110 points and a memorable run to the conference finals – Bolland has always been more of a role player in his time in the NHL, someone tasked more with shutting down the Gilmour-types around the league than scoring goals.

After a 130-point season in junior with the London Knights at 19, he settled in with the powerhouse Chicago Blackhawks mainly as an effective checker, drawing 17-plus minutes a night against other teams’ top lines.

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[Swervin81]

Are you ****ing kidding me? First comparing Clarkson to Clark and now Bolland to Gilmour? I absolutely love Bolland to death, but man...

 

[Porn*]

I'd keep him on the 3rd with a possibility of filling in on the 3rd... I wouldn't want to over work him and risk injury. He's been playing very well, above expectation but comparing him to Killer? come on...

 

[Leaftors]

Are you ****ing kidding me? First comparing Clarkson to Clark and now Bolland to Gilmour? I absolutely love Bolland to death, but man...

relax, it was mostly about appearance, which, you cannot say he does not resemble dougie, same size, sort of the same number. Errbody's so god damn serious about **** like this.

 

[Kingstonian84*]

I think people are going nuts because the guy has 3 points in 3 games, typical for leaf nation to overreact to anything. Not knocking the guy but he doesn't strike me as a type to be consistently good offensive player, he strikes me as the type he'll go through periods where he plays at a torrid pace then goes silent for long stretches.

Bolland to me is a solid shutdown centre who excels at shutting down the other teams top lines and also chipping in with some clutch goals.

 

[D3ADLY]

Are you ****ing kidding me? First comparing Clarkson to Clark and now Bolland to Gilmour? I absolutely love Bolland to death, but man...

I think Cherry was just trying to base that on the first period of play by Bolland. It's just put in to wrong context.. well that's media for you.

 

[Paris in Flames]

There's that Mimico,Ontario again...

 

[LeafOfBread]

There's that Mimico,Ontario again...

We're going to be hearing this all year with both Bolland and Clarkson being from there

 

[stakesishigh]

I love Bolland so far on this team, he's been awesome. I had the chance to meet him this summer because his golf tournament was at my work.

However, the comparisons to Leafs great players needs to stop, it's such a waste of time and not worthy of any discussion whatsoever. Why put that kind of pressure on a player, especially when it's a massive stretch of imagination?

 

[Metal God]

Mirtle is a moran. lol

BTW. I know it's moron. He's that too!

 

[Antropovsky]

UH OH, Kadri might not like this, first Bolland is stealing his minutes and linemates... next Cherry is calling him "killer"!



I'm actually intrigued by Bolland and the possibility of him being more than a checking line forward, so far he's proved he's capable of more. Having said that, can't this scoring line forward experiment happen after we resign him long term .

FTR: I agree the Clarke-son, Gilmour comparisons are very far fetched, but at the very least, it could definitely fuel a little fire for Clarkson and Bolland, to raise their play a bit, under the pressure of the comparisons.

 

[Diatomic]

UH OH, Kadri might not like this, first Bolland is stealing his minutes and linemates... next Cherry is calling him "killer"!



I'm actually intrigued by Bolland and the possibility of him being more than a checking line forward, so far he's proved he's capable of more. Having said that, can't this scoring line forward experiment happen after we resign him long term .

FTR: I agree the Clarke-son, Gilmour comparisons are very far fetched, but at the very least, it could definitely fuel a little fire for Clarkson and Bolland, to raise their play a bit, under the pressure of the comparisons.

Bolly couldn't produce with Kane on his wing, let Carlyle exercise his love for grinders just a bit more till he realizes that Kadri has more offensive potential than bolland.

 

[BoHorvatFan]

The part about his jersey number being an obvious homage to Gilmore... uhh it's his number 36 turned around because Gunnarsson wears it.

 

[Ace88*]

Boy that was a real stretch. The kind where you lose every shred of credibility.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

There's that Mimico,Ontario again...

I'm from Mimico...not that it's anything to brag about.

 

[bax]

Bolland has quickly become one of my favourites this season but I would really, truly love for Cherry to stop comparing our good players to Gilmour. Love Cherry's passion but hate the karma that seems to come with it.

 

[Kingstonian84*]

Bolland has quickly become one of my favourites this season but I would really, truly love for Cherry to stop comparing our good players to Gilmour. Love Cherry's passion but hate the karma that seems to come with it.

Cherry was right about comparing Kadri to Gilmour though. Both were small players who play(ed) a lot bigger they are, both aren't fast but they are quick and have deceptive speed, both don't have a good shot but rely on dekes in close to get goals, both have excellent stickhandling/passing and both are good in their own end.

 

[bax]

Cherry was right about comparing Kadri to Gilmour though. Both were small players who play(ed) a lot bigger they are, both aren't fast but they are quick and have deceptive speed, both don't have a good shot but rely on dekes in close to get goals, both have excellent stickhandling/passing and both are good in their own end.

Fair enough and I'm not denying the comparison at all (at least with Kadri for now) but you know what the media and fan reaction around here is like. Now we have 2 Gilmour's, a Clark and apparently a Potvin as well . To top it all off the Leafs new boss has planned out the parade route. I would love nothing more than to have that all come true but I guess I just want to see the media stop raising expectations, especially 3 games into the season. I want a great season this year not one full of unrealistic expectations. I know I know I'm dreaming on that last part lol

 

[Damisoph]

Next stop is Mimico...Mimico station, next stop.

That's as much as I know about Mimico lol.

 

[Kingstonian84*]

Next stop is Mimico...Mimico station, next stop.

That's as much as I know about Mimico lol.

Its a suburb of Toronto, and has a detention centre... thats all I know about it

 

[Cor]

Mirtle is a moran. lol

BTW. I know it's moron. He's that too!

Alex Moran?

 

[BertCorbeau]

Are you ****ing kidding me? First comparing Clarkson to Clark and now Bolland to Gilmour? I absolutely love Bolland to death, but man...

Nailed it

 

[BayStreetBullies*]

Alex Moran?

Erin Moran

"Joanie loves Chachi!"

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Jesus christ...man...WHY can't people stop comparing. DAVID BOLLAND IS A DAVID BOLLAND! CLARKSON IS A CLARKSON. Domo Arigato.

Toronto Media.

 

[HellasLEAF]

for anyone that actually watched it, it's clear it was more an appearance comparison, the build, the number and then he made a nice pass "just like Dougie".

it's been blown up a bit.

Bolland showed some elite hands the other night and his hockey smarts is off the charts. This guy is the veteran centre we have been looking for. Nonis gets a 10/10 for this acquisition right now.

Blackhawks will start missing this guy real soon.