David Bolland
- Thread starter Big Phil
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Big Phil said:
I'm not going to correct you as I can't see the future, but I think he's capable of contributing more than just checking duties in the NHL.
I see him as a solid second liner on a team. He is solid at both ends, decent size, good on the power play, good skater and I believe he will manage to get some points. They won't be flashy goals or assists, but I think he'll get them.
Bolland is a guy who when he fills out, ie puts on some weight and matures into his body (hope it does happen) will be an NHLer. He does everything well and is as good as an allround prospect that the Blackhawks have.
His vision/passing/ anticipation instincts are exceptional--the only thing preventing him from being a first liner,IMO, is his lack of first step speed --he is not slow--just average in speed--however that prevents him from getting away from the opposing checkers if he tries to lug the puck out of his own zone --he can be caught by faster skaters--to the extent he leaves in advance on rushes by accepting passes and then enters the opposing zone--he'll be ok --but lugging it up himself =a no/no
...once into the opposing one he is good on the attackwith his pasing/anticipation and he also goes hard to the net-he'll be especially good on the PP in man advantage situations where those vision/anticipation /puck moving skills will help create lots of good scoring chances...so I see him as a second liner 5x5 but also as a PP specialist on the 1st PP unit..
...once into the opposing one he is good on the attackwith his pasing/anticipation and he also goes hard to the net-he'll be especially good on the PP in man advantage situations where those vision/anticipation /puck moving skills will help create lots of good scoring chances...so I see him as a second liner 5x5 but also as a PP specialist on the 1st PP unit..
From a guy with a Bolland jersey
Couple things:
- he is small and doesn't keep on his off season weight well. I think he loses about 15 points by mid season and that has hurt him so far.
- if he fills out his skill and vision will make him a very good 2nd liner. not a top goal scorer and not a checker. Good all around.
- If he doesn't fill out he's in trouble because he doesn't have the speed to get away so he will need the strength to fight past a check.
- what you didn't get to see is how much space he can create when he get's to know his players. Play makers don't look great in the wjc because the guys are playing at a different speed then at home. Did anyone notice how many times he passed the puck through the crease without it being touched. In london with dylan hunter knowing when and where the puck will be in the crease those are goals.
- He will need time in the AHL to mature but he will be a guy that you would love to have on your team in many situations and can be counted on.
Only time will tell.
Couple things:
- he is small and doesn't keep on his off season weight well. I think he loses about 15 points by mid season and that has hurt him so far.
- if he fills out his skill and vision will make him a very good 2nd liner. not a top goal scorer and not a checker. Good all around.
- If he doesn't fill out he's in trouble because he doesn't have the speed to get away so he will need the strength to fight past a check.
- what you didn't get to see is how much space he can create when he get's to know his players. Play makers don't look great in the wjc because the guys are playing at a different speed then at home. Did anyone notice how many times he passed the puck through the crease without it being touched. In london with dylan hunter knowing when and where the puck will be in the crease those are goals.
- He will need time in the AHL to mature but he will be a guy that you would love to have on your team in many situations and can be counted on.
Only time will tell.
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Personally i dont think he will do much in the NHL. I dunno he is just one of those guys that to me has bust written all over him.
J17ster said:
I understand having a hunch but could you give me a clue as to what you dislike about the way he plays? Is your opinion formed by the wjc only? because if so it isn't a bad way to see a player but not the whole picture.
DLMDLM said:
I dont really know, a mixture of things. Im no expert on Bolland so i may very well be wrong. lol i usually am.
He isnt a great skater, size might be an issue if he cant get stronger, and just seems to have no strong part to his game. He is good alround. He just for some reason reminds me of one of those guys who puts big junior numbers but doesnt deliver as a pro.
As for the WJ, i didnt really pay much attention to them, only really the guys in this years draft as my team didnt have any prospects there. All i know is that he wasnt a standout their.
I don't think you know what you are talking about. Bolland is a kid that gets by with more work and guts than size and ability.
He is a "floor" prospect- that is why he went in the 2nd round. If by "bust" you mean he may be nothing more than a 3rd liner- then okay he could "bust".
I usually think of Bust as more of the Ty Jones picked top 20 and can't play a lick type of "bust". Not a kid who will play 10 years in the league. Bust players are usually those "projected" to be great because of Size or ability- but because they lack the "floor" (hard work, guts, desire) it doesn't translate (see Daigle, alexander).
Is he a 60+ pt scorer in the NHL? That is the question. Not is he NHL calibre, which he clearly is...
-fullmetalninja
He is a "floor" prospect- that is why he went in the 2nd round. If by "bust" you mean he may be nothing more than a 3rd liner- then okay he could "bust".
I usually think of Bust as more of the Ty Jones picked top 20 and can't play a lick type of "bust". Not a kid who will play 10 years in the league. Bust players are usually those "projected" to be great because of Size or ability- but because they lack the "floor" (hard work, guts, desire) it doesn't translate (see Daigle, alexander).
Is he a 60+ pt scorer in the NHL? That is the question. Not is he NHL calibre, which he clearly is...
-fullmetalninja
J17ster said:
There are plenty of strong parts to his game--he works,throws checks,goes to the net,has a good shot,has superior passing/vision/anticipation...his cruising speed is probably better than most NHL'ers --what he lacks is that intial first step getaway speed --that can be made up for in a single zone by anticipation to get to loose pucks--but it hurts him when trying to go on longer lugging the puck end to end rushing or trying to skate it out of his own zone past checkers,or in "catching Up" to check faster guys lugging it from their own zone--but you can say that for lots of NHl'ers too..Schremp is fast but soft and doesn't put as much effort out;Bolland is not soft...he does lots of little things well--like chipping pucks out in the defensive zone ,keeping pucks inor moving quickly in the offensize zone...but hs "superior" skill is anticipation/on ice vision and ability to THINK SMART--that is at least 2nd line scoring (and he'll get more if he is used on the PP) --because they checkers and grinder guys who can't think smart are 3rd and 4th liners...
J17ster said:
Fair enough. Next time watch him when he get's the puck against the half boards and swing into the net for a wrister... if you see him score a goal like that or a one timer... you just might have a different opinion... take care man.
I've seen Bolland play in the OHL, and while skating might not be a major differentiator for him when he cracks the NHL, he can skate. He is a much better skater than Schremp. His stride is a bit hunched and choppy, but he can move from the games I've seen him. I've actually seen him make some nice moves as well.
I think he's a pretty safe prospect as well. Between a decent third liner and a solid 2nd liner (of first line support player, depending on the situation). Nothing to sniff at.
I think he's a pretty safe prospect as well. Between a decent third liner and a solid 2nd liner (of first line support player, depending on the situation). Nothing to sniff at.
I have seen this kid play over 100 times in the past 4 years and he just continues to add new weapons to his arsenal.
As a 16 year old rookie he didn't do a whole lot as many that age don't. He scored 8 goals in the regular season and then in the playoffs he became a hitting machine. I remember watching him against Plymouth (2nd in CHL at the time) and he was hitting everything in sight and I thought what a hard working player (not knowing who he was). He was a big part of why the Knights were able to knock off the #1 seed being seeded #8 themselves.
Then in his second year he had a breakout year scoring 37 goals, while playing 2nd or 3rd fiddle to Perry adn Schremp and not getting top PP time.
This year with Perry gone he has become one of the leaders of this team and while London was suppose to be .500 they are again amongst the top teams in the CHL and a large reason is Bolland.
As for his potential, i've always said he should become a solid 2line centre with 60-70 points or a great 3rd line energy player w/ some scoring ability. After watching him this year, there's no doubt in my mind he will also be a regular on the PP.
What I love about Bolland is that he has the heart and desire of a lion that will carry him along way.
As a 16 year old rookie he didn't do a whole lot as many that age don't. He scored 8 goals in the regular season and then in the playoffs he became a hitting machine. I remember watching him against Plymouth (2nd in CHL at the time) and he was hitting everything in sight and I thought what a hard working player (not knowing who he was). He was a big part of why the Knights were able to knock off the #1 seed being seeded #8 themselves.
Then in his second year he had a breakout year scoring 37 goals, while playing 2nd or 3rd fiddle to Perry adn Schremp and not getting top PP time.
This year with Perry gone he has become one of the leaders of this team and while London was suppose to be .500 they are again amongst the top teams in the CHL and a large reason is Bolland.
As for his potential, i've always said he should become a solid 2line centre with 60-70 points or a great 3rd line energy player w/ some scoring ability. After watching him this year, there's no doubt in my mind he will also be a regular on the PP.
What I love about Bolland is that he has the heart and desire of a lion that will carry him along way.
Blind Gardien
nexus of the crisis
The thing with Bolland is that he'll have enough desire to play that if his first pro coaches start assigning him pesky-guy energy/checking duties, he'll take to that. I can see him being a sort of Kyle Calder as a pro. I think he could probably do more than that on offense if anybody was ever desperate enough to turn him loose, but normally rookies don't get that kind of freedom unless they've got a more natural-looking skill set. Being the next Kyle Calder is not a bad thing, IMO. Every team would love to have one of those, no?
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