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ATD 2021 Draft Thread III

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Professor What said:
He's only been around for five seasons, but in that time, he's picked up three first team all-star nods, two Hart trophies, and two Art Ross trophies, and looks well on his way to building on that this year. That's a trophy case better than most guys with a full career in. The Gallifrey TARDIS is pleased to welcome Connor McDavid!
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McDavid has only won 1 Hart, but 2 Lindsay's
 
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rmartin65 said:
He's been the best offensive player on the board for a while now.
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Peak, for sure. He could go much higher based on that because he's practically all peak so far.

Maybe if this season finishes within the draft he'll reach the 7 year rule of thumb we use for longevity but ideally you'd like to see 10+ for a modern player.
 
I'll take Leo Boivin:

519-taHc1WL._AC_.jpg


Hockey Hall of Fame Member
Boston Bruins Captain, 1963-66
3x NHL All Star Game Participant, all merit based
3x Top 10 Norris Trophy Voting(5, 8, 10)
4x Top 15 All Star Voting(7, 11, 12, 15)
8x Top 10 Goals Among Defensemen(2, 5, 5, 6, 6, 9, 10, 10)
5x Top 10 Assists Among Defensemen(2, 7, 8, 9, 10)
7x Top 10 Points Among Defensemen(5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 10, 10)

It was with the Bruins that Leo's reputation as a hard-hitting, defenseman grew. Tim Horton regarded him to be the toughest blue liner to beat in a one-on-one situation. He was nicknamed "Fireplug" for his compact stature and devastating body checks.

Although there were bigger men on the blue line, especially closer the end of his career, none hit harder than Leo Boivin. After retiring, he stayed in the game as a scout. He went behind the bench as the interim coach of the St. Louis Blues during the 1975-76 and 1977-78 seasons, and coached the Ottawa 67's of the OHL for a time, but at the end of the day he preferred scouting to coaching.​
http://www.leoboivinshowcase.ca/home.php?pg=leoboivin

When you think of premier bodycheckers in hockey you think of Tim Horton, Eddie Shore, Lionel Hitchman and Scott Stevens. Well Leo Boivin belongs in this category as well. Boivin was known for his explosive hits to break up rushes, and he almost always skated away with the puck.

In fact Tim Horton himself claimed that Boivin was the toughest defenseman to beat in the entire league. This is somewhat amazing considering "Fireplug" stood only 5'8" tall and weighed anywhere from 170-185 pounds

Leo Boivin started his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1951-52 where he played in only 2 NHL games. Then he was sent down to the AHL. He began in the NHL full time the next year. He remained in Toronto until 1955 when he got traded to the Boston Bruins. It was in Boston where he really became a top notch defensemen. He starred in Boston for 11 years. Leo helped Boston get into the cup finals in 1957 and 1958 where they lost both times to Montreal.

Boston then fell on some hard times when they finished in last place for three years straight. Boivin was on the move once again this time to the Detroit Red Wings. He helped the Wings to the Cup finals in his first year there. Leo then went on to play for Pittsburgh and Minnesota. The North Stars released him in the summer of 1970, and instead of taking an offer to join Punch Imlach's Buffalo Sabres, Leo opted to retire.

When Boivin, who captained the Bruins from 1963 to 1966, retired he finished with 72 goals and 250 assists for 322 points and 1192 PIM. But fans will always remember him for his body checking skills. Foster Hewitt said it best when he described this particular play involving Boivin and the great Frank Mahovlich.

"Mahovlich has a breakaway! He's at the Boston blue line. Only Boivin between him and the goal. Big Frank dekes left. Now he shifts right, trying to sweep around the burly Boston defenseman . . . WHAMMO! `Uh-oh! Boivin catches No. 27 with a wicked hip check. Frank does a cartwheel. Now Boivin has the puck . . . ''
Click to expand...​
Boston Bruins Legends: Leo Boivin

Boivin landed a starting job with the Leafs in 1952-53 and played with Toronto until being traded back to the Bruins early in the 1954-55 season. It was with the Bruins that Boivin's reputation as a hard-hitting, stay-at-home defenceman grew. Tim Horton considered him to be the toughest blueliner to beat in a one-on-one situation and some Bruin historians refer to him as the link between Eddie Shore and Bobby Orr. Boivin was captain of the Bruins during four of his 12 years with the club and he played in the NHL All-Star game during the 1961, 1962 and 1964 seasons. His Bruin teammates called him "Billy Boy Boivin" for no other reason than the alliteration had a nice ring to it.

A trade to Detroit mid-way through the 1965-66 season provided Boivin with his last chance at a Stanley Cup, but it was not to be. Detroit lost the final series to the defending champion Canadiens four games to two.

Also nicknamed "Fireplug" for his compact stature and devastating body checks, Leo Boivin was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986.​
http://www.legendsofhockey.net/Lege...er.jsp?mem=p198601&type=Player&page=bio&list=

The Leafs were searching for a replacement for hard-hitting defenceman Bill Barilko, who had disappeared while on a fishing trip to northern Quebec during the summer of 1951. "Bill Barilko being lost was a terrible thing." They believed that the tough, young defenceman from Prescott just might fit the hole they had on their blueline. "That was my game even in junior hockey. I just kept getting better and better at bodychecking."

It was with the Boston Bruins that Boivin's reputation as a hard-hitting, stay-at-home defenceman was firmly established.​
Legends of Hockey - Spotlight - One on One with Leo Boivin

Yet, Leo was most remembered for his time with the Boston Bruins as he helped lead them to two Stanley Cup finals in the late 50's. Leo starred with other Boston defensive stalwarts Allan Stanley, Fern Flaman, Doug Mohns and Bob Armstrong. He remained the anchor of a youthful Bruins defensive corps during the difficult reconstructive period of the early 1960s. Although just 5' 7", he was considered a very tough opponent, as Tim Horton referred to him as "the toughest blueliner to beat in a one-on-one situation". He has also been called the last of the toothrattling body checkers. Mr. Boivin became Captain of the Boston Bruins in 1963​
Leo Boivin - Wikipedia

He broke into the league in 1952 and established himself as a very heavy hitter who was also an excellent defender.

Leo is considered one of the sensational finds of the past season. He likes to knock people back on their heels, and the way in which he has planted his elbows, arms, and head in the midsection of How or Richard, proves it.​
Leo Boivin

Of all the players who spent the majority of their NHL careers with the Bruins and were ultimately elected to the HHOF, few have been more forgotten than Leo Boivin. The stocky defenseman, who played in the NHL right up until 1970 spent 12 seasons with Boston from 1954 to 1966.

An all star with the Bruins 3 times and the team's captain from 1963 to '66, Boivin was given the Hall of Fame honor largely because he was one of the best body checkers ever to come along. When Ted Green joined the team in the very early 1960s, it was Boivin who taught him the intimidating style of play and the finer points of body checking. Leo also worked with a young Eddie Westfall and taught him the most effective method of hip checking.​
http://books.google.com/books?id=J-...ed=0CDMQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=leo boivin&f=false

Leo Boivin was considered the best body checker of the 1950s and 1960s. Built like a fireplug, Boivin could deliver a devastating hip check. One of hockey's toughest defensemen...​
http://books.google.com/books?id=rX...ed=0CDkQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=leo boivin&f=false

A low center of gravity(he stood 5'7"), a firepluglike build and nearly 200 pounds of muscle were Leo Boivin's major assets. Breaking in with the Maple Leafs, Leo was traded to Boston where he spent nine colorful seasons before moving to Detroit...

When Leo was enshrined in the HHOF in 1986, his admission was challenged by some analysts who believe he was not that qualified, despite his hitting, whereas others claim that the league does not have an award for defensive defensemen. Boivin represented the most flamboyant, but no less effective type of checker, and therefore qualified.​
http://books.google.com/books?id=wp...ed=0CEYQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=leo boivin&f=false

Leo Boivin was a rugged defenseman who was considered the premier body checker of his era. Tim Horton, one of the most powerful players in hockey, rated Boivin as the toughest defenseman in the league to beat, while Boston GM Lynn Patrick compared his style to that of Eddie Shore. Like Shore, Boivin sometimes would knock down opponents who attempted to stop his rushes.​
http://books.google.com/books?id=8m...ed=0CEwQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=leo boivin&f=false

Green found a tutor in a boxy looking defenseman with snake hips named Leo Boivin. A future Hall of Famer, Boivin taught Green the art of bodychecking and intimidation.

I got a lesson from Leo Boivin. He'd crack an arm when they tried to get around him.

When historian refer to the art of old time bodychecking, it's commonplace for the name Leo Boivin to be mentioned.

"Leo was very special," said erstwhile Bruins forward Ed Westfall, who played on Boston teams with Leo. "He was one of the few players for whom it could be said that bodychecking became an art form."

If nothing else, Boivin was favored by gravity. His body was squat, extremely low to the ice, so that his balance remained perfect when his 5'7", 190 pound frame crushed an opponent.

More important, Boivin learned to synchronize his hip thrust in mid ice collisions so that he was able to torpedo an enemy attacker amidships.
Click to expand...​
http://books.google.com/books?id=Zf...ed=0CF4Q6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=leo boivin&f=false

Leo Boivin, dishing out a good body check was just as satisfying as scoring a goal. Sturdily built at 5'9" and 190 pounds, Boivin was a strong believer in playing the man, not the puck. He was a textbook hitter...​
http://www.google.com/search?q=leo+...f.,cf.osb&fp=67c47674abf59c1&biw=1366&bih=638

I throw one of those passes they talk about where, you know, you're looking over your shoulder admiring it, saying how pretty it is, and Leo came whipping across the ice with one of those hip checks of his. The next thing I knew I was looking up at the lights, literally. I was looking at the ceiling, flying through the air upside down...

...was as tough as they came...​
http://books.google.com/books?id=Af...X&ei=XgQ_T6mVIKLk0QHi1anEBw&ved=0CFIQ6AEwBDgK

Though the two had never played together as teammates in Pittsburgh, they gelled right away, with Boivin's solid defense a good match for Tim's rushing ability in a 2-2 tie against the Blackhawks.
 
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Couldn't pass up having Vasko, Konstantinov and Boivin on the same blueline. And T. Johnson was no picnic either. Throw in Forsberg and Thornton and even Mahovlich and there's plenty of nasty there. Here comes torpedoes at least.
 
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Professor What said:
If Fischler said it, it must be right. Can I go back and change my first round pick?
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It’s funny looking back now and reading some of the outlandish statements and opinions from his columns. But that was Stan’s shtick. And he did it well, even if we disagreed with a lot of it obviously. Like preferring Petr Prucha over Sidney Crosby, claiming Gretzky and the Oilers would never win a Cup, etc..Dick Beddoes was the same way. But their shtick sold papers, and books.

Stan is actually a super nice guy. I’ve spoken to him a number of times over the past couple of weeks and he’s doing really well in Israel. He’s almost 90 now and still writing about hockey!
 
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Habsfan18 said:
It’s funny looking back now and reading some of the outlandish statements and opinions from his columns. But that was Stan’s shtick. And he did it well, even if we disagreed with a lot of it obviously. Like preferring Petr Prucha over Sidney Crosby, claiming Gretzky and the Oilers would never win a Cup, etc..Dick Beddoes was the same way. But their shtick sold papers, and books.

Stan is actually a super nice guy. I’ve spoken to him a number of times over the past couple of weeks and he’s doing really well in Israel. He’s almost 90 now and still writing about hockey!
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In truth, I actually do enjoy reading a lot of his stuff. My view of his writing has long been that you're going to get some nutty stuff if you read what he says in the moment (the quote you referenced being a prime example), but he has such a long history with the sport that when he gives a historical perspective, I find it pretty valuable. There aren't many people who have seen as much as he has, after all.
 
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Professor What said:
In truth, I actually do enjoy reading a lot of his stuff. My view of his writing has long been that you're going to get some nutty stuff if you read what he says in the moment (the quote you referenced being a prime example), but he has such a long history with the sport that when he gives a historical perspective, I find it pretty valuable. There aren't many people who have seen as much as he has, after all.
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He didn't like Orr lol.
 
Habsfan18 said:
It’s funny looking back now and reading some of the outlandish statements and opinions from his columns. But that was Stan’s shtick. And he did it well, even if we disagreed with a lot of it obviously. Like preferring Petr Prucha over Sidney Crosby, claiming Gretzky and the Oilers would never win a Cup, etc..
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Imagine Fischler participated in the ATD. His starting six would be:


Random NYI player – (anyone but Gretzky or Lemieux) – Peter Průcha

Kevin Lowe – (anyone but Orr or Bourque)

(no idea)​
 
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Theokritos said:
Imagine Fischler participated in the ATD. His starting six would be:


Random NYI player – (anyone but Gretzky or Lemieux) – Peter Průcha

Kevin Lowe – (anyone but Orr or Bourque)

(no idea)​
Click to expand...

Frank Boucher!!!

Stan Fischler is really high on Boucher - I believe he has him as a top 10 player of all-time. His reasoning involves lots of Lady Byngs (I'm sure being an old Ranger doesn't hurt)
 
TheDevilMadeMe said:
Frank Boucher!!!

Stan Fischler is really high on Boucher - I believe he has him as a top 10 player of all-time. His reasoning involves lots of Lady Byngs (I'm sure being an old Ranger doesn't hurt)
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Okay, I'll update his prospective starting six:

Lady Byng – Frank Boucher – Peter Průcha

Kevin Lowe – (anyone but Orr or Bourque)

(random NY goalie)​
 
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Theokritos said:
Okay, I'll update his prospective starting six:

Lady Byng – Frank Boucher – Peter Průcha

Kevin Lowe – (anyone but Orr or Bourque)

(random NY goalie)​
Click to expand...

Stan is going to LOVE my team, with 2x Byng winner Paul Kariya on the LW, I’m just missing Prucha and the NY goalie (guess I know who I’m targeting for Gardiner’s backup)
 
Sorry to be a killjoy, but Fischler actually released a top 100 in 1988:

Top 100 Players - Stan Fischler, 1988

Based strictly on his list, his ideal team (ignoring chemistry) would be:

Bobby Hull - Wayne Gretzky - Gordie Howe
Toe Blake - Frank Boucher - Maurice Richard (yes, Boucher is his #2 C of all-time)
Dickie Moore - Howie Morenz - Bill Cook
Frank Mahovlich - Jean Beliveau - Mike Bossy

Red Kelly - Eddie Shore (Stan has them both as top 4 players all-time)
Doug Harvey - Denis Potvin
Bobby Orr - King Clancy

Glenn Hall
Georges Vezina
 
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