1969 NHL Amateur Draft Pick
Round Overall
1 11
Ivan Boldirev
Selected by Boston from Oshawa (OHA)
Boston Bruins Oshawa Generals
Ivan Boldirev
 

6-foot-0, 190 pounds

Left-hand shot

Center

Pre-Draft Statistics

Year Team League GP G A TP PIM
1966-67 S.S. Marie NOJHL 40 26 42 68 35
1967-68Oshawa OHA 50 18 26 44 76
1968-69 Oshawa OHA 54 25 34 59 101

Pre-Draft Notes

Born in Yugoslavia but moved to Canada with his family when he was 2 years old.
Canadian • Born August 15, 1949 in Zrenjanin, Yugoslavia • Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Career Vitals

First contract: 1969
Debut: November 26, 1970
(Boston vs. Chicago)
Final NHL game: April 11, 1985 (playoffs)
(Detroit at Chicago)
Retired: 1985
Stanley Cup: 1970
Cup Finals: 1982
Numbers worn: 22 (Boston); 9 (California); 12 (Chicago);
12 (Atlanta); 9 (Vancouver); 12 (Detroit)

Career NHL Statistics

Teams: Boston, California, Chicago, Atlanta, Vancouver, Detroit
Years: 1970-1985. Playoffs: 1975-1985

Regular Season
  GP G A TP PIM
15 years 1,052 361 505 866 507
 
Stanley Cup Playoffs
GP G A TP PIM
10 years 48 13 20 33 14
 
Complete statistics available at NHL.com

Career Highlights

Called up to Boston as a spare player for 1970 playoff run, but did not appear in any playoff games as team went on to win Stanley Cup. Even though he did not play, Boldirev's name was somewhat accidentally engraved on the Stanley Cup as a member of the team. ... Became the first European-born NHL draft pick to play in NHL when he made his debut for Boston on Nov. 26, 1970. ... Named to 1970-71 CHL All-Star Second team with Oklahoma City. ... Played 11 regular-season games for 1971-72 Boston team that went on to win Stanley Cup, but was not with team in playoffs.... Became first NHL player to score a goal in Kansas City's Kemper Arena while playing for Chicago at 3:06 of the first period of expansion Scouts' home opener on Nov. 2, 1974. ... Led Chicago in goals (24, tie), assists (38) and points (62) in 1976-77. ... Represented Chicago in 1978 NHL All-Star Game. ... Led Chicago in goals (35), assists (45) and points (80) in 1977-78. ... Assisted on Hall of Famer Bobby Orr's final NHL goal in Chicago's Oct. 28, 1978, game at Detroit. ... Led Chicago with 29 goals in 1978-79. ... Tied Vancouver record (since broken) for points in one game with five (3 goals, 2 assists) on Nov. 15, 1981, at Calgary. ... Tied Vancouver record (since broken) for points in one game with five (3 goals, 2 assists) on March 30, 1980, vs. Minnesota. ... Set Vancouver record (since broken) for consecutive postseason games with a goal, when he scored in four consecutive playoff games in 1982 (Games 4 and 5 of Campbell Conference Finals on May 4 and May 6 vs. Chicago and in Games 1 and 2 of Stanley Cup Finals on May 8 and May 11 vs. N.Y. Islanders). ... Played on Vancouver team that reached 1982 Stanley Cup Finals. ... Scored career-high six points (3 goals, 3 assists), including a natural hat trick, in Detroit's 6-2 win at Toronto on Feb. 19, 1984. ... Named NHL Player of Week for week ending Feb. 19, 1984 after scoring 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists) in three games for Detroit.

Transaction History

Nov. 17, 1971 -- Traded by Boston to California in exchange for Chris Oddleifson and player to be named later (Rich Leduc). May 24, 1974 -- Traded by California to Chicago in exchange for Len Frig and Mike Christie. March 13, 1979 -- Traded by Chicago with Phil Russell and Darcy Rota to Atlanta in exchange for Tom Lysiak, Pat Ribble, Greg Fox, Harold Phillipoff, and Miles Zaharko. Feb. 8, 1980 -- Traded by Atlanta with Darcy Rota to Vancouver for Don Lever and Brad Smith. Jan. 17, 1983 -- Traded by Vancouver to Detroit in exchange for Mark Kirton.

The Blockbuster Trade

At the NHL trade deadline on March 13, 1979, Boldirev was part of the eight-player deal between Atlanta and Chicago. Three Black Hawks players, including top scorer Boldirev, went to the Flames for five Atlanta players, including Atlanta all-time franchise scoring leader Tom Lysiak. At the time of the deal, it ranked among the biggest trades in NHL history, involving multiple stars. Fans in both cities were upset about losing some of their favorite players, even though the major trade had been rumored and in the works for more than two months since Atlanta was known to be seeking Phil Russell.

Milestones

1,000th Game: December 1, 1984
(Detroit at St. Louis)
300th Goal: February 26, 1983
(Detroit at N.Y. Islanders)
500th Assist:February 16, 1985
(Detroit vs. Chicago)

Significant Injuries

Missed part of 1971-72 season with mononucleosis. ... Missed part of 1972-73 season with torn ligaments in knee. ... Missed seven games of 1980-81 season with fractured cheekbone, an injury suffered when he collided with teammate Curt Fraser during Vancouver's Dec. 1, 1980, practice. Neither player was wearing a helmet at the time. ... Missed four games during 1983-84 seaswon with separated right shoulder, an injury suffered during Detroit's Feb. 28, 1984, game at Quebec.

Life Outside the NHL

Full Name: Ivan B. Boldirev
Nicknames: "Ike", "Ivan the Terrible"

Other Post-Draft Teams: Oklahoma City (CHL)

Career Beyond Hockey: Returned to Chicago area after retirement, eventually moving to Valparaiso, Ind., where he worked in the home-security business. ... Ever loyal to the Blackhawks from his very enjoyable playing days in Chicago, he became an active member of the Blackhawks Alumni Association, although he opted not to play in the alumni old-timers' games.

Miscellaneous:

Selected by Chicago Cougars in 1972 WHA Draft -- the first-ever WHA Draft -- in February 1972. Wore No. 21 at Boston's 1970 training camp and No. 29 at Boston's 1971 training camp. Played in California in 1972-73 for head coach Garry Young, who had scouted him for Bruins. Scored hat trick in his second game with Atlanta on March 15, 1979, at Philadelphia.
Scored winnerl late in third period of first game as a Canuck on Feb. 9, 1980, at Montreal. Scored his first hat trick for Vancouver on March 30, 1980, vs. Minnesota.. Scored 13 goals and added 12 assists in his first 25 games of 1980-81 season with Vancouver. Scored 16 goals and had 13 assists during 15-game span in November and December 1981.
Scored 10th career NHL hat trick in Detroit's Feb. 20, 1983, game vs. Hartford. Played mostly at left wing for Detroit in final two NHL seasons of 1983-84 and 1984-85. Had career-highs in points (83) and assists (48) at age 34 with Detroit in 1983-84. Had 10-game scoring streak (7 goals, 12 assists) for Detroit from Feb. 15 to March 10, 1984.
SNAPSHOT '69
Total Selected: 84
Forwards: 58
Defense: 18
Goaltenders: 8
Major Junior: 68
College Players: 8
Canadian: 78
Euro-Canadian: 1
American: 4
European: 1
Reached NHL: 49
Won Stanley Cup: 10
Hall of Fame: 1
All-Star Game: 7
Year-end All-Star: 1
Olympians: 2
Picks Traded: 11


OTHERS DRAFTED IN 1969

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