Brandon Bollig, Re-Introducing Your Calgary Flames

Apr 6, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Brandon Bollig (52) signals the crowd after a fight during the second period against the St. Louis Blues at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

From the Twitter bio of a player likely manning the left wing on the Calgary Flames third or fourth line this upcoming season:

Don’t tell me ‘the sky’s the limit’ when there are footprints on the moon.

Brandon Bollig was acquired during the 2014 NHL draft weekend from the Chicago Blackhawks.

By trading Bollig for a draft pick, the Blackhawks save $1.25 million on the $69 million NHL salary cap. The Blackhawks are in the market for a second-line center and have less than $1 million in available salary-cap space, according to Capgeek.com.Bollig had 14 points and 92 penalty minutes in 82 games last season. He had no points in 43 games during the previous two seasons. He signed a three-year, $3.75 million contract extension in March.He’s a fourth-line player who fits the mold of the type of bottom-six player Flames president of hockey operations Brian Burke usually likes.

Keeping his twitter bio line in mind, I won’t label him as simply a 4th liner. My hopes are for Curtis Glencross, Mason Raymond and Johnny Gaudreau to be our left wingers lines 1 through 3.  Keeping that in mind, here’s hoping Bollig is our 4th line left winger.  From ESPN Chicago’s player reviews article by  Scott Powers:

Quotes: “He’s really progressed,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said of Bollig during the regular season. “He gave us a nice ingredient, adding toughness off the bat. As a hockey player, that’s the part that may have surprised a lot of us — the consistency of his game, what he’s able to do with the puck and play selection. That line’s helped over the last year and a half. We utilize him in an important role. We’re comfortable with him defensively and he adds a nice dimension to our lineup.”

Brandon Bollig seems to accept the fact he may not be the most skilled player offensively as showcased in the following parody video.  On September 13, 2013, Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane was featured in a video doing some amazing stickhandling moves.  On September 23, 2013 Brandon Bollig responded the only way he could.

Bollig also recently accepted the Ice Bucket Challenge in support of ALS aka Lou Gehrig Disease.

Welcome to Calgary Mr. Bollig!