Bobbleheads

Braden Holtby Bobblehead Is a BIG Deal

Holtby Bobblehead Pick-up (via Inova Facebook Page)

Caps fans everywhere came together Saturday for yet another Capitals blood drive. From the looks of it, this may be the most successful one to date. Fans were waiting outside the doors of Kettler Capitals Iceplex before the drive even started, and by nine o’clock the entire second level was packed with Caps fans. Inova’s Marketing Director Rebecca Manarchuck said she was “thrilled” with the turnout and it was all thanks to you Caps fans.

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Alan May also stopped by to donate a pint! (via Inova Facebook Page)

No blood drive is complete without a signature Inova Capitals Bobblehead, who today was none other than Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby. For the first time since the Pro Sport Image Era, which provided us with bobbles such as Michal Neuvirth and Brooks Laich, Inova stuck with the same bobblehead provider, Bobble Factory.

Sporting the usual home Caps jersey, Holtby has a disappointing lack of flow, while standing in the typical goalie bobblehead stance, decked out with pads, glove, and goalie stick. Compared to the Olaf Kolzig bobblehead, which was the last giveaway and first to be produced by this company, the Holtby bobble was a huge upgrade, not only in details and design, but size too. The Kolzig bobblehead measures at 6.5 inches with a 2.75 inch diameter base, where as the Holtby measures in at 7.5 inches tall standing on a 3.25 inch diameter base.

The shine, which seems to be the signature of Bobble Factory, is still very much there along with the detail of Holtby’s facial features, including his slicked back hair and five o’clock shadow, although his hair not nearly as long as in real life.

Everywhere from his nose to his ears is detail which makes this company a go-to for player resemblance. Moving down to the body, another upside is the very clean paint job. The bobble is very flawlessly painted from head to skate. The logos are stickered on, name and number raised and hand painted. Other than the size, the big upgrade on this bobblehead is the detail of his glove and pads. The Kolzig bobblehead lacked a lot of detail in that department, with his glove looking more like a basketball, but the Holtby bobblehead really took it to the next level.  The glove looks far more realistic along with the blocker, his leg pads are also far more detailed, showing the actual creases and stitches all throughout. Even the base had me surprised as they took a part of the bobblehead that most people never gave any time to and made it better. Unlike normal bases, where the level was even throughout, this base had a black ring around the edge which is actually raised a few millimeters higher than the inside area, giving it an encased feeling.

The only part of the bobblehead I was actually disappointed in was the Inova label on the front. Instead of the lettering being raised like all past bobbleheads, it looks as though they just slapped a sticker on there, without aligning or centering it.

Nonetheless, this is one of the best bobbleheads I’ve received as of late, and it will be a great addition to your ever growing Capitals Bobblehead collection.

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Side by side comparison of Holtby and Kolzig Bobbleheads

For those who couldn’t make the blood drive, Holtby bobbleheads will most likely be flooding in on eBay over the next few days. So far, the highest price somebody is willing to pay for one is $65, however that bid is still going on for another 18 hours and could jump up any second. Only two have hit eBay so far but more will almost certainly be listed in the next week.

The next blood drive will take place at Kettler again on January 4th, 2014. That bobblehead will be announced once 400 people sign up for the drive, and we’ll let you know as soon as it happens.

Mrs. Manarchuck said that the bobblehead has already been confirmed and ordered, so make sure you get you appointment because slots will be filling up fast! Although the blood drive slots filled up, they still made walk-in appointments available, so even if you don’t get a slot you still can show up and donate blood. Also note that the next bobble will most likely be a forward, so the company will get their first shot at making a bobblehead other than a goalie.

Here you can sign up for each blood drive:

  • January 4th, 2014
  • March 1st, 2014

Also check out:

Caps Outsider’s Bobblehead Database

Andy Wallace

Bobblehead connoisseur for @CapsOutsider, creator of @CapsBobbles, and @4thLineBobbles mastermind.

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