How the Bolland Situation Pans Out
Posted 8:27 PM ET | Comments 7
2013 draft day was when the news broke of Dave Bolland being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, a relief to many of us fans. He wouldn't be THE solution but would be a great help in solving the lack of center men depth since we lost Mats Sundin. We saw the potential of Kadri taking over the first line center, he isn't the towering centreman we envisioned, but after last years dominant lockout shortened season, putting up 18 goals and 26 assists for 44 points in 48 games played the potential was there for him to fill the spot. With Bozak and Bolland taking turns in the 2C and 3C spots, McClement locking down the 4th line, we thought we had finally found a good enough group to move forward with. rnrnFast Forward to February 26, 2014 rnrnDave Bolland has missed all but 15 games this season. In those 15 games he built a pretty solid stat line of 6 G, 4 A, +4, 1GWG, 1 PPG, 1 SHG, and a S% of 22.2. rnrnOver a 82 game season that line ends up being 33 G, 22A and a +22. WOW!!rnrnNow in all likelihood....not happening! Dave Bolland is a good centremen but that would top his career high in points, goals and +/-. Which were all set in the 2008-2009 season where Bolland and the Blackhawks went 46-24-12 and made it to the Western Conference Finals. rnrnNow i'm no expert but I would have pegged Bolland to put up a solid but not extraordinary season with a stat line around 20G, 20A, +5. rnrnSo lets get right down to it. rnrnBolland is looking to re-sign with the Leafs...yay! rnHe's looking for 5 Mill a year for 7-8 years....uhh ohhrnrnLike i said early, he is a good hockey player and the Leafs sure could use a player like him on their team. However, at what cost do you lock up a 27 (28 by next season) year old centremen that has similar numbers as the recently resigned Tyler Bozak. The only way I can imagine having Bolland as a Leaf long term is if he matches or takes less than what GM Nonis gave to Bozak last summer. 4.2 Million a year for Bozak, another 4.2 for Bolland. Thats 8.4 Million in Cap Space, Which works out to about 11.8% of our cap space spent on our 2C and 3C. I personally am not too crazy about that thought but who else would Nonis pick up on July 1st? If we can get Bolland on a 2 or 3 year deal, maybe a prospect like Fredrik Gauthier, or another future draft pick will be able to fill the void when his contract is up. In the mean time, unless a trade for a equal or better centreman is available, Nonis is left to negotiate with Bolland. rnrnIn the end Bolland gets resigned to a 6 year contract for 4.25 a season. rnrnP.S. Hope Bolland comes back from his laceration as well as Erik Karlsson did, or the Leafs are in a pickle!rnrnrnThanks for reading guys! Comment below! I'd love the thoughts and comments!! Look for regular blogs once or twice a week!rn
Bolland has the guts to ask for a $5 contract extension for multiple years...still has not been in the lineup since Nov 1 after more setbacks...The Leafs should be trying hard to trade him to somewhere by the deadline. All a team needs if for him to be able to play come playoff time. This team has more issues at hand, for example a goaltender who cannot keep the puck out of his net with his team giving him every opportunity to win the game in regulation. This team (Bernier to be more precise) has thrown away 14 chances to win games in regulation, with all those heading to shootouts with the Leafs winning 9 of those via the shootout. Toronto was just fine with the combination of James Reimer and Ben Scrivens in goal last season. I do not remember that many games in which those two allowed bad goals at bad times or simply fell dead asleep with the game on the line. Bernier has allowed so many ridiculous, unforgivable goals this season, it has cost the Leafs way too many times compared to a handful of games in which Bernier has stood tall. Every game he seems to allow a pathetically weak goal against. On most nights however, the Leafs have had plenty to say offensively to make up for it. Tonight was an easy 4-2 game in the bag for the Leafs, but the Islanders should be on hands and knees thanking Randy Carlyle for starting a sleepwalker in goal.
Correction, a $5 million contract extension...would be great if all players cost $5!
The Leafs gambled on Bolland, no question...it just did not pan out. Would have been nice to see how the team would have done with him in the lineup on most nights. We all knew he would be a detriment to the team at some point. The guy has never played close to a full season in the NHL...
But for right now, James Reimer should be given the chance once again to take over the helm. He did the job well last season, although he and the rest of the team imploded badly in game 7 in Boston. Bernier just is not the answer for this team now or going forward. Los Angeles did not have to trade him, but gave into his "demands" and set him free. He has been given EVERY opportunity to play in Toronto and to succeed, but has not taken advantage of it. He needs to go to a team, preferably a Western team to be given a chance. Perhaps Minnesota or Edmonton should look into him.
Leafs took a chance with bringing in Bolland. Honestly if he wants too much money they need to let him go. Burke said it best, sometimes the best you get for a player is the cap space when they leave. We have a lot of 3rd and 4th line guys. Bolland however really is a good fit so hoping they can work it out. Right now though lets be realistic his trade value given his injury sucks. As for goaltending Reimer is RFA and likely going to be moved for a vet backup. I do not see him starting. Bernier has been fine, the biggest problem which has always been the Leafs problems since the 80s is our defence. We need to overhaul it huge. Basically Phaneuf, Gleason, Reilly are all relatively safe, the rest, I would be sleeping none too fitly in the days to come. Actually play in front of the goalie and maybe we wont see them hung out to dry. Bernier and Reimer both have been the victim of shoddy play by the team in front of them again and again.
Deal him at the deadline before you lose him for NOTHING!
Savage and whos going to give us anything for him? Fact is he had a severe injury, is questionable when he returns and even if he does monday we have 1 or 2 games before the deadline? No playoff team is going to give us anything of value for him and take a chance on him being ok. We can try and resign him, which if for the right money we can I would be all for it, but reality is we play it out and he walks we get the cap space back in the end and go find someone to fill the third line role. We wont get anything for him. Not at this point and time.