NEWARK, N.J. – Dave Bolland is going to have a different memory about a surprising turn of events at TD Garden this spring than the rest of his new teammates.
Six days after scoring the game-winning goal for Chicago in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final, the centre was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs for three draft picks on Sunday.
Despite the timing of the move, Bolland was thrilled to join his hometown team. In the hours after it was announced, his phone blew up in a manner similar to what happened last week when he helped Chicago stage a late comeback against the Boston Bruins.
“To put on the Maple Leafs jersey and to play at the ACC in front of Toronto fans – where I grew up and where everything has happened – I’m really excited,” Bolland said. “I’m pretty much lost for words. I don’t know what to say.”
The move was made with experience in mind. The 27-year-old is a two-time Stanley Cup champion and will be counted on to be a leader for one of the youngest teams in the NHL.
There probably wasn’t enough of that on the Leafs roster when it blew a 4-1 lead in Game 7 of an opening-round series against Boston this spring.
It seems somewhat fitting that Bolland scored the second of goals that came 17.7 seconds apart when the Bruins had a mini-collapse of their own against Chicago in the championship.
Even though Bolland was used primarily in a fourth-line role for the Blackhawks during the playoffs, the Leafs see much more potential for him. Coach Randy Carlyle pushed general manager Dave Nonis to acquire him.
“I think he’s Randy’s type of player,” Nonis said. “He can play up and down the lineup. He’s got enough skill that he can play (against) really good players and he’s got enough grit that he can play against really good players.
“I think he’s going to be given a pretty significant role with us.”
The addition seems to be a sign that top-line centre Tyler Bozak will test free agency on Friday.
While Nonis remains open to resigning him, the sides are facing a wide gap in negotiations and the Leafs GM is adamant that he needs to stay fiscally responsible with the salary cap dropping to $64.3-million next season.
If training camp opened tomorrow, the team’s centres would be Nazem Kadri, Mikhail Grabovski, Jay McClement and Bolland – something Nonis would be comfortable with.
“That was part of it, to make sure that we have some depth and make sure that we’re able to compete with the group that we have,” he said. “We’re not incredibly deep down the middle and that’s why it was important for us to get him.”
Bolland is considered to be a strong two-way player, but his offensive upside is limited. His career highs are 19 goals and 47 points.
The former Memorial Cup champion with the London Knights had spent nine years in the Blackhawks organization and had some mixed feelings after being dealt. However, when he looked at the Leafs lineup, he saw a lot of potential.
“I think it’s going to be gritty,” Bolland said. “I think this is one team that’s like the Blackhawks team that’s coming up and is going to do good things. Hopefully we can do the same thing that we did here.”
If Nonis gets his way, there will be more changes to come.
The Leafs GM said he didn’t even know what his roster would look like 48 hours from now when he can start talking to free agents. He certainly isn’t resting on his laurels after watching the franchise’s playoff drought end.
“We’re going to try to remain active and see if there’s more changes we can make,” Nonis said.
The battle at centre should be an interesting one.
Bolland won’t be “pigeon-holed” into a third-line role, according to Nonis, which means he’ll likely have a chance to battle Mikhail Grabovski for playing time. The Leafs are expecting much more from the Belarussian than they saw in 2013.
“Grabbo didn’t have the best year he’s ever had,” Nonis said. “There’s no secret about that. He didn’t have a very good season and I think there’s a lot of reasons for that and his health was part of it. …
“He’s going to have to get ready this off-season and come back and try to challenge for the minutes he’s expecting. Our coaching staff isn’t one that hands minutes out; you have to earn them.”
For his part, Bolland said he would embrace whatever role he was given.
An important date on his summer calendar will come when he gets to bring the Stanley Cup back to the Toronto neighbourhood of Mimico where he was raised. On Sunday night, he proclaimed that the famous Blue Goose Tavern will once again be a stop on his itinerary.
The Leafs hope that he’ll get some rest as well.
“He’s going to have a short summer,” Nonis said. “Hopefully, any bumps and bruises he has he can get rid of them in the next couple months because we’re going to be at it before you know it here.”