NEWARK, N.J. – When the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in 2010, the club went through a makeover of epic proportions. One of the players they were forced to part ways with was Kris Versteeg, who was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
David Bolland was among the core that ended up sticking with the Blackhawks. After another Cup win, Chicago was faced with more tough decisions and the Maple Leafs dug into the well of the Blackhawks’ success again, acquiring the centre in exchange for their second and fourth-round picks in this year’s draft, as well as a fourth-rounder in 2014.
"Chicago has done such a good job of grabbing players" Leafs GM Dave Nonis said. "They can let a David Bolland go because they have some great players coming in underneath and Stan Bowman has done such a good job of keeping that cupboard stocked. For us, we try to take advantage of his good work which made it possible for him to move that player."
The Leafs are banking on this working out better than the deal they consummated with Chicago three years ago. Versteeg played in just 53 games for Toronto before he was shipped to Philadelphia for a first and third-round pick. The fit just wasn’t right.
Bolland has been used primarily as a third-line centre in Chicago. And not unlike three years ago, the Leafs are banking on their newest former Blackhawk to play an increased role with the team. But now, they’re hoping the results will be better.
"I think that’s where he’s been slotted. If you go back to his junior years, he put up some pretty good numbers," Nonis said. "(Bolland) played behind some pretty good people. I don’t think Randy (Carlyle) will pigeonhole him as a third-line centre. I think he’ll be put in a more prominent role with us than he was than he was with Chicago."
Bolland scored the Stanley Cup winning goal less than a week ago. The Etobicoke native is excited about playing in his hometown.
"To play in the ACC in front of Toronto fans where I grew up… I’m really excited. I’m at a loss for words" Bolland said upon learning of the trade. "You can see they’ve got some young talent with Kadri and the goaltenders. I think it’s going to be great. I think this is one team like the Blackhawks team that’s coming up and is going to do great things. Hopefully like we did here."
Having looked to Chicago for some assets before, the Leafs and Bolland are clearly on the same page.
The ripple effect
The addition of Bolland at a "cap friendly" $3,375,000 per season could have an adverse effect for Toronto and the contract situation with impending unrestricted free agent Tyler Bozak.
"I wouldn’t rule out resigning Tyler at all" Nonis said. "If we can find a way to re-sign him we will and nothing has changed in that regard."
With an increased role for Bolland, it’s hard to see where Bozak maintains a spot unless it comes at the cost of Mikhail Grabovski, who is currently making $5.5 million on average per season. While acknowledging that Grabovski had an off year, Nonis was high on his play down the stretch, appearing to suggest that Grabovski is not a candidate to be bought out.
"He didn’t have a very good season and there were a lot of reasons for that. His health was part of it" Nonis said. "But I think in the post-season he was very good. He looked like his old self and he’s going to have to get ready this off-season to come back and challenge for the minutes. Our coaching staff isn’t the type to hand out minutes, you have to earn them and Grabo has the capability he’s just going to have to come out and do it."
On possibility of using both compliance buyouts
Mike Komisarek is a lock to be bought out before July 5. Meanwhile, Nonis said "it’s possible, but not likely" that two buyouts would be utilized, adding it will depend on the situation. John-Michael Liles may be a candidate for the other buyout.
"Right now we want to see what opens up," Nonis said with respect to the next few days. "I think teams are going to leave Jersey and see what they have. It’s not going to go quiet after today."