Dave Bolland

[Corn Flake]

Nick Kypreos ‏@RealKyper  32m
Bolland seeking 7 or 8 yr #Leafs exten' that could max out over 40m. Is he worth it? Tune into HC @ noon for the latest. FAN590 @Sportsnet

No. NO!

Even if this was just a starting point type request by his agent, if he came to me with those numbers I'd tell him to get the hell out of my office and then throw something at the back of his head while he was leaving.

This has to be for marketing the deadline.  Absolutely ridiculous. 

I guess next year Kadri + Bernier are going to demand 8 years for  49M.

I don't really believe it to be honest, even if it was just 'starting high' as an opening offer.

Yeah don't fall for this crap from Kypreos.  The media deadline attention mongers are going to be going all out for attention this time around and what better place to start than drop all the favorite names from the Leafs??!  Dregrer keeps talking about Kadri and Gardiner.. not happening.. Kypreos has dropped crazy numbers on Leafs UFA signings a few times recently. Did he not say Phaneuf was looking for over $8 mil / year?

 

[Corn Flake]

Then Leafs sign him for $4 mill and claim a good deal.  Remember Dreger floating Bozak's demands?

What was that again? Something like $6mil?

Anyway, yeah I haven't believed a word Dreger says about anything for long time now. But I'd probably rather give Clarkson $5mil than Bolland.

He said Bozak was getting around $6x6 or 7 and Phaneuf was asking for over $8 at one point.

Beeee Esssss.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Bolland could certainly argue a similar deal from a production standpoint - Bolland, 0.51 PPG career, Bozak, 0.60 PPG (difference of around 7/8 pts over 82 games), much more playoff experience (I think GMs value that) and putting up those comparable points with less ice-time and with less consistent ice-time with players of Kessel's calibre (he has played with Kane in the past).  Both are same age.

Would seem to be a fair comparable for Bolland's camp to take, if they wanted to.

A GM can't ignore Bolland's injury history though. Going into his negotiations, Bozak was essentially injury free in his short career. As LK found, Bolland has missed an average of 21 games a season in the past 6 years. And he's coming off an injury that could have negative long-lasting effects on his game.

A good point.

 

[Kin]

Bolland could certainly argue a similar deal from a production standpoint - Bolland, 0.51 PPG career, Bozak, 0.60 PPG (difference of around 7/8 pts over 82 games), much more playoff experience (I think GMs value that) and putting up those comparable points with less ice-time and with less consistent ice-time with players of Kessel's calibre (he has played with Kane in the past).  Both are same age.

Would seem to be a fair comparable for Bolland's camp to take, if they wanted to.

I'd agree that the per year number that Bolland will/could get on an open market will wind up being roughly in Bozak's neighbourhood. That said, I think there are some things about that comparison that don't look as good on him though. Not being as good on the draw, being smaller(and, specifically, how it relates to his general ability to stay healthy) and, I think, contrary to your assumption regarding linemates I think teams are actually going to value guys who produce at high levels with talented linemates over someone like Bolland where it seems like his best seasons were spent on lines where he wasn't going up against the toughest competition opponents could throw at him.

All three of those things, I think, hurt Bolland if the idea is that a team would want him to fill the same role Bozak does where he's the third wheel on a productive top line. Producing at a 16 goal, 32 point pace playing with Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp, as Bolland did last year, isn't going to convince a lot of people that he's someone who is going to be much of a fit in a top 6.

It's always hard to predict how the UFA market shapes up but a 4-5 year deal at anywhere between 3.5 to 4.5 million dollars wouldn't shock me for Bolland.

 

[bustaheims]

I don't really believe it to be honest, even if it was just 'starting high' as an opening offer.

I'm willing to believe the dollar per season is close to what Bolland is looking for - he's already earning $3.375M, so, asking for something around $5M with some of the comparables out and the rising cap doesn't feel like it's way off base - but, I really doubt he's looking for a max term deal. I think he's smart enough to realize that's not going to happen for him.

 

[Kin]

Bolland could certainly argue a similar deal from a production standpoint - Bolland, 0.51 PPG career, Bozak, 0.60 PPG (difference of around 7/8 pts over 82 games), much more playoff experience (I think GMs value that) and putting up those comparable points with less ice-time and with less consistent ice-time with players of Kessel's calibre (he has played with Kane in the past).  Both are same age.

Would seem to be a fair comparable for Bolland's camp to take, if they wanted to.

A GM can't ignore Bolland's injury history though. Going into his negotiations, Bozak was essentially injury free in his short career. As LK found, Bolland has missed an average of 21 games a season in the past 6 years. And he's coming off an injury that could have negative long-lasting effects on his game.

Well, exactly. It's worth noting that when Weiss was on the market, it wasn't coming off of a 20 goal, 60 point season or I think it's fairly safe to say he'd have gotten more than 4.9 million a year. He was on the market as a productive guy who was a year or so removed from a really productive year due to injuries. Bolland will be in the same boat. That obviously won't kill his value but it'll drag it down a little.

 

[AvroArrow]

If I were running the show, I'd max out at 3.5M x 3 years for Bolland.  If he wants more than that, then I'd rather have Kulemin and Komarov with Holland for our 3rd line.

(I'd also wait until he plays for at least a few weeks before signing a deal - make sure we aren't saddling up to damaged goods)

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I don't really believe it to be honest, even if it was just 'starting high' as an opening offer.

Is it really that crazy to think that Bolland thinks that is a reasonable starting offer? Especially after the Clarkson contract? They're both ideally 3rd liners who the Leafs and probably some other teams think can play on the 2nd line. They both have similar offensive numbers, and Bolland's are actually better really. Clarkson has the 30 goal season under his belt but Nonis is on record as saying the Leafs don't expect 30 goals from him. They both ooze "intangibles" and "leadership" and all that crap. Clarkson's the more physical player but Bolland has the reputation of being better defensively and has the Cups. He also plays the more important position.

Really the only thing Bolland has going against him are the injuries, which like I said should be a big cause for concern. But I could still certainly understand him looking at the Clarkson deal and thinking why not me.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

@DavidAlter590

Dave Bolland is practicing but has switched to a maroon (non healthy) jersey instead of the line jersey he had before.  That can't be good.

Don't think we'll be seeing him tomorrow night.

 

[Zee]

I don't really believe it to be honest, even if it was just 'starting high' as an opening offer.

Is it really that crazy to think that Bolland thinks that is a reasonable starting offer? Especially after the Clarkson contract? They're both ideally 3rd liners who the Leafs and probably some other teams think can play on the 2nd line. They both have similar offensive numbers, and Bolland's are actually better really. Clarkson has the 30 goal season under his belt but Nonis is on record as saying the Leafs don't expect 30 goals from him. They both ooze "intangibles" and "leadership" and all that crap. Clarkson's the more physical player but Bolland has the reputation of being better defensively and has the Cups. He also plays the more important position.

Really the only thing Bolland has going against him are the injuries, which like I said should be a big cause for concern. But I could still certainly understand him looking at the Clarkson deal and thinking why not me.

He'll probably get the money elsewhere, but the Leafs can't afford to give him that.  Already have the one bad contract with Clarkson, can't afford two.

 

[Frank E]

If Bolland's not ready to go, I'd like to see Kulemin at centre for a few more games before the deadline.

 

[Zee]

Nonis will be on Leafs lunch at 12:30 TSN 1050.  Will be interested to see what if anything he says.  Let's all read between the lines!

 

[Sudafederov]

Just an observation. Bolland has played 15 games, Clarkson has played 39. They both have 10 points.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Just an observation. Bolland has played 15 games, Clarkson has played 39. They both have 10 points.

Ville Leino has also played 39 games and scored 10 points.  Remember when we all laughed at that deal?

 

[Kin]

Just an observation. Bolland has played 15 games, Clarkson has played 39. They both have 10 points.

Are you trying to suggest that Clarkson's performance has been less than hoped-for?

 

[Redleaf]

An apparent set back will keep us guessing as to when he'll return to the line-up....

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=444710

 

[Stickytape]

Jesus, this poor guy.  Can't catch a break.

 

[Rebel_1812]

The longer he goes unsigned, the more it looks like he will be traded at the deadline or allow to walk as a ufa.  I think he is a good centre that should be resigned but it doesn't look like that will play out.

 

[Redleaf]

The longer he goes unsigned, the more it looks like he will be traded at the deadline or allow to walk as a ufa.  I think he is a good centre that should be resigned but it doesn't look like that will play out.

I think it still will. There's 22 games left, plus the playoffs. He'll be back in time to have an impact and to show Leaf brass that he's a keeper.

 

[Kin]

I don't think anyone doubts that Bolland is a good player, the question is whether or not you want to invest 4-5 million in a 3rd line center.