Dave Bolland traded to Maple Leafs, less than week after Stanley Cup winning goal

NEWARK, NJ – Toronto Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis said he was in the market for a center. He found one at the 2013 NHL Draft, and it happened to be the center that won the Stanley Cup for the Chicago Blackhawks less than a week ago.

Dave Bolland, whose late third period goal in Game 6 eliminated the Boston Bruins, was acquired by the Leafs from the Blackhawks for picks No. 51, No. 117 and a fourth-round selection in 2014.

Bolland’s $3.375 million salary for 2013-14, the last year of his deal, was too rich for the Blackhawks, who are trying to find cap space to bring unrestricted free agent Bryan Bickell back.

Although he’s been on a pair of Cup-winning teams with Chicago, Bolland became redundant thanks to the play of Marcus Kruger and Andrew Shaw, who were both ahead of him on the depth chart.

Nice pickup for Nonis and the Leafs, not only to add a quality defensive center to the roster but a couple of rings to the room. Wonder if the Blackhawks decided to do Bolland a solid and send the Etobicoke home...