Apparently time does heal all wounds.
On Wednesday, Vancouver’s News 1130 reported the Canucks made contact with pending UFA center Dave Bolland, who appears to be at a contractual impasse with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Bolland, of course, has quite the history with Vancouver.
A thorn in Vancouver’s side during his time as a ‘Hawk -- he has 17 points in 16 career playoff games against the Canucks -- Bolland infamously ripped Daniel and Henrik Sedin during a Chicago-based radio appearance three years ago, which sparked a war of words between the organizations.
Here’s what then-head coach Alain Vigneault and d-man Kevin Bieksa said after Bolland called the Sedins “sisters” and suggested they share bunk beds.
Vigneault:
“They’ve both been probably two of the best players in the NHL for the last five years, they’ve won a gold medal, and they are really involved in the community. They are great examples for players in the NHL, and for young people. They are just two great young people.
“When you have comments like Bolland’s, he’s obviously an individual whose IQ is probably the size of a birdseed. And he has a face that only a mother could look at.
“You’re talking about two players who play with integrity, they play the right way, that are great examples of everything this game stands for. Then you have a birdseed like that making comments.
“Lucky his mother loves him.“
Bieksa:
“I think he looks more like a girl than they do.
“I think if it weren’t for the twins, I don’t think anyone would hear about Dave Bolland. His matchup against them in the playoffs has put him on the map. If he doesn’t want them on his team, he’s crazy. It’s probably because he’d be out of a roster spot.”
So yeah, it’d be rather interesting to see Bolland join the room after this... though to be fair, it was three years ago and Bolland has since expressed major remorse. Also worth noting that Bieksa’s still there, but Vigneault is long gone.
As for the actual news at hand -- per 1130, talks between Vancouver and Bolland appear to be in their infancy, and much hinges on what the Canucks do with Ryan Kesler, rumored to be on the move at this Friday’s NHL Entry Draft in Philadelphia.