Arizona Coyotes fans anticipating Dave Bolland’s debut for his new team will have to wait, and a long time, too, by the sounds of it.
On Thursday, the Florida Panthers traded the 30-year-old Bolland and prospect Lawson Crouse to the Coyotes in exchange for draft picks. Bolland, who has an annual cap hit of $5.5 million, played in only 25 games last season, scoring once with five points.
The move frees up plenty of cap space for the Panthers, while the Coyotes did well to pick up a young forward in Crouse, a former first-round pick who has yet to play in the NHL.
However, at the moment, Bolland is dealing with an injury that could keep him out of any lineup for quite a while. Perhaps the entire season. Taking on Bolland’s salary was a “necessary component” in completing the deal, said Coyotes GM John Chayka.
#Coyotes' Chayka says Dave Bolland likely "won't be ready to play for the foreseeable future." Injured for the long term.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) August 25, 2016
.@FlaPanthers AGM Eric Joyce said Dave Bolland has 'significant' injury, 'going to be real hard for him to play this year.'
— George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) August 25, 2016
Last season, Bolland was a healthy scratch on numerous occasions, which could be frustrating for any player or any organization, but he was locked into a massive five-year, $27.5 million contract.
And that massive contract, or Florida’s desire to move it along, has cost the Panthers a prospect forward.
#FlaPanthers AGM Eric Joyce says trading Lawson Crouse is "the cost of the business" to get rid of Dave Bolland's contract. #Coyotes pushed.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) August 25, 2016