Lol, sports experts? Do you mean those guys on TV or something?
Leafs fan here in peace. I was honestly livid when they were willing to offer $5m a season for him. Just about everyone else on the Leafs board felt the same.
Bolland had a great start to the season. Since he's canadian, of course Don Cherry was all over him with the highlights during coach's corner. People who just watch for that soak that junk up. Then he got that freak injury, came back, and showed he had problems turning left while skating (not sure if he could even do it at all). So now we're at the point where it's "Okay Dave. We understand you're coming off a serious injury, how about signing a short 1 year deal to show you can regain form, and we'll throw the money at you when extension time comes around?"
IMO, that would've been the best idea. Sign him for 1 year at say $4.25, throw in some bonuses, and if he shows he's fine, enjoy your lucrative extension!
Instead, he takes the highest offer and jumps ship. That doesn't sit well with me. I think he knows something, and was just going to stay tight lipped about it.
The guy has only played one season of injury-free hockey, and is coming off a major injury.
It would've been nice to keep him around for another year at an affordable price to see where he's at, but he had other plans I guess. I hope he doesn't end up being a huge bust for you guys, but I don't think he's worth anywhere near $5.5 even without that tendon injury.