BK
"Goalie Apologist"
Bolland was only a year removed from a 47 point season and was coming off a great playoff run during the Cup (16 pts in 22 GP), he was a young center with a stellar reputation in the defensive end. They easily could have moved him but I don't think there was any desire to do so when you consider our lack of depth at center. Buff wasn't needed on defense (Keith, Seabs, Campbell, Hammer, plus Leddy in the pipeline) and winger that averaged 34 points/82 and had questions about his effort/conditioning was not as big of a priority as a younger player being penciled in as a 2C.
I could be wrong but I remember Bolland being harder to move OR he was penciled as the 2C of the future? LOL it was almost a decade ago....