Panthers Trade Crouse And Bolland, Gain Pair Of Picks
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GLENDALE (CBSMiami/AP) — The Florida Panthers unloaded a huge financial burden on Thursday that will give the team substantial freedom in signing players over the next three years.
The Panthers have traded prospect Lawson Crouse and veteran Dave Bolland's contract to the Arizona Coyotes for two draft picks.
Arizona sent a 2017 third-round pick and a conditional 2018 second-rounder that could become another 2017 third to Florida.
The Coyotes are taking on the final three years of the injured Bolland's deal to pick up Crouse, the 11th pick in the 2015 draft.
Nagging injuries limited Bolland to 25 games last season, and the 30-year-old forward has three years left on his deal at a salary-cap hit of $5.5 million.
But Arizona general manager John Chayka said Bolland isn't expected to play for the foreseeable future and could be placed on long-term injured reserve.
He was brought to the Panthers after a very successful playoff run with the Chicago Blackhawks that ended in winning the Stanley Cup but the move never panned out for Florida as Bolland battled slumps and injuries during his time there.
Crouse, 19, is a 6-foot-4 left winger who could make his NHL debut this fall.
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