Vertebrae injury preventing Bolland from rehabbing ankle

As Dave Bolland struggles with injuries, his road to recovery is looking like a long one.

Traded to the Arizona Coyotes last week, Bolland is now dealing with a back injury that's preventing him from necessary day-to-day rehab on his ankle, agent Anton Thun told arizonasports.com's Craig Morgan. Bolland tore a tendon in his ankle in 2013, when he was with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"The two issues are interconnected," Thun said.

Bolland's vertebrae issue in his back has led to a pinched nerve, resulting in reduced mobility.

"Until his back is fully healed," Thun added, "it's difficult to rehab the ankle. There's nothing nefarious about this. It's just a long process."

The Florida Panthers dealt Bolland - owed $16.5 million over three years - for salary cap relief, and there's no timeline for his return. Coyotes general manager John Chayka said last week the 30-year-old won't be healthy for the "foreseeable future."

Back surgery hasn't been recommended, Thun said, so Bolland is doing what rehab he can. However, there's no guarantee he'll ever be fit enough to play at the highest level again.

"I don't think anybody can project that," Thun said.

Bolland's a veteran of 433 NHL regular-season games, scoring 85 goals and adding 123 assists. He's saved his best for the playoffs, though, recording 43 points in 67 games, winning the Stanley Cup twice with the Chicago Blackhawks.