Leafs GM Nonis on negotiations with Bolland: 'We haven’t been able to find common ground'

Toronto Maple Leafs checking center Dave Bolland, a pending unrestricted free agent, is generating a good deal of interest during the opening days of the free agent interview period. Bolland's camp has apparently heard from as many as eight NHL teams, with his agent Anton Thun admitting Wednesday that six teams had already contacted him to express their interest in Bolland.

So where does that leave the Maple Leafs? They're not necessarily out of the game, even if they've been reluctant - to this point - to offer Bolland the sort of term and money that he's looking for. 

Maple Leafs general manager Dave Nonis provided an update on the status of negotiations with Bolland while speaking with reporters in in Philadelphia, Pa. on Thursday. Per Jason Brough of Pro Hockey Talk:

It’s not that we’re not speaking to each other. It’s at this point we haven’t been able to find common ground for a deal. … There’s a number and term that we believe is fair, and [Bolland and his agent, Anton Thun] have a different number and different term.

We still have time to get something done. Whether that happens or not — last year, we were in a similar situation with Tyler Bozak and he ended up signing — whether we get to that or not remains to be seen.

As for what the Leafs, already thin down the middle of their forward group, will do as a "Plan B" should Bolland join another club in free agency? "Your only Plan B is going to be the players you have under contract," Nonis said, which should at least bring a smile to the face of Toronto Marlies center Peter Holland.