Seventeen years ago, young David Bolland, just a lad of 11 at the time, “snuck into” Mimico’s fabled Blue Goose Tavern and had his photo taken with the Stanley Cup, which was being shown off by the Red Wings’ Brendan Shanahan.

On that particular day in 1997, David Bolland really was eager to see Shanahan, not to mention the prized trophy that accompanied him.

Now, almost two decades later, it is Shanahan who wants to see Bolland.

In a Maple Leafs jersey, that is. For years to come.

In fact, in the past two weeks, the two Mimico natives had a lengthy one-on-one meeting in which Shanahan, the newly anointed president of the Maple Leafs, pulled no punches with Bolland, a pending unrestricted free agent. The message: We want to you be part of the Maple Leafs future.

Shanahan echoed those sentiments when specifically asked about Bolland during a meeting with a gaggle of hockey scribes at the Toronto Sun offices on Wednesday afternoon.

“I’d like to get him signed,” Shanahan said. “He’s the type of player I like, the type of player we need.

“This is a guy we want to have back. Dave (Leafs GM Nonis) knows I want him back. But any time you are a UFA, there are other factors involved.

“He’s got to want to play for us, as well.”

When contacted Wednesday evening, Bolland’s representative, Anton Thun, was not surprised at Shanahan’s comments.

“I’m pleased that Shanny would say something like that,” Thun said. “David has said all along that Toronto definitely is a consideration.

“At the same time ,there are other considerations involved here — things such as market value along with other factors.”

Factors like how the Leafs will find a way to fit him under the salary cap.

And how Bolland envisions the makeup of the Leafs roster.

Debate all you like as to whether the Leafs should open up their wallets to ink to a long-term deal a player who is known as much for his character, leadership and sandpaper as he is for his at-times modest stats. Or, whether you take a chance on a guy who missed the majority of the season due to a severed tendon injury.

And, of course, with speculation suggesting Bolland is seeking a deal in the neighbourhood of seven years at $5 million per, there is the question of how much is too much, especially in terms of tenure. Keep in mind that there are many in Leafs Nation who are fretting at the possibility of such a lengthy contract after the lack of production that came from David Clarkson — he of the seven-year, $36.75-million pact.

Of course, the Shanahan regime is all about doing what it feels is best for the team, optics be damned. That’s the course they took when re-signing coach Randy Carlyle, much to the chagrin of the legion of Randy-bashers that wanted him gone.

And since Sheriff Shanny is now on record as citing his desire to get Bolland locked up, the issue, whether you like the decision or not, is making the logistics work.

Capgeek.com shows the Leafs having 12 players under contract for 2014-15 for $48.719 million. Forwards Bolland, Mason Raymond, Jay McClement, Nikolai Kulemin, Troy Bodie, defenceman Paul Ranger and goalie Drew MacIntyre are pending UFAs while winger Carter Ashton, blueliners Cody Franson, Jake Gardiner and goalie James Reimer are restricted free agents.

With the cap projected to be around $71 million, there will be plenty of work to do, especially in the quest to have Bolland stick around.