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The sometimes-controversial Darryl Bootland was signed to a tryout deal by the Moose on Wednesday and will suit up tonight at Toyota Center against the Houston Aeros. (JOE BRYKSA / FREE PRESS ARCHIVES)

HOUSTON, Texas -- His style is not for everyone but the new allies Darryl Bootland made last season with the Manitoba Moose have led to another chance with the AHL team.

The sometimes-controversial right-winger was signed to a tryout deal by the Moose on Wednesday and will suit up tonight at Toyota Center against the Houston Aeros.

The 28-year-old from Schomberg, Ont., had been a bitter rival before signing with the Moose last season. After 14 games and numerous healthy scratches, Bootland sought more security and left the team in mid-December for a club in Austria for the balance of the season.

His conduct while with the Moose, plus his size and scoring ability, made it a good fit for a return this week.

"We need some American league experience and he's one of those names that was out there," said Moose coach Scott Arniel. "It's an easy fit for us, especially with his size."

Arniel expects Bootland will jump into a spot on the team's top line with Marty Murray and Sergei Shirokov.

"I think I thrive on that stuff as a player," Bootland said after he arrived in Houston Wednesday. "If that's the scenario the coach has, hopefully I can handle it like I have in the past."

Arniel hopes Bootland can be a spark for an offence that has stumbled badly of late. Though the 8-6-2 Moose are 3-3-2 in the last eight, they are coming off two home losses to Norfolk and have scored just eight goals in eight games.

As well, Manitoba is dressing just three veterans, when five are permitted. That was one of Bootland's issues last season, when he was one of six veterans at the time he departed.

Injuries and other roster issues changed soon after he left and though hindsight is perfect, it's likely Bootland would have played a serious role with the team in the second half. In the Calder Cup playoffs, the Moose went with the four veterans that were left.

"I was biting myself in the butt looking at their playoff roster and knowing I could have been on it," Bootland said. "That was tough to take. I'd have loved to have stayed and tried to win that Calder Cup. This is great I'm going to get another chance."

There was no anger over Bootland's departure a year ago.

"No, he had some family reasons as well for leaving us last year," said Moose GM Craig Heisinger. "If he'd have stayed just a couple of more weeks, things would have worked out for him but it's easy to say that now.

Bootland gave the Moose five goals and nine points and was a plus player last season, while winning some praise for keeping his outspoken act in check.

Examples? During the 2007 playoffs with Grand Rapids, he was suspended for one game for a nasty stick-swinging incident that injured Moose forward Jason Jaffray. Earlier in that season, he picked a fight with Mike Keane.

With nine regulars missing, the Moose also made another move Wednesday designed to explore more offence. They signed centre Darryl Smith, 22, to a tryout. The QMJHL product had 36 goals for Laredo of the CHL last season and spent AHL time with Houston.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca

Pretty good roster

on Moose injury list

Darryl Bootland and Darryl Smith were added to the Moose fold on Wednesday as the team embarked on a three-games-in-three days road trip to Houston and Austin. Their additions aim to at least partially address problems created by these absences:

G Cory Schneider -- on recall to the NHL's Vancouver Canucks

C Alexandre Bolduc -- on recall and injured in Vancouver

RW Michael Grabner -- on recall and injured in Vancouver

C Mario Bliznak -- on recall in Vancouver

RW Matt Pettinger -- signed and recalled by Vancouver

RW Guillaume Desbiens -- out 4-6 weeks, broken foot

LW P.C. Labrie -- out 3 weeks, separated shoulder

D Lawrence Nycholat -- out two more weeks, shoulder, knee

RW Matt Pope -- out indefinitely, high ankle sprain

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 5, 2009 C2