Veteran defenseman Jay Bouwmeester has elected to go to salary arbitration with the Florida Panthers.
Bouwmeester, 24, is a five-year veteran with the Panthers. On June 25, Florida tendered a qualifying offer to him. But it looks like Bouwmeester is ready to get paid.
Last season Bouwmeester netted 15 goals and had 22 assists for 37 points. He is, without question, the team's number-one blueliner.
With the salaries for good defensemen this offseason reaching unprecedented new heights, it is no wonder Bouwmeester wants a little chunk of the pie. It is amazing to me that not one team has tried to sign him to an offer sheet.
This arbitration could go very bad for Florida. Arbitration is not where teams want to end up with guys the caliber of Bouwmeester.
The arbitrator is going to look at his point production, games played, time on ice, and competitive salary for his position.
Florida does not have to take the arbitration ruling—but how many fans would be happy letting him walk away for nothing in the end? I wish Florida luck. But I think they may have bit off more than they can chew in this case.
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3 months ago
The reason that nobody has signed him to an offer sheet is because the defenseman market is so outta whack this year. Campbell got $7.1 a year, Redden $6.5, Rozsival 5, Orpik $3.75 etc.
It's not unreasonable to expect that Bouwmeester would've gotten at least $5 million a year if he were an UFA this offseason. But for a team to sign him to that type of offer sheet under the CBA would cost them a 1st, 2nd and 3rd round pick if Florida chose not to match. If he signed for over $5.2 million that would be two number 1, along with a 2nd and 3rd round pick. That's a steep price.
3 months ago
kevin it is a steep price. Nut there are tams in the NHL that I would think would take that risk. They may have went ot the Kevin Lowe school of signing.
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