Florida defenseman Jay Bouwmeester will go through the salary arbitration process in the next couple months. If he wins, this puts Florida in a tough spot. Lets assume Bouwmeester wins arbitration in this scenario.
Bouwmeester would then be awarded a one year deal that would take him up to the 09'-10' offseason, his first unrestricted free agent year. Given that he probably won't re- up with Florida, should they try to cash in and trade him while they still can?
He is Florida's one big name player, and in another, bigger hockey market, could be referred to as the counterpart to Calgary's Dion Phaneuf. He's the one good defenseman no one knows about, which is why Florida could really help their rebuilding process by getting a few blue chip prospects, some high draft picks or both.
Or, maybe not. The Panthers have a terrible history of pulling of really bad deals. The Luongo deal? I can't remember who they got back. The Jokinen trade? Solid defenseman Ballard and Boynton who's a decent defenseman, but not the return you'd expect from trading a franchise guy like Olli Jokinen.
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2 months ago
ya... trade him to toronto!!!
2 months ago
They sure need him. Does Toronto have anything the Panthers want though?
2 months ago
For sure Toronto could give up Kubina, Pony, 2nd rounder, and Antropov (McCabe if he would waive his no trade). Toronto should really be going hard after Jay, he is an elite defensemen.
Kaberle-Bouwmeester
Frogren-Stralman
Finger-Schenn
I don't know much better defense in the NHL. Even better in a year or two when Schenn is older and comes in to the leader the Leafs need.
2 months ago
Good Defense wins.
2 months ago
Heard a rumor that if he did become available that the Rangers, Canadiens, Capitals and Blues could get involved.
2 months ago
Hopefully the Leafs will as well but whatever happens, happens. It would just be smart for the Leafs and they could make it happen.
2 months ago
Bouwmeester is an elite young player. The Panthers should sign him long term before arbitration. In your scenario, though, where they're looking at one more year of paying him a lot and then losing him for free, yes, of course they should look at trading him away. Having just let go of Jokinen, its hard to see this as the Panthers' season to win it all, so they need to look at how to build a future contender. Jokinen is a piece of a puzzle, but maybe not a piece of Florida's puzzle.
That said, it'd be interesting to see what he could bring in. Kevin, I'm intrigued by your rumor, although it does sound a bit guarded and speculative. Of those teams, I think Washington has the most prospects to offer, but the least pressing need with Green, Poti, Lepisto, Ovechkin, Semin and Fedorov as power play point options. I don't think anyone but the Blues has the salary cap space to pull off a deal before the deadline, though.
At the same time, if Bouwmeester is hot to join an immediate winning team, I wonder if he'd be interested in taking a discount as part of a trade-and-sign situation to get him where he wants to go and give Florida something in return. My guess is no, but it could give him more leverage.
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