The latest and perhaps the most important (until August 1st) news in the hockey world as everyone knows (even ESPN) is that the Florida Panthers signed Bouwmeester to a one year 4.875 million dollar contract to avoid arbitration with the defenseman who played in all 82 games each of the last three years and recorded a career high 15 goals this year. Bouwmeester knows he will be the most sought after defenseman next year in free agency at only 24. Other notable free agents next year will be Scott Niedermayer, Sergei Zubov, Rob Blake, Mathieu Schneider. So now the question becomes are the panthers going to hold onto him and hope for the best and if they do well hopefully convince him to stay long term? Or are they going to hold onto him until the trade deadline and hopefully get some players in return? Or in the most unlikeliest of scenarios trade him now in case something happens to him? The Florida Panthers do not want to trade another one of their superstars like Roberto Luongo and end up with nothing. Many teams have been mentioned in rumors to trade for Bouwmeester however it is unlikely for anything to come to fruition until the trade deadline in my opinion unless some team offers Florida a heart-stopping deal for him before the season starts.
Now until training camp will be a very interesting to see who makes last minute trades and signings. Many rumors are flying around such as Maxim Afinogenov who might be moved to either Vancouver, Washington, or Montreal and Anton Vermette to Vancouver!! Also decisions by some great players who have not yet decided to play or retire yet such as Brendan Shanahan and Peter Forsberg among a few others could end up greatly benefiting a team. So Stay Tuned as training camp and the season draws closer!
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