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| Bouwmeester had 5 goals, 24 assists last season. (US Presswire) |
When the Calgary Flames went out and not only acquired the rights to Dennis Wideman's contract but then signed him to a five-year deal paying him $26.5 million, people snickered. But when they were done with that they began to look at the Flames and wonder if this was all going to be able to work. You know, with the defensive corps and how much money they had invested in it.
Not really seems to be the most common answer. That's brought forth a lot of speculation about Jay Bouwmeester moving out of town. OK, a lot more speculation.
So, the Flames desperately need to add a measure of bite to the blueline. Feaster admitted as much Wednesday.
The other factor to consider is that despite the genial general manager’s protestations of all currently present being able live and work in love and harmony, economics are a vastly different matter. The unavoidable fact is that he now has $21.21 million at the moment tied up in his blueline brigade. And he has too much of one commodity.
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“When all the dust settles after the first week of free agency, if there are teams still looking on their blueline, we’re going to get a lot of phone calls. I do believe that’s one of the things that will happen is that the trade market will open up."
When a decision is finally announced on his destination, all those jilted [Ryan] Suter suitors are apt to be looking for a Plan B to adding a slick-skating defenseman to their mix. And that’s where Bouwmeester, even given the hefty weight of his $6.68 million cap hit in each of the next two seasons, suddenly comes more and more into play.
The reasons why Bouwmeester is the target? Well start by looking at his contract. Luckily for the Flames if they are interested in moving him it doesn't go for another 10 years. There are only two seasons left on his deal, but he does have a cap hit of $6.68 million per season.
Then you look at the fact that his offensive production has dropped off dramatically. Yes, his first job is defense but the reason why he was paid so handsomely after being acquired from the Florida Panthers was his ability to score. Where he was scoring 42 points in a season like his final year with the Panthers when he had 15 goals and 27 assists, he has only 12 goals in the three seasons with Calgary thus far. This season he ended up with five goals and 24 assists.
In J-Bo's favor is the fact that he's a very durable player. Since becoming an NHL mainstay in 2005-06 with Florida, Bouwmeester hasn't missed a game. He's played 82 games each season.
With Wideman in the fold now and adding Miikka Kiprusoff's deal to the equation, the Flames have a little more than $28 million tied up in their back end. As of now they have just under $29 million tied up in their forwards. That's not the type of balance you're probably looking for on a payroll.
Despite the numbers and his contract, there would probably be interest in Bouwmeester. He might not be the All-Star he was projected to become, but he's still a very serviceable defenseman. Now that he has experienced Calgary, Bouwmeester might not be as demanding in his preferred destination if the Flames were to indeed explore this. He let it be known last time it was Calgary or bust.
Of course, it wouldn't surprise me if Feaster decided to stick with his defense as is.
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