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Bouwmeester Arrives With A Decent Price Tag
by Paul on 07/01/09 at 07:59 AM ET
Comments (8)
from George Johnson of the Calgary Herald,
Astonishing at it might seem, Sutter probably even underpaid.
In the hockey market, understand, Jay Bouwmeester’s a Picasso or a Rodin. These types of players don’t simply drop out of the sky and into your lap: A 25-year-old stud defenceman stuck in the bright and balmy, but still deadened hockey market of south Florida, who, you get the feeling, has yet to unearth the full might of his vast potential. A star who, in a nurturing environment, could be a super-duper-star.
Why, they’re rarer than photos of Darryl Sutter smiling.
The addition of Bouwmeester now provides the Flames with a Big Three --including Robyn Regehr and Dion Phaneuf--the envy of any organization around. This acquisition undoubtedly means adios to UFA Adrian Aucoin, and leaves the Flames’ blueline also manned by battle-scarred old warrior Cory Sarich and the handy Mark Giordano. If Sutter can get the young and improving Adam Pardy re-signed, it’s a very solid group.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Calgary Flames | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Jay+Bouwmeester,
Comments
Somebody please tell me what this man has done to earn $6.68 million dollars a year, besides being the best defensmen on a bad team…
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 07/01/09 at 07:21 AM ET
For once I agree with you, Primis. Bouwmeester is solid and sturdy, but he hasn’t shown signs of being a superstar in waiting thus far. Perhaps it’s all down to Florida. Well, we’ll see.
Posted by Moq from Denmark on 07/01/09 at 07:23 AM ET
Another overrated Canadian “star”....waste of money
Posted by kevin from boston on 07/01/09 at 08:11 AM ET
There’s always a chance he’ll be the next Chris Pronger—just needed a change of scenery and really bloomed a tad later in his career than his high draft status would’ve had people hoping for.
The thing is, Pronger had a HOF D-partner to really help him round into an all-star form. In Calgary, I think the hope is that Phaneuf and Bouwmeester sort of grow together and develop at the same time, but given how Phaneuf has regressed defensively the last season, I’d really like to see Calgary have a veteran with some clout on the blue line.
Keep in mind, even though he played for a mediocre team, now he’s moving to a more grinding, difficult conference. He’ll be playing Detroit, Chicago, Anaheim, and San Jose four times each per season. He’ll be playing Vancouver and Edmonton six times each. And he’ll travel more than he’s ever had to travel at the NHL level.
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 07/01/09 at 08:16 AM ET
And he’ll travel more than he’s ever had to travel at the NHL level.
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson’s ice cream truck on 07/01/09 at 09:16 AM ET
No B.S. We’re not that far removed from when teams in the East never even left their time zone to play a game ALL SEASON...**sigh and Detroit is still in the West.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 07/01/09 at 08:22 AM ET
I bet they said the same thing about Dany Heatley in Ottawa a few years back......When you get the big money you never live up to it...plus this guy was never that great to begin with
Posted by kevin from boston on 07/01/09 at 09:03 AM ET
good deal for Flames! i wish ‘em best luck next season except when they play us. 
Posted by Oilers Rock from Edmonton, Alberta on 07/01/09 at 09:09 AM ET
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I’m sorry, but J-Bo’s body of work suggests that he’s not a Picasso. Especially looking at this past season, when he had a strong defensive corps around him and still couldn’t get much done.
Posted by Primis on 07/01/09 at 07:16 AM ET