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Bouwmeester signs with the Flames. (Image Credits: clydeorama)
Soon to be unrestricted free agent Jay Bouwmeester’s rights were traded at the 2009 draft to the Calgary Flames in return for the rights to defenseman Jordan Leopold and a 3rd round selection with which the Florida selected RW Josh Birkholz out of the USHL. This trade marked the second deal for a big name defenseman on draft weekend with Chris Pronger’s shipping to Philadelphia being the trade that kick started a rather slow trading weekend, but nearly everyone expected the highly touted Bouwmeester to test the waters of free agency.
On the night before the free agency period was set to open the Calgary Flames announced that the big name defenseman had been signed to a five year deal totaling $6.60m a year in cap hit. Though the news was shocking in that Bouwmeester could have made a minor fortune by testing the waters, in retrospect it helps both sides of the contract. The Flames add the 25-year-old Bouwmeester to an already impressive young core at the blueline including 24-year-old Dion Phaneuf ($6.50m/year) and 29-year-old Robyn Regehr ($4.02m/year) making their top four as solid as any currently in the NHL. All but $2.60m of Jay-Bo’s cap hit will be taken care of already as well since the Flames are expected to let veteran Adrian Aucion test to open market. While Aucoin’s cap hit comes off the books as an unrestricted free agent the Flames get a young, top ten NHL defenseman while dropping Aucoin’s age by ten years. Calgary has decisions to make about their salary cap and how to sign a number of players to the roster at relatively cheap contracts, but their blueline has become arguably one of the scariest and youngest groups in the NHL.
The other move that made noise on draft weekend was the Flyers’ acquisition of Chris Pronger who has one more year left on his contract at $6.25m. This brings together a core of the small but fiesty Kimmo Timonen, the young two-way stud Braydon Coburn, and Pronger to the Atlantic Division where against offensive powerhouses in the east such as Pittsburgh, Boston, Washington, and New Jersey, a cream-of-the-crop blueliner and former league MVP will go a long way. (More on Pronger trade: TheHockeyWriters.com; Examiner.com).
Now with Pronger off the trade block and Bouwmeester under contract there are a multitude of teams still looking for an answer at defense. The Panthers acquired Jordan Leopold in the Calgary trade, but so far no one involved in that situation has reported a signing. This of course leaves the Panthers in need of defensive help as well as some scoring help. The Ducks have moved Pronger in order to sure up their scoring depth with Lupul coming back the other way and are currently in the middle of talks with their other all-star stop gap, Scott Niedermayer who has made known his intention of rejoining the Anaheim club. The losers for the Bouwmeester bid, most notably Vancouver, are about to enter free agency tomorrow with the intention of getting something to help their blueline on the open market. There are of course other teams who will likely get involved for some of the prizes left to be had through free agency including Toronto, Montreal, Boston, and Washington.
That basically leaves a number of free agents both restricted and unrestricted that could have new teams in the upcoming week as well as Toronto’s Tomas Kaberle who was rumored to both the Bruins and Flyers at the draft. All signs currently point to him still being available for the right price.
Other defensemen that could be involved in trades this summer include RFAs Jack Johnson of the Los Angeles Kings and Cam Barker of the Chicago Blackhawks, both of whom could find themselves with different organizations due to a number of factors. In Los Angeles, Johnson is reported to want a large contract that he hasn’t earned yet due to injuries. The drama with the young, talented defenseman included what now appear to be empty threats of a defection to the KHL, and the Kings have a history of trading away commodities that become disgruntled with the organization. Barker in Chicago may just be caught in a numbers game should the Blackhawks decide to go in a different direction, but all signs point to him being re-signed.
Of the unrestricted free agents the biggest names include players like Francois Beachemin who Anaheim could consider re-signing now with Pronger out of the organization. Mattias Ohlund out of Vancouver is another piece that teams could be interested in if they are looking for a veteran presence on the blueline for a couple more seasons. Mike Komisarek is also scheduled to become a UFA, and as a mean, relatively young shut down defenseman he could pull some decent bank after July 1st opens up.
On top of these guys there are a number of smaller name defensemen who could very easily find new teams. Matt Carle is certainly an option for trade in Philadelphia with the acquisition of Pronger. The young puck moving defenseman was brilliant for San Jose in his rookie season but after a sophomore slump found himself moved to Tampa Bay in the Dan Boyle trade. Since he has found his abilities once again in Philadelphia and could very easily find a new home even at $3.44m a year.
Players like Adrian Aucoin, Jordan Leopold, Paul Mara, Marc-Andre Bergeron, and Mathieu Dandenault are all available as well making this offseason a possible shifting of the defensive guard in the NHL with Calgary and Philadelphia already leading the charge into the 2009-10 season.
Some Other Posts You May Enjoy:
Florida Panthers’ Biggest Move Was Not Making One
Bouwmeester Headed To Calgary
The Jay Bouwmeester Article
The “Sutterites” Are In; Cammalleri, Leopold And Aucoin Are Out
Weekly Jay Bouwmeester Update
Free Agency and the Florida Panthers; It’s Not Just About J-Bo
