Flames acquire Bouwmeester's rights

by James Mirtle on Jun 27, 2009 9:15 AM CDT Comment 21 comments

I'd thought this would happen, but not to this team. Interesting:

The Florida Panthers have traded defenceman Jay Bouwmeester's rights to the Calgary Flames for defenceman Jordan Leopold and a third round pick.

— TSN.ca

The story in the aftermath of this deal is going to be Calgary's cap issues, as they've already got four players slated to make $5.25-million or more this coming season. The Flames have already committed about $48.5-million under the cap with 10 forwards, five defencemen and two netminders signed.

Bouwmeester is going to command close to $8-million a season on a long-term deal, so you've got to think a major piece will be moved out shortly if they can get him signed. I had heard he wanted to wait until July 1, so we'll see on that front.

Some are making a big deal out of what Calgary gave up, but Leopold's a pending UFA and a third-rounder really is inconsequential if they get a deal done with Bouwmeester. He's from Alberta and played junior in Medicine Hat and may really want to play for the Flames.

We've also seen other players in this situation sign with the team that acquired them (namely Hartnell and Timonen with the Flyers), so that's definitely a possibility.

Calgary's cap situation

Player	Pos	Age	Cap
Iginla, Jarome	R	31	$7.000
Jokinen, Olli	C	30	$5.250
Langkow, Daymond	C	32	$4.500
Primeau, Wayne	C	33	$1.400
Bourque, Rene	L	27	$1.350
Moss, David	L	27	$1.300
Glencross, Curtis	L	26	$1.200
Conroy, Craig	C	37	$1.050
Nystrom, Eric	L	26	$0.688
Backlund, Mikael	C	20	$1.271

Phaneuf, Dion	D	24	$6.500
Regehr, Robyn	D	29	$4.020
Sarich, Cory	D	30	$3.600
Vandermeer, Jim	D	29	$2.300
Giordano, Mark	D	25	$0.892

Kiprusoff, Miikka	G	32	$5.833
McElhinney, Curtis	G	26	$0.535
		Total	$48.689
		Cap space	$8.111

The only RFA of note for the Flames is Dustin Boyd, who shouldn't command more than $1-million, so there is some room to play with there. Calgary likely loses Mike Cammalleri, Todd Bertuzzi and Adrian Aucoin to free agency and will need more help up front.

If they want to bring in another forward, a major component of a blueline with Bouwmeester will have to be moved out. Spending upwards of $25-million on defence alone isn't likely to be an option given what they're spending in goal.

That said, the Flames can make Bouwmeester fit by simply moving out Sarich or Vandermeer and signing three depth players at near minimum deals. Moving Phaneuf, Kiprusoff or Jokinen seems more likely, however, as this team will need another significant addition up front.

UPDATE The Flames have now dealt Vandermeer to Phoenix for Brandon Prust, who makes $500,000 against the cap. The move saves them $1.8-million, giving the Flames nearly $10-million in space with four defencemen signed.

0 recs | Comment 21 comments | Add comment | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Leopold is a pretty good player to be giving away for nothing. Leopold and a pick? For just a couple of days of exclusive negotiating rights? Seems pretty crazy.

by Gould Old Days on Jun 27, 2009 9:33 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Salary dump?

Calgary sends a third round pick for the negotiation rights; and then trades Leopold to acquire some of Floridas cap space?

by Ghwomb on Jun 27, 2009 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Leopold’s a UFA.

Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com

by James Mirtle on Jun 27, 2009 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t understand why the Flames would think about trading Phaneuf before anyone else.

Or is it a case of Phaneuf would get the most significant return?

by Afino on Jun 27, 2009 10:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think you can trade Kiprusoff, and I’m not sure it makes sense to weaken an already questionable group of forwards.

Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com

by James Mirtle on Jun 27, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s how I see it. You can have Phaneuf, or Bouwmeester and the returns from a trade of Phaneuf. Calgary is short on skilled forward prospects.

As for Kiprusoff, are you saying you don’t see a market for a goalie with a 5.83333 million cap hit and a .903 SV%? I’m shocked ; )

by Robert Cleave on Jun 27, 2009 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Except for the part where Phaneuf’s value is a little depressed after last year. Dealing Dion now would be a terrible decision.

Cammalleri and Bertuzzi were always expected to be gone, so no shock there. Bertuzzi was useless, and Cammalleri is not the type of player who will lead you to great success. Not worth the money he’ll be asking for. As much as I like him, if we do manage to sign Bouwmeester, I would expect Sarich is moved. He has some value, and given a top three of Regehr, Phaneuf and Bouwmeester, we could easily manage with Giordano, Pardy and Pelech filling out the defence. Presuming we can re-sign Pardy, of course.

by Resolute on Jun 27, 2009 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Moving Sarich isn’t enough to allow them to fill those holes at forward. As for Phaneuf’s value being depressed, honestly, I doubt it. Someone will always be enamored of his talent, and do you honestly think the return wouldn’t be at least analogous to what Anaheim got for Chris Pronger? I doubt Sutter will move Phaneuf, but it’s the logical place to start if you want to ice a decent team with a full compliment of skaters. Dressing 16 guys when you get a few injuries was damned stupid last year, and leaving the team up against the cap with a likely drop in 10/11 would be even stupider. I’d rather they moved Kiprusoff, but that contract isn’t going anywhere, I’m afraid.

by Robert Cleave on Jun 27, 2009 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Given I doubt that there is another team as stupid as the Flyers are, I very much doubt we could get a deal similar to what the Ducks got for Pronger.

by Resolute on Jun 27, 2009 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I meant more on defense. Sorry for not being clear.

by Afino on Jun 27, 2009 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And the dominos begin to fall

Calgary has just sent Jim Vandermeer to Phoenix for Brandon Prust. A little over $1.5 million saved, I believe.

by Resolute on Jun 27, 2009 12:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

oh come on, PHX

you’ve gotta know that calgary’s over a barrel here, and the best thing you can think of doing is prust for vandermeer?

by passive_voice on Jun 27, 2009 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, it’s not like we want Jokinen back… we actually NEED Vandermeer, believe it or not. Prust… not so much.

You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.

by zyllyx on Jun 28, 2009 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you want a good laugh, read Tony Gallagher’s crying in the Vancouver Province this morning:

http://www.theprovince.com/sports/Canucks+shot+their+foot/1741068/story.html

I especially love the part where a beat writer for a team that’s been a loser for 40 years trashes the league for pandering to losers…

by Resolute on Jun 28, 2009 8:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He fails to recognize the obvious

Phoenix needs to add salary to reach the cap floor.

Whether journeyman Vandermeer is worth $2.3M is possibly a matter for debate (personally, I don’t know who’d be taking the “pro” side of the argument). Ken Klee fills the same role for less money, so if Maloney wants to add salary, he should probably have opted for a Heatley or Smyth. I have no idea what Sherman would be looking for, but Bryan Murray would have been happy with Ekman-Larsson and Kyle Turris.

My favourite part of Gallagher’s article is where he flip-flops about who is paying Vandermeer’s salary. Is it the Canucks or is it Moyes? Pick a side, we’re at war.

by TD O'Dell on Jun 28, 2009 9:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jokkinen to Montreal

Soon as Gainey realizes he’s screwed up again.

by Exit716 on Jun 27, 2009 2:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think the 3rd rounder dealt to Florida was the one the Flames acquired when they traded down from their 1st round spot yesterday.

So if they were never signing Leopold, and always wanted Erixon with their first pick, they got the chance to talk to Jay-Bo early for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

That’s fantastic asset management.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Jun 27, 2009 3:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The third rounder was Phoenix’s from the Jokinen trade. I would have rather they drafted Schroeder over Erixon, but if this ends up making a deal with Bouwmeester easier, it’s still a fairly cheap price. They certainly weren’t resigning Leopold, so his inclusion was irrelevant to Calgary. I would have thrown in Todd Bertuzzi as well ; )

by Robert Cleave on Jun 27, 2009 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They remember Bertuzzi in Miami. I don’t think they wanted to go another round with him, either.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)

by Doogie2K on Jun 27, 2009 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then the trade down allowed them to cover their bases. Certainly, Tim Erixon seems like a pretty safe Calgary pick, a guy they would’ve liked no matter where they were drafting. Still great asset management.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Jun 27, 2009 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs