The Hockey News: Rumor Roundup: Rumor Roundup: Bouwmeester's future in Florida

Rumor Roundup: Bouwmeester's future in Florida

Jay Bouwmeester had 15 and 37 points in 82 games this season. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Lyle Richardson
2008-07-14 12:05:44

Florida Panthers defenseman Jay Bouwmeester recent filing for salary arbitration has generated Internet interest on his potential trade status.

It’s believed he’s seeking a deal similar to Calgary’s Dion Phaneuf, whose new contract is for six years at $39 million. Over the past three seasons, Phaneuf has produced better statistics (54 goals, 159 points, plus-27) than Bouwmeester (32 goals, 125 points, plus-19), but considering the latter posted those numbers on an inferior Panthers team provides some justification for seeking a contract comparable to Phaneuf.

Bouwmeester’s agent has been negotiating with Panthers GM Jacques Martin on and off for the past year without success. If they end up in front of an arbiter, Bouwmeester could be awarded a one-year contract, making him eligible for unrestricted free agency next July as well as a frequent topic for trade rumors throughout next season.

Martin and new head coach Peter DeBoer will likely spend the first half of next season attempting to convince Bouwmeester to stick with the Panthers; no easy task given the team has been on a treadmill to nowhere, with no sign of improvement, for some time.

They could face the same situation as the Atlanta Thrashers did this season with Marian Hossa, when they were forced to shop an impending UFA star at the trade deadline.

• Keep an eye on the Los Angeles Kings in the coming weeks.

The Kings are presently more than $10 million below the cap floor of $40.7 million for next season. Even after they re-sign restricted free agents Patrick O’Sullivan, Jarret Stoll and Erik Ersberg, the Kings will likely still need to add more salary to get up to next season’s league minimum.

Kings fans have grown restless about their club’s inactivity thus far in the off-season, but there’s plenty of time for GM Dean Lombardi to make some moves.

That being said, Lombardi has suggested he’s not about to pursue any expensive signings this summer, preferring instead to build with young, affordable talent.

Internet-based rumors have suggested Lombardi is interested in Chicago Blackhawks netminder Nikolai Khabibulin, whose $6.75 million contract would certainly push the Kings closer to the minimum, but those sources also predicted former Ottawa Senators goalie Ray Emery would be in a Kings uniform.

It’s believed Lombardi will rely on Ersberg and Jason LaBarbera between the pipes next season, while prospect Jonathan Bernier could get another chance to make the club in pre-season.

• While the Kings have to get up to the cap minimum, the Philadelphia Flyers have to get below the cap ceiling.

The Flyers are around $2 million above the $56.7 million cap ceiling and given their depth at right wing, it’s thought GM Paul Holmgren could move one of them.

Recent reports suggest the best candidates are Mike Knuble ($2.8 million) and Joffrey Lupul ($2.3 million) as moving either would get the Flyers below the cap.

• The Tampa Bay Lightning have spent the off-season loading up on forwards, fueling speculation they’ll be shopping one or more in the coming weeks for some experience on the blueline.

According to the St. Petersburg Times, the Lightning’s current roster contains 17 forwards (including 2008 first overall pick Steven Stamkos), meaning some moves have to be made before the 2008-09 season begins.

Forwards Jussi Jokinen and Michel Ouellet continue to be named as potential trade bait and the Times also suggests Jason Ward and Ryan Craig could be shopped.

Rumor Roundup appears Mondays only on thehockeynews.com. Lyle Richardson has been an NHL commentator since 1998 on his website, spectorshockey.net, and is a contributing writer for Foxsports.com and Eishockey Magazine.

COMMENTS (33)

Sort: Oldest | Newest | Love | Hate Filter: All | Videos

daniel Posted
(2009-04-30 06:54:56)

i think the kings would like to trade either calder or preissing and a 4th rounder for bouwmeester if they were to complete a deal during or before the season even begins. at the same time, i don't think lombardi would go for that kind of trade just because him giving away a draft pick is like taking a penny away from Leiweke and Anschutz. they are cheap. the young talent is what lombardi is going for and if he could do a straight up trade then so be it. he would probably much want it that way anyways. the kings do need a guy like bouwmeester though. they could use khabibulin, but at the same time they have ersberg and bernier to do pretty well. labarbera is definetly a thing in the past. they need to get rid of him real quick because the guy can't stop a truck if he's holding a stop sign while having kids cross a street. he is worthless.

DIEHARD the KING Fan Posted
(2009-04-30 06:40:02)

Sean o sean is not shortsighted, but likely knows what kings fans have been through with AEG (Anshutz Ever Greedy). They just pulled the purse strings closed, so we dumped tons of offense in getting rid of Cammy and Lubo all because the cost would be too muchto retain them. AEG's ownership of the Kings was never about building a winner, and if you think that, you probably dont own the swath of land that Majestic realty (aka Roski realty as in Anshutz and Roski--co-owners of the Kings) does extending due east from Staples all the way to Alameda and up to Union station, all of which is slated for development with the L.A. taxpayers (through Community Redevelopment Agency) chipping in to help those poor old rich boys. AEG/Kings claims to have lost more last year than before the Lock out. So they want to trim payroll and if they sell it as a rebuild and going young, great, now they have deniability too. Going young and rebuilding are fine and I am along for the ride, but when we start losing more of our core players as they mature and want their paydays (Hmm why hasnt O'Sullivan been extended yet or Stoll resigned or Doughty been signed) then it will be clear that AEG is simply too friggin cheap to own a contender and they just ought to sell the whole deal and focus on what they are good at: making money, not developing a winning sports franchise!

Leafs GM Posted
(2009-04-30 06:37:26)

100 MILLION DOLLARS. That should be good for 9 years.

leaf fan 4 ever Posted
(2009-04-30 06:37:07)

Bouwmeester is a gr8 defenseman but he doesnt deserve Phaneuf money...phanuef is like the best defenseman under 30 ... But he could get traded to somewhere that will pay him big money like LA , Toronto (hopefully) , If Montreal could afford , Buffalo Or he`d fit well in the west in like Minnesota... He is a great player he deserves to make the playoffs.. just like RIck Nash and Olli Jokinen

Ray Posted
(2009-04-30 06:37:04)

Bouwmeester is a stellar D-man, He is still young yet and if he is willing to part ways with Florida, I would love to see him in a Canucks uniform. He has played for Team Canada numerous times for a reason people. And not just because he was available(due to his team not making the playoffs - for all you people about to lay that snarky remark). I don't see why the Panthers havent locked him up for a long term deal a long time ago? Dion Phaneuf hits like a charging rhino, has a cannon of a slapshot and is an awesome D-man, Bouwmeester is also an awesome D-man on a poor team. He eats up minutes like a kid gobbling up its favourite candy. I'm sure if he were on a better team, his value would sky rocket. And everyones opinion of him would shoot through the roof as well.

TBush Posted
(2009-04-30 06:36:29)

Bouwmeester is going to end up somewhere in the west. I can't see Martin wanting to trade him to an Eastern rival. He hasn't been a star in this league yet, but he still has a great upside. Not a Dion Phaneuf great upside, but a great upside nonetheless. His problem is that Martin is ruining him. A change of scenery would be in his best interest. Now for LA, they are in a great position but there aren't too many players left to sign. Maybe Sundin and Sakic could go and teach the youngsters how to play for this year... LA should also take Khabibulin from Chicago

Redge Cole Posted
(2009-04-30 06:36:22)

The Bruins should for sure be in the Bouwmeester trade talks. Try and deal away Wideman and or Schaefer, Alberts and a draft pick. Theres others but you know. He's for sure a player we could use, prototypical Bruin D-man. This should be a team thats very hard to play against, hopefully no injuries, for long term. 4th in the east.....

Nick Posted
(2009-04-30 06:36:19)

Dave clearly you haven't seen the downfall the Pens have taken. THEY HAVE NO GRIT, your goalie outplayed ours because he has 15 shots a game, it was all about the defence, our slow unmoblie defence is gone. Our top 2 defence were out the majority of the seris, that seris is very unrealistic and basically irrielvent to comparing the goalies. Maybe if you look at the season seris where both teams were generally healthy you can see who is better. All I can say is the Flyers are better then last year, and the Pens got worst, and if you think Jay Bow is going to Pittsburg thats a laughable joke, considering JM doesnt want defence he wants forwards now that Jokinen is gone. GO FLYERS GO VENGENCE NOW!!!!!

A.K. Posted
(2009-04-30 06:36:18)

So i guess Nagy won't be resigning with the Kings. He's a career underacheiver and now most recently, he's had injury problems. I want the Leafs to sign him. Aforementioned flaws notwithstanding, I'm at the point where I'd be happy to see the Leafs just sign SOMEONE. I know it's a rebuilding year and all that but I just want to see a somewhat decent top six forward added, even Nags.

Dave Posted
(2009-04-30 06:36:17)

Hey Nick-Your goaltender was beaten badly in the playoffs by us.We'll beat you guys this year even w/o Hossa & Malone won't that be "Special". Whitney + a draft pick for the Beau man!