Flyers On Bouwmeester's Wish List

CSNPHILLY.com
Wednesday, June 17, 2009

By John Boruk
CSNPhilly.com Contributor

According to a league source, free-agent defenseman Jay Bouwmeester has a “wish list” of about six NHL teams he would like to sign with and the Flyers are on it. According to the source, Bouwmeester likes the Flyers from an “organizational standpoint” and considers them an “up-and-coming team.”

Wednesday, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren addressed the media at the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees. Holmgren believes there’s a good chance Bouwmeester’s rights will be traded prior to July 1, when the free agency period begins. A team that acquires Bouwmeester’s rights from the Florida Panthers would have exclusive negotiating rights until the end of the month.

Two years ago, the Flyers made a similar move when they obtained exclusive negotiating rights for Kimmo Timonen and Scott Hartnell from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a first-round pick they originally received from Nashville as part of the Peter Forsberg trade. After making the deal, the Flyers signed Timonen to a six-year, $37 million contract and Hartnell to a six-year deal worth $25 million.

However, there’s some risk in making a move prior to the start of free agency on. Not only would teams have to surrender an asset (in the form of a draft pick or a player), but Bouwmeester is also currently represented by Bryon Baltimore, a relative unknown around NHL circles, and an agent who represents very few clients. Some general managers around the league don’t have a gauge on what Bouwmeester is thinking.

It’s believed Bouwmeester will command a long-term deal around $7 million per season, and the Flyers would have to make an additional move or two to free up the necessary cap space, even though teams are permitted to go over the cap by five percent before next season begins.

REVO'S NOTE: It'll be interesting to see how the Flyers play out this draft and free agency period. Many analysts out there have said the Flyers are lacking a big, strong defenseman in front of their goaltender (Pronger, Hatcher style) - and signing a player like Bouwmeester will more than likely strap the Flyers very tight for cap space. The way the Flyers have been pursuing Bouwmeester in seasons' past, I will be very surprised if Holmgren doesn't do everything in his power to put J-Bo in orange and black this summer. But the question for Flyers fans remains this summer: at what cost?