Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle
-2, not quarterbacking the 1st unit PP, not really providing other intangibles (like physical presence, etc...) does not make him worth his $6.68M dollar salary.
I'm excited for the first time as a Flame he's putting up solid points, but he's still the 2nd highest paid Flame, and one of the highest paid D men in the league, he's not coming close yet to being the difference make he's paid to be. At that price Jay should be in the Norris discussion every season and a lock for team Canada in 2014, he is neither at the moment.
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First, I said he might be worth his salary.
Second, I wish I was computer savy enough to post the excel table I created comparing the stats of ten or so of the 2014 Team Canada hopefulls. Bouwmeesters stat line is right in the middle of the pack in all categories including points, power play points, time on ice, hits, blocked shots, and most importantly salary. The guys who get paid less than him are either on long term back diving contracts (e.g. Duncan Keith) or are on entry level deals and due for a big pay day (e.g. Kris Letang, Alex Pietrangelo)
Lastly, I haven't seen anything so far this season that makes me think Bouwmeester isn't capable of keeping up his level of play for the rest of this season and beyond, so long as he is playing in the right type of system, under the right coach.
Listen, I'm not stupid enough to say Bouwmeester is a difference maker or is a steal at $6.68M, especially after what amounts to a quarter season of play. Then again, I guess it depends on your definition of difference maker. He's not a difference maker in the Shea Weber/Drew Doughty mold (both of whom get paid more than him on back diving deals by the way). But what's more of a difference maker, Doughty plastering someone with a huge open ice hit, or Bouwmeester flying back the ice to get himself back into a play and break up a two on one?