Quote:
Originally Posted by New Era
I would have agreed with you a year ago, but that lost year of play is going to hurt his chances. Not only did Bouma lose that year of development it allowed other players to chance to develop and surpass him on the depth chart. It is going to make camp interesting. Bouma will have to prove that he is still capable of being a 4th liner in the NHL and that it is better to give him the position over another player who has a much higher ceiling, like Horak or Reinhart, who would benefit more from playing in the NHL than in the AHL. Also, the additions of Granlund, Knight and Hanowski may force a Bouma off the team and back to the minors. Losing last year was very unfortunate for Bouma because it was his chance to solidify his spot as a roster player. Now he's got more guys to compete with, many of which have way more talent.
I believe this is his last chance with the Flames. They have just too many players coming in that will make Bouma expendable. Next year will be worse when they add Agostino, Arnold and possibly Gaudreau to the mix. Too many bodies and not enough slots. Unless there is some serious movement on the roster takes place I don't know where Bouma plays or whose spot he takes away.
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Disagree. Horak is competing for a 2nd/3rd line role, not a 4th line role. Reinhart is competing for a 3rd/4th line centre role, Bouma for a winger role IMO. Same with Granlund and Knight who are both centres. Bouma and Hanowski aren't very comparable either although they are perhaps the closest in style amongst your comparisons.
None of the prospects you mentioned are 4th line grinders like Bouma is and thus aren't really competing for the same type of role with the Flames. Bouma is basically a younger version of Jackman. We don't want guys who have higher upsides to be stuck on the 4th line so I don't think they are directly competing. 2nd/3rd line players don't push 4th liners off the team, they push other 2nd/3rd liners off the team that is what you don't seem to be acknowledging. Bouma is competing with guys like Jackman, McGrattan, and a guy like Ferland in the future. Most of the guys you've mentioned have zero impact on Bouma's fight for a 4th line grinding role.