Quote:
Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle
You can't win without what Bouma brings to the table, he is a true difference maker and the type of player each cup winner has had on their roster making an impact.
In the cap era, you also can't win if you pay you Lance Bouma type player a significant salary, you have to get that #### on a value deal.
There in lies the dilemma the Flames are currently in.
I'm firmly in agreement with all those touting Bouma as an incredibly valuable member of this club, but I'm also firmly in disagreement with anyone who views him as a piece of the core. He can't be if this team is going to be a winner. The Flames need to have him or someone like him to win, but he can't be a looked at as a centre piece for this team, that's just the man boners talking.
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Exactly this. In the cap era - you have to make tough decisions. You pay a guy like Bouma big dollars (or even that much more than the minimum you end up in cap hell and shipping out guys you don't want to ship out to be able to sign Gaudreau/Mony/Bennett when they become big salary guys.
You have to watch your money. A long term contract $1.5M plus contract for a bottom six guy isn't feasible anymore no matter how much heart the guy has.