Lance Bouma - a long term contract ?

[flamesfever]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

I don't see how throwing out an inexpensive contract number for a good 3rd line player is being rash.. He's been exceptional in his role for 1.5 years now. The guy stepped into the NHL after spending an ENTIRE season on IR. Has been getting progressively better in every facet of the game since.

A contract of 4 years at 8 mil is a steal on Bouma. The coach is staying long term, why not keep one of his favourite players long term?

I'm just going on the way the posters on this site seem to behave. If he had several bad games in a row, I believe the numbers would be much different.

[ramizle]

What does that say about the Flames if we invest and overpay free agents and not reward our own guys who's been here and been much better.

I know for sure that after 2 years with a company, if my boss hires someone not as competent as me to a longer and better contract, it would put a bad taste in my mouth.

[Flash Walken]

No higher than 1.7, no longer than 3. Preferably 2.

[Iggy Snipe]

2 million per season, is a good contract from 3-5 years. You know what your getting with Bouma. 10+ goals, great PK guy, and someone who can throw down if he has to.

Cant pay him more than that though.

[AcGold]

Sign him ASAP. 4 years. Guys like him make the team better because he buys in. Makes it easier on the coach and the captain when we have guys like Bouma zoned in. We are lucky to have him.

[playmaker]

Originally Posted by Flashpoint

Long term? I guess if it's for a career 4th liner salary, and I like the guy and his intangibles, don't get me wrong, but we're not a physical team, and our PK sucks (which he is a big part of).

The question is, does our PK suck because of him or despite his efforts? Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying his PK is flawless but from the games I've seen it's often our D struggling with a big body in front of the net or an inconsistent goalie which drag out PK down. Bouma has his flaws and yes, his PK can be improved, but we're talking about player with 3 seasons under his belt - there's still plenty of time for improvement.

[doctajones428]

8 years $16 million please

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

No higher than 1.7, no longer than 3. Preferably 2.

I was thinking double his dough to about a 1.6 average. It's not right that lazy scorers can make 4x the money but it is what it is.

[Lanny_McDonald]

No to a long term contract. There are lots of Lance Boumas around and there will continue to be lots of them. He's like Nystrom and Prust were with the Flames. Good players that give their all, but not having a long shelf life with any one team. 2-3 years at $1.5M top end seems like a fair. By then new fan favorites on the 4th line will come along and make the fans want to move on from Bouma. It's just the cycle of the game.

[AcGold]

Originally Posted by New Era

No to a long term contract. There are lots of Lance Boumas around and there will continue to be lots of them. He's like Nystrom and Prust were with the Flames. Good players that give their all, but not having a long shelf life with any one team. 2-3 years at $1.5M top end seems like a fair. By then new fan favorites on the 4th line will come along and make the fans want to move on from Bouma. It's just the cycle of the game.

He does bring character and leadership qualities that Prust and Nystrom didn't seem to have. He seems to fit in well with key pieces on the team and will likely bring more benefit than just hustle.

[btimbit]

4 years @ 2 million per. Wad also sad to see Prust go, and Bouma is better.

[AC]

Bouma is basically the ideal mix between Brandon Prust and Eric Nystrom.

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

Ya, don't grossly overpay a shot blocker for beating up on a terrible team like the oil.

Appreciate him putting a beat down on them, but it's an 82 game season. Regardless if he's playing 2nd line mins now, he wouldn't be on a contender.
We have to think that way as we toss out extensions, not today's value, but their value when more pieces are in place.

[Gaskal]

$1.5m for 2 years would be my call.

[Huntingwhale]

6x6

[Mattman]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

$1.5m for 2 years would be my call.

For a guy who's working in and out every game, doesn't whine about minutes and puts his body in front of a 90 mph frozen piece of rubber deserves some damn money.

4 years for 8 million

[Roof-Daddy]

Guys like Bouma, Jooris and Byron are exactly the type of player you want to develop into bottom six role players.

Good speed, all heart, play physical, team first mentalities. Also, play a solid 200 foot game, and while not likely to be offensive superstars, aren't completely inept in that department and can chip in some depth scoring here and there.

Plus, despite being really important parts of your team, they never put up the huge offensive numbers that result in them eating up huge portions of your cap space.

Hopefully Wolf and Ferland can mold into that type of player for the Flames as well.

[driveway]

Double his current salary for two seasons.

[calgarywinning]

In this case, I'm glad to defer to the management group including Treliving and Burke. Let them figure this out. He's an exciting player, but they should metric his performance in, calculate his potential and make the right decision.

I don't want my emotions to get in the way. Also, with Burke's shorter term contract direction, it's so important. To keep players performing for today, and tomorrow, not shutting down on account of their giant contract and future major dollars. In this case, earned and not given. Even if he had a wonderful season.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by AcGold

He does bring character and leadership qualities that Prust and Nystrom didn't seem to have. He seems to fit in well with key pieces on the team and will likely bring more benefit than just hustle.

Nystrom definitely brought a ton of character and leadership when he was here... nothing against Bouma cause he is one of my fav players, but I'm not sure he is that much better than Nystrom's tenure with the Flames. And Nystrom passed through re-entry waivers (50% off). I also remember Marcus Nilson being a shot blocking machine and heart and sole guy (and huge part of 2004) but after that great season (and 2006) he fizzled out a few years later.

As I said, I really like Bouma and I think he's a huge part of this team and a must for re-sign. But you don't commit those kind of dollars to depth players, esp ones that historically don't have a long shelf life. I would imagine 2-3 years, 4 is fine too, but I prfer 2-3. Pay the man, but don't over commit. In general, I'm not a big fan of over committing contracts unless there is a special reason (Monahan, Johnny).