[News] Bouma, Byron, and Jooris and 20 other players file for Salary Arbitration

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by bax

My mistake! I thought for sure Ian White did

I could be wrong, but it was mentioned earlier in the thread that White signed moments before the hearing.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Does Winter represent any Flames other than Gio and Bouma?

only Ladislav Smid I believe. Tanguay and Glencross in the past.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Svartsengi

Who would the Flames buyout?. If Smid is healthy he would be a candidate. I think there is a market for Raymond.

I don't think the Flames will buy out anyone this summer as they don't need the space and any buyout now will be more money being used against the cap as compared to waiting a year.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Really surprised it went this far, but I guess Bouma (and his agent) is just exercising his rights. If the worst case scenario is 1 or 2x$2.5, hopefully both parties can live with it. Basically a bridge/show-me contract, which I think is appropriate for Bouma's situation.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by shotinthebacklund

Ritch Winter Puts the fear into me. I have heard other stories of players he has managed and the stance he took then and it did not work out well for the team.

Winter is the worst kind of agent IMO.

Originally Posted by devo22

only Ladislav Smid I believe. Tanguay and Glencross in the past.

I think he was the agent that got Babchuk his last contract with us too.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I think he was the agent that got Babchuk his last contract with us too.

Pretty sure that was Jay Grossman

[Vulcan]

Treliving strikes me as being a tightwad and being hard line in negotiations with Bouma is a good thing. Bouma needs to fit in with the team salary cap and Bouma being an example isn't exactly great but it's better than having some of our core shooting for the moon in future negotiations.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I don't think Gio or Bouma would appreciate Bouma's future career being used to make a statement

When people deal with each other on an ongoing basis, it is not at all uncommon for there to be underlying, ulterior agendas being managed.

I am not saying that Bouma's contract is being sacrificed as a bargaining chip. I am simply saying that both Treliving and Winter are not only negotiating Bouma's contract, but also making additional, below the surface, statements to each other.

It's human nature.

[Strange Brew]

I am admittedly a pro management guy but I can live with the Flames taking a tough negotiationg stance in this and most situations.

Cap space is an asset, just like draft picks, players and prospects. When you sign UFA's you give up some of this asset. I think we have seen how quickly you can go from a floor team to being against the cap, so you need to be extremely careful in handing out contracts, especially those of 3+ years in length.

I like every player the Flames have signed in last 18 months, but for some I am concerned they gave up too much of this asset and should have looked elsewhere.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by devo22

only Ladislav Smid I believe. Tanguay and Glencross in the past.

Website still has Glennie listed as a client. I wonder how he feels about the advice that he was given over the past year or two.

Weird that Gio isn't listed as a client.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by heep223

Weird that Gio isn't listed as a client.

Gio is with 4sports. Winter manages their Canada division.

http://www.4sportshockey.com/4sports...out-ice-hockey
http://www.4sportshockey.com/4sports.../mark-giordano

[868904]

Love Booms, but honestly, the Flames have a number of guys who can play in the NHL next year and develop into what he is right now within the next two years.

Ferland, Hathaway, Elson are knocking on the door and play the exact same role. Guys like BVB, Carrol, and Smith are probably 2 years from challenging and also play that role.

Then you have guys like Backlund, Byron, Stajan, Frolik, Jooris on the roster that don't necessarily have the truculence of Bouma and the group above, but can PK effectively. Plus there are young prospects pushing this group too (Arnold, Agostino, Shore).

You can't get tied in on big dollars for 3rd and 4th line guys. The Canucks are feeling the hurt right now because they are paying Dorset and Prust $2.5 million each to patrol the 4th line.

Anything under $2 million and the Flames should keep Bouma. Anything over, and they should probably trade him. I think they could get a decent return for him, at least a 2nd round pick and maybe more. He has to have more value than Baertschi.

[bettman]

David Kaye is Glencross' agent now

[Poe969]

when do we find out what happened??

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by bettman

David Kaye is Glencross' agent now

I might as well be his agent

[dino7c]

oh and brace yourselves

Winter is coming.....

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Poe969

when do we find out what happened??

Will know in September if Bouma shows up to camp.


In all seriousness arbitrator has 48 hours to issue a decision. Until the arbitrator makes a decision, Flames and Bouma could still negotiate a contract.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Nice thing about going to arbitration with Bouma is that it guarantees the Flames an option to give him a 1 year contract, that they can afford this year, to continue to evaluate him.

I think too much is being read into this negotiation, Bouma is a prime candidate for having the team and player (or agent) not agree on his value after last year. Currently, it's debatable whether Bouma is a bottom 6 forward who brings tones of important intangibles to the table, or if he's a budding top 6 forward who also brings these intangibles. Flames should rightfully want to see more from Bouma to classify him as the latter, see more than one season of it, while you can't blame Bouma for wanting to cash in on a career year.

Flames have to be careful with this one, and there was little to 0 downside in going to arbitration with Bouma because it's almost certainly going to give them a chance to evaluate him for another year when they can afford to. Will be interesting to see what he's awarded and what the Flames choose, but I don't think it's bad if they end up going with an arb. decision or that they got to arb. in the first place.

[PeteMoss]

Came into thread to see posters getting angry over normal negotiations.... leaving satisfied.

[dino7c]

You can't pay Bouma based on last season...he was playing in the top six at times for god sakes and that will not be happening again hopefully