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

[browna]

Jooris was the best player in the pre-season, at least as far as making an impression of an "unknown" and carried it through the rest of the season, playing the role he was given. Solid player that this team needs as far as an attitude. "The Schelmko" doesn't happen unless Jooris didn't pot one the shot before, when he had to score as the Bruins had gotten the goal just before. Just an example, but that is the kind of attitude that the team still needs.

Bouma better not be pressing too hard...absolutely, a fantastic year out of nowhere, especially for production, in addition to the grit he brings, and attitude, just as Jooris. But hard to make a strong arbitration case for that as a one year goal success. Secondly, his style of play, going all out to block shots and get dirty with his hits, is hard to quantify in stats sometimes, which what these hearings come down to in the end, still.

Back in the day, Dennis Gauthier went to arbitration, and argued from his side that his hit stats weren't properly measured in the Dome. He lost his case, and from that point forward, decided to no longer used his physicality as a weapon each shift. Predictably, his defensive game outside of that wasn't special, and faded away from that point on, for the most part.

[Lanny_McDonald]

There was a rumor floating around that Bouma was on the block. Maybe the Flames see him as never achieving these numbers again and don't want to get stuck paying for an inflated salary. He may be moved after he signs.

Jooris is a guy you want to sit on. Can contribute up and down the lineup like Byron, but is way more effective. I sit on Jooris, but I cut loose Byron at the first instance possible. It was a mistake to qualify him. Better players coming up.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by New Era

There was a rumor floating around that Bouma was on the block. Maybe the Flames see him as never achieving these numbers again and don't want to get stuck paying for an inflated salary. He may be moved after he signs.

Jooris is a guy you want to sit on. Can contribute up and down the lineup like Byron, but is way more effective. I sit on Jooris, but I cut loose Byron at the first instance possible. It was a mistake to qualify him. Better players coming up.

That seems highly highly unlikely.

Even if he doesn't replicate his career high season, he's still an incredibly valuable fourth liner.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Even if [Bouma] doesn't replicate his career high season, he's still an incredibly valuable fourth liner.

At 1.6 mil or so for a possession-challenged, heart and soul winger with good hands who blocks shots and hits awesomely, yes.

At 3.0 mil or so for a 16 goal scoring top 6 forward who might not ever score 16 goals over the course of his next contract? Long term that might hurt our ability to resign Gaudreau, Monahan, Hudler, Giordano etc. Might have to move him just due to cap reasons.

[EVERLAST]

Originally Posted by New Era

There was a rumor floating around that Bouma was on the block. Maybe the Flames see him as never achieving these numbers again and don't want to get stuck paying for an inflated salary. He may be moved after he signs.

Jooris is a guy you want to sit on. Can contribute up and down the lineup like Byron, but is way more effective. I sit on Jooris, but I cut loose Byron at the first instance possible. It was a mistake to qualify him. Better players coming up.

No way that is true....BT would never do it. Bob wouldn't go for it.....way too smart of a hockey player who has earned more through meritocracy than any other player not named Monahan.

[Stay Golden]

Bouma's agent is proving difficult to be negotiate with. Everytime Bouma is up for contract renewal it is long and drawn out.
To be fair i don't think the Flames know how to put a dollar to what Bouma provides, I get this one going to arbitration.

Byron should take what is offered unless the Flames are including a 2 way as part of the offer.
I can see a 2 way ticking Byron off.

Jooris on the other hand is just getting going. As long as he isn't being offered a 2 way he should just sign. Jooris had a good 1st season keep the positive vibe going with his progress.
He should trust his abilities to make the team.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

I can see why Jooris and Byron did this. They might get 1.5m from arb and I doubt the Flames are offering that. Plus, the Flames can't walk away.

Bouma is interesting. Hopefully we can sign him for 3 or 4 years but you have to be careful because these are the type of contracts that can hurt the team's cap if the AAV is too high and Bouma stuggles to live up to it. I would offer Bouma 2.5m for 4 years but I suspect he may want much more than that.

If Bouma pops in 20 next year, he could be looking at a 4m-5m payday. Maybe Lance won't lock in long term unless the Flames pony up for future potential?

I could see it from Bouma's side if he believes he's going to be a consistent 35+ point player in this league. I wouldn't blame him for wanting in the neighborhood of 4m on a 4 or 5 year deal. He looked like an elite 3rd line player last year, easily worth 4m based on what other comparable players from around the league earn.

The Flames likely want to see another year like last year before giving him a David Jones level contract. It's going to be very interesting to watch this play out.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by New Era

There was a rumor floating around that Bouma was on the block. Maybe the Flames see him as never achieving these numbers again and don't want to get stuck paying for an inflated salary. He may be moved after he signs.

I am fairly certain that "rumor" was no more than another terrible trade suggestion by Boomer

[Roof-Daddy]

IIRC Bouma's agent is also Gio's agent, Ritch Winter.

Obviously a very tough negotiator.

[jg13]

Saw Bouma last night, I drunk told him we need him and hope everything goes okay and he said he wanted to stay in Calgary

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

That seems highly highly unlikely.

Even if he doesn't replicate his career high season, he's still an incredibly valuable fourth liner.

I agree with everything you and others have said about keeping Bouma. I love the guy.

However I don't know why, but I just have a sickening feeling in my stomach that Bouma will get the raise/term he deserves, but will be traded not much long after.

I know Treliving is a wizard and can do whatever he wants. But it's just an unfounded feeling I have.

[GioforPM]

Bouma signed a one year "show me" contract last year with Treliving. That was a bit of a risk for both sides, and it paid off for Bouma, who had a great year - hence tough negotiations.

Jooris is a tough contract because he had a good year, but is in a spot where some acquisitions (Frolik and maybe Shore) and callups (Bennett and Ferland) have the ability to push him our of the lineup. Thing is - he does several things well, but isn't the best on the team at any one of them.

[Red Menace]

We have enough good forwards now that I don't mind signing these guys and sending some to the minors...if they are eligible and get claimed, so be it....

[Duke43]

He and Roberto Duran, "Hands of Stone".

[Fighting Banana Slug]

I seriously doubt Bouma makes it to arbitration. Makes sense to file, but they have time to hammer out a deal.

[handgroen]

Originally Posted by jg13

Saw Bouma last night, I drunk told him we need him and hope everything goes okay and he said he wanted to stay in Calgary

When you need a player signed, CP is there.

[Hanna Sniper]

If Bouma considered possession-challenged then I love possession-challenged players and they are just the thing the Flames need

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

No surprise on the Bouma front. He's the exactly the type of player team and player won't see eye to eye on value. Pay for production only, and the player will feel undervalued because of the other "intangibles" they bring to the table (which are legit in Bouma's case), but the team also knows it needs to pay as little as possible for said intangibles to be able to do what it needs to be a contender long term. Throw on top the fact that Bouma is coming off a career year and he'll want to get paid for it, but the team will also be apprehensive that his production might be an anomaly and will want to see more consistency and you have the perfect recipe for a tough contract negotiation.

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by flameswin

I'm a little surprised at the sentiment towards Jooris, we're so flakey and weird as hockey fans.

We'll spend years following prospects, clinging on to their every development, hoping they'll one day be good enough to be an NHL regular. I mean look right now, we're talking about over 15 prospects that we're all pegging as such and such potential, and HOPEFULLY they can reach it.

But for some reason as Flames fans, it's like as soon as a player makes the NHL, they actually lose a bunch of respect and worth in our eyes, lol.

"OMG, that guy killed it in camp, came in and earned an NHL spot, he's now one of our best prospects!!!!"

"Oh wow, Jooris is now scoring a bunch of goals at the NHL level, this is like found money, so versatile too!"

*off season comes in and fans get excited about upcoming prospects

"Oh Jooris, yeah that guy's old hat, he's alright I guess"

"Meh, lots of guys like him, easily replicable"

"We've got prospects coming up, sure you can say he was injured, but the truth is he's just not that great".



Meanwhile we're about to go into full geek mode hoping and praying for our prospects to turn out, but we lose perspective that a good portion of our prospects would be HUGE successes if they could reach the player Josh Jooris has become.

C'mon guys, lets not become HFboards here, where picks and prospects are viewed as infinitely more valuable than actual NHL hockey players all the time.

Perspective

I'm pretty sure a lot of the fans on this forum are kids that watch a lot of junior hockey and likes the quick turnover of players. Once a player reaches a certain status on the team or a certain age, a lot of people are calling for trades or buyouts. And before reaching their prime, people are speculating that a huge amount of money should be paid out in order to keep them.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Honestly I can see Bouma continuing similar offensive production. If you look back at the goals he scored, a lot of them are off the rush and great wrist shots. It was something he focused on last summer and did it ever pay off. He's got a hard accurate shot, is good at deflections, and doesn't score many garbage goals.

With that in mind, I wouldn't mind a slight overpayment for Bouma. The Flames would still get their money's worth with Bouma at 2.5