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

[Azhouse]

I tend to agree that he may not be core but he needs a multi-year contract moving forward.

[bax]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

Agreed. But I also think they are replaceable to a large extent. Bouma can make way for Ferland, who will make way for Smith or another guy in a few years.

I like the Chicago model. Lock up the core and rotate the rest. Ladd was a huge heart and soul guy for them, and they moved him on and didn't miss a beat. They almost for sure should have let Bickell go, but they locked him up and it might have cost them Saad because of it.

Again, I like Bouma a lot, and I agree that you need players like him. I just don't think you have to have him exactly.

I won't be sad if we keep him for a few more years either. But he isn't a core piece that we should be afraid to move on from.

Andrew Ladd was a fourth overall pick who was putting up 40-50 points with the Blackhawks. Bickell had a terrific post season and they overpaid because of it. Not great comparisons in my opinion because we aren't going to be paying Bouma 4 million a year. Something around 2 million/year for what he brings is great for the Flames.

You say we need players "like" Bouma except ones who can play in the playoffs without facing injuries. I hate to break it to you, but that sort of player doesn't exist. Bouma randomly broke his hand while blocking a shot. That play doesn't happen and he plays a full season plus playoffs.

Instead of moving him out to make room for Ferland, why not keep both for added depth? That's what strong teams have. Multiple options because injuries happen to every team.

I agree that Bouma isn't part of the "core", but for 2 million I don't see one reason why you wouldn't keep him. Plus Sean needs to keep his room mate right?

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

How many playoff games did he play?

And the two years before that were completely injury plagued. It's impossible to play his style and not sustain injuries in my opinion.

Nearly every championship team has some Bouma equivalent. He broke his hand blocking a shot. His game is blocking shots. He's one of the few truly physical forwards we have.

I recall many people bemoaning the multiple times we lost Brandon Prust - Bouma is a better Prust. 3 years, 1.75 is my prediction.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

How many playoff games did he play?

And the two years before that were completely injury plagued. It's impossible to play his style and not sustain injuries in my opinion.

Agreed that his style of play is very demanding.

My view is that as the Flames get better and improve their possession stats, it will benefit players like Lance. If we have the puck more, that equates to less desperation / scrambles and a reduced need to dive and strain to get in front of pucks.

[InconvenientTruth]

Byron > Bouma despite Lance's handsomeness

Bouma's vastly overrated by the "eyeballs" crowd. We'll see what his shooting percentage does this year. Backlund carried him this year.

[Robbob]

Bouma is Yelle v 2.0. He is a keeper.

[killer_carlson]

if I read Sureloss' posts correctly, if the team goes to arbitration it opens up a window for us to buy out a contract that was on our reserve list last year and over $2.75 million.

I am not 100% clear on if that means Raymond is eligible to be bought out this year, or if the team has to wait until next year to buy him out.

So if Raymond can be bought out under this window, I think the Flames do take Bouma to arbitration in order to have an opportunity to buy out Raymond from his contract.

[pepsishark]

I'd sell high on Lance. Like, now. Now, now. The second a contract gets signed. Can't imagine for a second why they'd play him over Byron or Bennett or even Ferland.

[bax]

Originally Posted by pepsishark

I'd sell high on Lance. Like, now. Now, now. The second a contract gets signed. Can't imagine for a second why they'd play him over Byron or Bennett or even Ferland.

Glad you are not the GM

[pepsishark]

Originally Posted by bax

Glad you are not the GM

He'll never be worth more as a commodity than he is now. Mark my words.

[InconvenientTruth]

Originally Posted by pepsishark

I'd sell high on Lance. Like, now. Now, now. The second a contract gets signed. Can't imagine for a second why they'd play him over Byron or Bennett or even Ferland.

Agreed. He won't score out of the corner for long. Frankly, it's tough to find a top 9 role for him next season the way the roster is shaping up.

We'll see how many points he gets without Backlund doing his dirty work.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by pepsishark

He'll never be worth more as a commodity than he is now. Mark my words.

It's about winning games not maximizing an asset's trade value. If that was the case we should be looking to move Gaudreau/Monahan/Brodie etc.

[bax]

Originally Posted by pepsishark

He'll never be worth more as a commodity than he is now. Mark my words.

You're not wrong, but he's much more valuable on the ice helping the flames win games next year than a second round pick or something.

[InconvenientTruth]

If Bouma returns an asset with greater long term value that doesn't hurt them today, or a better asset today because the market overvalues Bouma, it absolutely is about maximizing his trade value.

Do it, do it now.

[bax]

Originally Posted by InconvenientTruth

Agreed. He won't score out of the corner for long. Frankly, it's tough to find a top 9 role for him next season the way the roster is shaping up.

We'll see how many points he gets without Backlund doing his dirty work.

Bouma's role on the team isn't about getting points. Apples and oranges my friend.

[bax]

Originally Posted by InconvenientTruth

If Bouma returns an asset with greater long term value that doesn't hurt them today, or a better asset today because the market overvalues Bouma, it absolutely is about maximizing his trade value.

Do it, do it now.

Realistically, what do you expect in a Bouma trade that would be worth it?

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by InconvenientTruth

Bouma's vastly overrated by the "eyeballs" crowd.

Not as vastly overrated as Byron is by the fancy stats crowd.

[pepsishark]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

It's about winning games not maximizing an asset's trade value. If that was the case we should be looking to move Gaudreau/Monahan/Brodie etc.

Not even close. With the excess of forwards, and players like Bill Arnold likely looking to make a jump to the NHL, it simply makes sense to get the maximum return on a disposable winger. Lance is not more valuable playing 4th line minutes if he's leapfrogged by younger players, as is fairly likely to be the case. Imagine if you could replace Schlemko with a young, mobile D-man, plus a pick, in a trade for Bouma. I'd do it.

The key to getting better is not to stay the same. If Lance played well with Backlund, Bennett and Frolik should play even better with Backlund. That's called improvement. You don't just stick Bouma on the line again and move the other 2 down the depth chart because it worked okay the year before.

[InconvenientTruth]

Originally Posted by bax

Bouma's role on the team isn't about getting points. Apples and oranges my friend.

If you are playing him in the top 6 it absolutely is about getting points.

Backlund was carrying his mail on the penalty kill too. Bouma makes the shot block that the color guy raves about, but it's Backlund tying up plays on the wall and breaking up zone entries that is really making the difference.

Honestly, any legitimate third line player, preferably with a year or two of RFA control that won't cost us 2M gets Bouma.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by InconvenientTruth

If you are playing him in the top 6 it absolutely is about getting points.

You're the only person in this thread today suggesting Bouma should play in the top six.