How does that old adage go?
"Offense wins games, but defense wins championships."
The St. Louis Blues believe they found a major component of their plan to achieve both in the short term when they acquired defenseman Jay Bouwmeester just before the 2013 trade deadline. On Thursday they made him a piece of the long term solution by inking the 29 year old Edmonton native to a five year contract extension worth $27 million.
In 14 appearances with the Blues last season Bouwmeester registered just one goal, but tallied 7 points and a Plus-5 rating while logging an average of 23:24 of ice time per game. Through 11 NHL seasons split between Florida and Calgary before coming to St. Louis the 3rd overall pick in the 2002 draft has played in 764 games, 72 goals, 307 points, and a Minus-60 rating. Statistically, his best season came in 2006-07 with 12 goals, 42 points, and a Plus-23 with an ATOI of more than 26 minutes.
It seems as if Bouwmeester has been around forever and subsequently past the prime of his career. There is valid concern that this new deal, which kicks in shortly before his 31st birthday, could end up an overpayment for a declining veteran that handicaps the Blues' ability to spend.
On the surface those concerned seem to have a good reason to be.
Bouwmeester entered the league in 2002 at the age of 18 and has played in every regular season game possible except for 22 since then. Although he walks, talks, and acts like any other player of a similar age there is considerable more wear on his body than many of those similar players.
Many defenseman, even some of the best, don't break in and excel in the twilight of their teen years. Considerable development time is spent gathering experience around the likes of the AHL, SEL, or KHL. Even after graduating to the NHL there are sometimes multiple seasons spent gaining even more experience before being ordained a top pairing defenseman. By the time most would be hitting the 100 game mark Bouwmeester was already a couple hundred games ahead.
Prior to the three year span between 2006 and 2009 in which he potted 42 goals and 121 points, Bouwmeester dressed for 225 times. Three full seasons for all intent and purposes. Those years were not easy years either. They were spent toiling away in Florida to the tune of over 20 minutes a night on bad teams.
It's worth acknowledging that in the five campaigns following that run he's scored just 19 goals and not finished a season above Even in the Plus/Minus column. Only 4 more goals than his career high mark set in 2007-08 (and duplicated in 2008-09). The drop in production came primarily came with heavy expectations due to playing in rabid Canadian market on a declining club needing a rebuild logging even tougher shifts than forced to previously.
It would appear that roles, responsibilities, and the immense wear and tear that comes day in and day out in the NHL is catching up with Bouwmeester.
Then came the trade that extricated him from a bad situation to one much the opposite.
In St. Louis Bouwmeester was immediately paired with one of the top young defensemen around the league in Alex Pietrangelo. Someone proven capable of sharing the load in a short period of time. Beyond his new pairing partner the four lines skating in front of him were deeper than any he played with before and the system they were well versed in demands back checking in support of those like him. It certainly doesn't hurt that the system was built to optimize players like Bouwmeester. Swift skating precise passing blueliners tend to excel with quick counter attacks, fluid transition, and possession play opposed to old school set ups limiting the offensive role of the defenseman.
For the sake of comparison, let's look at the two guys on the back end Bouwmeester was paired with the most last season.
Mark Giordano: TOI 353:45 GF/20 1.018 GA/20 1.131 GF% 47.4 CF/20 16.17 CA/20 18.15 CF% 47.1
Alex Pietrangelo: TOI 220:23 GF/20 0.726 GA/20 0.272 GF% 72.7 CF/20 18.33 CA/20 14.43 CF% 56.0
What a difference, eh?
With the Blues Bouwmeester will be an important part of the scheme, but not the centerpiece. His new contract reflects as much as he'll be paid well, more than Kevin Shattenkirk, but not as much as Pietrangelo will once he signs.
A (slightly) reduced role (and pay) should help belay those fearing that all those games played to this point will catch up sooner over later and move JayBo in to the Eric Brewer dog house.
Plus, it's not like he has 100+ playoff games on his resume on top of his regular season totals...
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Time for your take. What do you think of Bouwmeester's extension? Smart move or another bad contract on waiting? Hash it out in the comments.
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Thanks for reading. As always feel free to follow me on Twitter:
@jtquirin 
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