Jeff Quirin: Blues Buy In Big on Bouwmeester The St. Louis Blues have agreed to a 5 year, $27 million contract extension with defenseman Jay Bouwmeester.

Wear and tear? His style (AKA lack of physicality) helps his longevity. He isn't broken down at all.

Good contract.

Agreed. Not like the guy was laying down open ice hits, ever. He's going to get paid what he should be now.

Good signing. With salary cap rise, this will be high end second pairing defesnseman money by the end of the contract. Partner to let Petro win his Norris over the next couple years.

He's built like a brick poophouse, and still doesn't punish himself physically on the ice - he'll be fine.

People seem to often forget defencemen often don't even hit their best years until they're Bouwmeester's age, unlike forwards.

See: Lidstrom, Neidermayer, Chara, Boyle, Keith, etc.

I think the blues have just locked up Bouwmeester's most effective playing years with this new deal, from 30-36 he should be very solid both offensively and defensively.

One thing that's for sure is that there is no wear and tear on JBow's body. He's extremely non confrontational.

One thing that's for sure is that there is no wear and tear on JBow's body. He's extremely non confrontational.
- tincup

Just keep him paired with someone who will hit, and he will be fine. Great skater, he can cover the ice in like 2 strides! He is worth the money.

Jbo at 5 makes perfect sense. Jbo at 6.8 didn't.

Good signing by SL.

Jeff Quirin: Blues Buy In Big on Bouwmeester
The St. Louis Blues have agreed to a 5 year, $27 million contract extension with defenseman Jay Bouwmeester.
- Jeff Quirin

Title would have been better this way:
Blues Big Bet, Bring Back Bouwmeester.

Well done Jeff,

Dont see the concern over this deal.

JBo is going to only help Pietrangelo mature more. He is a calm influence on the back end.

Cant wait for this season to start!!

Given other deals handed to inferior d-man over the past few years, this is at the very least an average contract for JBo. In actuality this is more of a bargain in my mind but it certainly isn't a bad contract.

Given other deals handed to inferior d-man over the past few years, this is at the very least an average contract for JBo. In actuality this is more of a bargain in my mind but it certainly isn't a bad contract.
- uf1910

Beats the pants off of the Matt Carle deal.

This is a great deal. Petro now has a partner for the next 6 years.

Now we just need to sign Petro to a 6+ year contract.

Keep in Mind JB has only been in the post season once (I think), which is ALOT less hockey then most defensemen, and ALOT less physical hard hitting style of hockey. That alone would negate your point on JB breaking down earlier than most.

Keep in Mind JB has only been in the post season once (I think), which is ALOT less hockey then most defensemen, and ALOT less physical hard hitting style of hockey. That alone would negate your point on JB breaking down earlier than most.
- CaliNewf

he didnt make the playoffs in junior either, just one playoff stint in the AHL before making it again last year. Thats crazy, since 1998 only 24 total playoff games in professional hockey

Bouwmeester was very highly touted D-man when he played for Florida. I was worried being an Oiler fan that the flames got such a great defenseman added to their line-up.

Watched him play often when he was playing for the Calgary Flames.

He "seems" like a very overrated player. He isn't physical, as many people have pointed out. He doesn't seem to make the big plays. He does sometimes get caught out of position or beaten in his own end.

To be honest most times i've watched him play he has been invisible. Which can be a good thing I suppose.

I just don't think he is worth 5 mill. Not even in 5 years when the cap will probably be up 10 million.

I think he's a slightly above average D-man. With the cap where it is and his numbers not exactly great I thought he would sign for 4 mill to be honest. Maybe 4.5 from a bad team.

I really don't think it's a coincidence that he has so few playoff games under his belt either.

5+ Mill for a D-man who may get 25 points and typically is minus in his career. Wow.

Bouwmeester was very highly touted D-man when he played for Florida. I was worried being an Oiler fan that the flames got such a great defenseman added to their line-up.

Watched him play often when he was playing for the Calgary Flames.

He "seems" like a very overrated player. He isn't physical, as many people have pointed out. He doesn't seem to make the big plays. He does sometimes get caught out of position or beaten in his own end.

To be honest most times i've watched him play he has been invisible. Which can be a good thing I suppose.

I just don't think he is worth 5 mill. Not even in 5 years when the cap will probably be up 10 million.

I think he's a slightly above average D-man. With the cap where it is and his numbers not exactly great I thought he would sign for 4 mill to be honest. Maybe 4.5 from a bad team.

I really don't think it's a coincidence that he has so few playoff games under his belt either.

5+ Mill for a D-man who may get 25 points and typically is minus in his career. Wow.
- Aerchon

Taylor Hall doesn't have many playoff games under his belt, either - is that a coincidence? Or is it due to poor team management not putting the pieces around him for success?

Smarten up, he'd be the best Dman on Edmonton by FAR. You just paid Andrew Ference 2/3 of that, and he's not 2/3 the defenceman J-Bo is.

In case you missed that part of the article, J-Bo was on pace for 40 points and a great +/- in his 14 games with the blues, while playing 23 minutes a night on the top pairing.

If he puts up 35 points and a +25 rating next year, and I'd be willing to bet he will - this comment will look real ignorant.

Smart decision. JBo never lived up to early expectations, but has quietly become an excellent NHL defenseman. Great decision by the Blues.

Beats the pants off of the Matt Carle deal.
- jmatchett383

On what grounds? Carle was solid last year. He is never going to be spectacular or an offensive dynamo but that's not his job. Providing steady play in a top 4 role is exactly what he was signed for and exactly what he provided.

Given other contracts handed to d-man Carle's value is right in line. Wideman, Gonchar, Streit all got deals in line with Carle's. One more note, out of the players listed above Carle (28) is the youngest with Wideman being 2 years older at 30. Streit and Gonchar are 35+.

D-man contracts AAV's are rising. Carle's deal was part of that inflation but not the first.

Taylor Hall doesn't have many playoff games under his belt, either - is that a coincidence? Or is it due to poor team management not putting the pieces around him for success?

Smarten up, he'd be the best Dman on Edmonton by FAR. You just paid Andrew Ference 2/3 of that, and he's not 2/3 the defenceman J-Bo is.

In case you missed that part of the article, J-Bo was on pace for 40 points and a great +/- in his 14 games with the blues, while playing 23 minutes a night on the top pairing.

If he puts up 35 points and a +25 rating next year, and I'd be willing to bet he will - this comment will look real ignorant.
- TommyDeVito

As much as I dislike the Flames there is a big difference between the Flames (average NHL team) versus the Oilers or Florida during Bo's tenure there.

Playing in front of Kipper probably saved Bo's ass more times than you can count... Literally by the sounds of it.

I would much prefer Ference @ 3.25 versus J-bo at 5.4.

For overall effectiveness I personally think Smids skill level, while completely different skills, is a decent comparable for J-bo. I know offensive D-man get more money than stay at homes but I would take Smid over J-bo any day of the week at their prices.

As an Oiler fan I hate talking about potential. I am sick of it. But I would also be very surprised if J. Shultz isn't head and shoulders better than J-bo within a year or 2.

If J-bo does get 35 points and is +25 that would hardly be my ignorance. Since the guy hasn't surpasses 29 points in over 5 years. That's what you call projecting from past experience. You don't pay someone that kinda cash for a good 14 game stint while playing with someone like Piet. Its like paying Seidenberg 5.4 mill to play with Chara.

It is impressive what a great coach and solid system can do for an average player tho.

Of course even if he does get 35 points at 5.4 mill that is hardly a bargain. You just got to hope he can live up to his contract.

We in Edmonton call this the Shawn Horcoff effect. :-( Not cool.

Jeremy Rutherford ‏@jprutherford 5m #stlblues have agreed to terms with Magnus Paajarvi on a two-year extension. Dollars not yet known.

Edit: $1.2 AAV for 2 years.

As much as I dislike the Flames there is a big difference between the Flames (average NHL team) versus the Oilers or Florida during Bo's tenure there.

Playing in front of Kipper probably saved Bo's ass more times than you can count... Literally by the sounds of it.

I would much prefer Ference @ 3.25 versus J-bo at 5.4.

For overall effectiveness I personally think Smids skill level, while completely different skills, is a decent comparable for J-bo. I know offensive D-man get more money than stay at homes but I would take Smid over J-bo any day of the week at their prices.

As an Oiler fan I hate talking about potential. I am sick of it. But I would also be very surprised if J. Shultz isn't head and shoulders better than J-bo within a year or 2.

If J-bo does get 35 points and is +25 that would hardly be my ignorance. Since the guy hasn't surpasses 29 points in over 5 years. That's what you call projecting from past experience. You don't pay someone that kinda cash for a good 14 game stint while playing with someone like Piet. Its like paying Seidenberg 5.4 mill to play with Chara.

It is impressive what a great coach and solid system can do for an average player tho.

Of course even if he does get 35 points at 5.4 mill that is hardly a bargain. You just got to hope he can live up to his contract.

We in Edmonton call this the Shawn Horcoff effect. :-( Not cool.
- Aerchon

Nonsense, utter nonsense.

J Schultz has shown nothing at the NHL level to indicate he'll be better than anyone.

Saying you'd rather have Smid than J-Bo for an extra 1.5 mill is
absurd, Bouwmeester brings so much more than Smid to the table it's not funny, Jay-Bo makes for an excellent #2, Smid is a solid #4.

Seidenberg WAS paid 5 mill + in Florida and for his first bit in Boston, and took a pay cut to stay with the team over other offers because he saw an opportunity to win cups. He is currently underpaid.

35 points and a +25 for 5.4 mill isn't a bargain? Now you're really coming off as uneducated, although I suppose it can be forgiven since the oilers haven't had a defenceman worth more than 2 mill since Pronger bailed.

Here's a list of defencemen who scored around 35 points last full 82 game season, and their salary:

Duncan Keith - 40 pts - 5.8 million per
Matt Carle - 38 pts - 5.5 million per
Brent Burns - 38 pts - 5.7 million per
Sergei Gonchar - 37 pts - 5 million per
Drew doughty - 36 pts - 7 million per
Dan Hamhuis - 37 pts - 4.5 million per
Brent Seabrook - 34 pts - 5.5 million per
Jay Bouwmeester - 5.4 million per
Tobias Enstrom - 33 pts - 5.7 million
John Carlson - 32 pts - 4 million per
Jason Garrison - 33 pts - 4.6 million per

Does that look out of place? No, it looks like smack dab where a producer of that caliber should be. Jay-Bo is still a high end defenceman, and it will be a lot more obvious now that he's out of the poorly managed, worse coached poophole that has been the Calgary Flames the last 5 years.

Nonsense, utter nonsense.

J Schultz has shown nothing at the NHL level to indicate he'll be better than anyone.

Saying you'd rather have Smid than J-Bo for an extra 1.5 mill is
absurd, Bouwmeester brings so much more than Smid to the table it's not funny, Jay-Bo makes for an excellent #2, Smid is a solid #4.

Seidenberg WAS paid 5 mill + in Florida and for his first bit in Boston, and took a pay cut to stay with the team over other offers because he saw an opportunity to win cups. He is currently underpaid.

35 points and a +25 for 5.4 mill isn't a bargain? Now you're really coming off as uneducated, although I suppose it can be forgiven since the oilers haven't had a defenceman worth more than 2 mill since Pronger bailed.

Here's a list of defencemen who scored around 35 points last full 82 game season, and their salary:

Duncan Keith - 40 pts - 5.8 million per
Matt Carle - 38 pts - 5.5 million per
Brent Burns - 38 pts - 5.7 million per
Sergei Gonchar - 37 pts - 5 million per
Drew doughty - 36 pts - 7 million per
Dan Hamhuis - 37 pts - 4.5 million per
Brent Seabrook - 34 pts - 5.5 million per
Jay Bouwmeester - 5.4 million per
Tobias Enstrom - 33 pts - 5.7 million
John Carlson - 32 pts - 4 million per
Jason Garrison - 33 pts - 4.6 million per

Does that look out of place? No, it looks like smack dab where a producer of that caliber should be. Jay-Bo is still a high end defenceman, and it will be a lot more obvious now that he's out of the poorly managed, worse coached poophole that has been the Calgary Flames the last 5 years.
- TommyDeVito

Nonsense, utter nonsense.

J Schultz has shown nothing at the NHL level to indicate he'll be better than anyone.

Saying you'd rather have Smid than J-Bo for an extra 1.5 mill is
absurd, Bouwmeester brings so much more than Smid to the table it's not funny, Jay-Bo makes for an excellent #2, Smid is a solid #4.

Seidenberg WAS paid 5 mill + in Florida and for his first bit in Boston, and took a pay cut to stay with the team over other offers because he saw an opportunity to win cups. He is currently underpaid.

35 points and a +25 for 5.4 mill isn't a bargain? Now you're really coming off as uneducated, although I suppose it can be forgiven since the oilers haven't had a defenceman worth more than 2 mill since Pronger bailed.

Here's a list of defencemen who scored around 35 points last full 82 game season, and their salary:

Duncan Keith - 40 pts - 5.8 million per
Matt Carle - 38 pts - 5.5 million per
Brent Burns - 38 pts - 5.7 million per
Sergei Gonchar - 37 pts - 5 million per
Drew doughty - 36 pts - 7 million per
Dan Hamhuis - 37 pts - 4.5 million per
Brent Seabrook - 34 pts - 5.5 million per
Jay Bouwmeester - 5.4 million per
Tobias Enstrom - 33 pts - 5.7 million
John Carlson - 32 pts - 4 million per
Jason Garrison - 33 pts - 4.6 million per

Does that look out of place? No, it looks like smack dab where a producer of that caliber should be. Jay-Bo is still a high end defenceman, and it will be a lot more obvious now that he's out of the poorly managed, worse coached poophole that has been the Calgary Flames the last 5 years.
- TommyDeVito

Ummm. You are just really bad at math aren't you?

J. Shultz got 8 goals and 27 points last year. That projects to 14 goals and 46 points in his rookie year. J-bo got only 22 points last year... and I will repeat in the last FIVE years he has not gotten over 29 points period. Shultz almost got that in 48 games!!! You can argue J-bo projects to get 37 points last year (his contract year) but I think that's quibbling.

1.5 mill is a lot. Comparing Smid to J-bo is very much apples to oranges. Smid is much better defensively, you are out to lunch if you think otherwise, but obviously much worse offensively.

Siedenberg is practically invisible when Chara is playing. He is a good defenseman but the guy has only cracked 30 points barely a couple times in his career. I don't think he is underpaid except in comparison to someone like J-bo.

35 points and +25 playing with Piet on the St. Louis Blues one of the best teams in the western conference @ 5.4 mill... You do realize the cap went down this year right?

That list... your math... I don't have the time to tell you how wrong you are. You basically posted a list of why J-bo should never get 5.4 period let alone in a year when the salary cap went down. All those D-men @ 5 or lower are better than J-bo and I know Carlson and Garrison were considered to be overpaid when they signed those contracts. All the ones higher you shouldn't be mentioning J-bo's name in the same sentence.

I wont be checking this thread again.

If your a blues fan and he has played great for you for 14 games and your confident he will play great for you over the next 5 years, more power to you. I've only seen him play in Calgary. Poorly coached or not he is not worth 5.4 from what i've seen and what his numbers were.

Good luck. I hope he isn't one of those play hard for his contract year types.

Ummm. You are just really bad at math aren't you?

J. Shultz got 8 goals and 27 points last year. That projects to 14 goals and 46 points in his rookie year. J-bo got only 22 points last year... and I will repeat in the last FIVE years he has not gotten over 29 points period. Shultz almost got that in 48 games!!! You can argue J-bo projects to get 37 points last year (his contract year) but I think that's quibbling.

1.5 mill is a lot. Comparing Smid to J-bo is very much apples to oranges. Smid is much better defensively, you are out to lunch if you think otherwise, but obviously much worse offensively.

Siedenberg is practically invisible when Chara is playing. He is a good defenseman but the guy has only cracked 30 points barely a couple times in his career. I don't think he is underpaid except in comparison to someone like J-bo.

35 points and +25 playing with Piet on the St. Louis Blues one of the best teams in the western conference @ 5.4 mill... You do realize the cap went down this year right?

That list... your math... I don't have the time to tell you how wrong you are. You basically posted a list of why J-bo should never get 5.4 period let alone in a year when the salary cap went down. All those D-men @ 5 or lower are better than J-bo and I know Carlson and Garrison were considered to be overpaid when they signed those contracts. All the ones higher you shouldn't be mentioning J-bo's name in the same sentence.

I wont be checking this thread again.

If your a blues fan and he has played great for you for 14 games and your confident he will play great for you over the next 5 years, more power to you. I've only seen him play in Calgary. Poorly coached or not he is not worth 5.4 from what i've seen and what his numbers were.

Good luck. I hope he isn't one of those play hard for his contract year types.
- Aerchon

Thank god, it's exhausting trying to explain good players and good team building to an Oilers fan.