Flames Acquire Bouwmeester from Panthers

The Calgary Flames made a huge splash on the second day of the 2009 Entry Draft by acquiring defenseman Jay Bouwmeester from the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenseman Jordan Leopold and Calgary's 3rd round pick in the 2009 draft. The Panthers used the pick to select right wing Josh Birkholz. The trade comes after months of speculation over whether the Panthers would trade Bouwmeester's rights before he became an unrestricted free agent an July 1. The Flames were one of several teams interested in acquiring negotiating rights to the 25-year-old defenseman. Philadelphia, Edmonton, and Toronto were other teams believed interested in acquiring him. The Panthers had hoped to re-sign Bouwmeester before free agency began on July 1, but as time went on, it became less apparent he would be back with the team. Contract negotiations with the team and Bouwmeester had become strained the past few years as the team failed to improve in the standings. In all 82 games last season with the Panthers, Bouwmeester scored 15 goals and 27 assists for 42 points. Leopold split last season with the Colorado Avalanche and Calgary Flames, appearing in 83 games, scoring seven goals and 17 assists for 24 points. The Flames are expected to make a multi-year offer to Bouwmeester before he becomes a free agent on July 1. If the Flames sign him, it gives them a very talented offensive defenseman with good skills on the power play. He would also give the Flames a second top-two defenseman to play alongside Dion Phaneuf. However, the acquisition of Bouwmeester has led to some baseless speculation that the Flames are going to trade Phaneuf to Ottawa for Dany Heatley, which I DO NOT see happening. No word if the Panthers intend on signing Leopold, but if they do, it gives them an offensive defenseman to replace Bouwmeester, but not of the same caliber. Leopold would also give the Panthers some veteran experience to their blueline. However, if Florida does sign him, they would be wise to make it a short-term contract, as Leopold has become extremely susceptible to injury the past few years.