It sounds like the same headline from the Iginla trade from what seems like ages ago. Jay Boumeester, and his 6.68 million dollar price tag, is headed to St Louis is exchange for a career minor league defenceman (some will say he’s a ‘prospect’), St Louis conditional 1st round 2013 pick, and an average Swiss goalie Reto Berra currently playing in the Swiss A division.
Why Feaster couldn’t be bothered to capture more for the Bouwmeester, who is arguably an elite puck moving defenceman can be attributed to two things: 1) Jay Feaster got hosed yet again; 2) the contract size is pretty big for any team to swallow.
Bouwmeester puts up big minutes and is having a solid season. The move will give the Flames about 14 million in additional cap space for next year (including Iginla). Not having any salary on the cap coming back for next year is certainly valuable. The 1st round pick from St Louis will turn into a 2014 pick if St Louis fails to make the playoffs.
Regarding the ‘prospects’ Calgary got in return, the Flames brass will sugar coat it all they can, but only time will tell what makes of these assets. Is Berra really the ‘best goalie in Europe’? That’s what the scouts say. That’s what they said about Cevenka.