In a rare bout of candor, a GM has come forward with a a price-list for a player at the deadline. That GM is Jacques Martin and the player is Jay Bouwmeester:
''I think the priority for us right now is to improve our club, to make the playoffs this year and I don't want to disturb that,'' Martin said during a conference call Monday.
So interested teams shouldn't call the Panthers with a package of picks and prospects. Florida wants roster players who can help it make the playoffs for the first time since the 1999-2000 season, get some home playoff games then boost next year's season-ticket sales.
Martin has declared he would like to upgrade the Panthers' group of centers and add forward depth. Though the Panthers allow the most shots per game in the NHL (34.2 going into Tuesday) and Martin rarely meets a defensive forward he doesn't like, the Panthers also entered Tuesday's game in Boston with the sixth-fewest goals allowed per game and No. 7 penalty kill. What they want from any forward additions is more offense, especially as they would be giving up their best offensive defenseman in Bouwmeester.
I think this puts the Flames firmly in the running for Bouwmeester, even with the current spate of injuries. We all know that Sutter will want to get his hands on Bouwmeester. We also know the club has a log-jam at center (Langkow, Lombardi, Boyd, Primeau, Conroy, Lundmark and Backlund in the wings), which is where the Panthers are looking to improve. Does Lombardi+Sarich+pick/prospect get it done? And, more importantly, is it worth it? Im reading tea leaves here and not necessarily condoning one action over the other...
