Jay-Bo signs with Calgary
Jay Bouwmeester signed a five-year deal worth $33.4 million with the Flames, according to TSN. The former Panthers defenseman was on the top of my free-agent list and wound up signing for less than the seven-year deal for $50 million I suggested when playing GM for a Day.
He's a guy the Sabres really could have used. Flames GM Darryl Sutter deserves a high five for being proactive in trading for his rights and getting the deal done before free agency opens today. Bouwmeester took less than he would have received in the open market, in part because he was impressed with how the Flames went after him and also because he wanted to play near his native Edmonton.
If you're wondering why he signed a contract that was two years shorter and $500,000 a year less than what I suggested it would take to land him in Buffalo, it's because the Sabres would have been forced to pay more to get him here. The Sabres still have a recruiting problem after making a mess. It's why they say they're going the trade route, which will cost them assets rather than money.
--- Bucky Gleason
For top 10 players at their respective positions, like Jay-Bo, the Sabres would have to pay a little bit extra. That is the price you pay when you create a culture in which many players don't view your organization as a destination. Detroit is not a bustling metropolis, but it is a destination for players. Why? Because they are a team that wins. They are a team that will can attract star players and convince them to take lesser deals in terms of money and longer deals in terms of length. From the owner to the players, there is zero questions about their commitment to the Cup. What is Buffalo's commitment? Is it just to be competitive? Is it enough for them to make the playoffs and turn a profit?
Posted by: abdul | July 01, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Detroit has proven - stealing high priced "stars" (and Bouwmeester is not a star) is not the way to win Championships. Develop good talent, creating a culture for winning, and make sure your key players are signed long-term. July 2007 proved the Sabres need some work on that, but paying big bucks for big names just won't do it either.
Posted by: pgr88 | July 01, 2009 at 12:03 PM
As GM-for-a-day, Bucky's "inflation rate" is always way out of whack (to his credit, on par with the real GM's in hockey). But incrementing pay by $1M just because it's a round number is not reasonable. Moving a salary from $4M to $5M is not just going from the number 4 to the number 5. It's a 25% pay raise, which is a 25% cap hit. His most ridiculous play was to reward the expendable MacArthur with nearly 100% raise for a 7-game hot streak.
Posted by: bill | July 01, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Sedin's resign with Canucks. They have played a combined 15.7 years in the league and have 288 goals which averages 18 a year, for which they are being paid $6.1 per year each. Is that not crazy money?
Posted by: Soupy | July 01, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Greg that is a perfect observation ... one that is never talked about enough.
All things being equal, who picks Western NY? The only thing that will bring players here is winning. That's the only reason Darcy was able to sign Spacek (the only free agent we've brought in who isn't a backup goalie in recent years).
Now? Not so much. The Sabres are in a perfect Catch-22.
On one hand, you have a town former players speak highly of and are surprised at how much they enjoy it (see Rivet, Craig) and a passionate fan base that most would die to play for. The teams says it wants to make improvements. On the other hand, we have a miserly owner, a mediocre team and a "woe is me" attitude preventing us from building up the reputation as a "winner" or a team on the upswing.
In other words, we have a team doing everything in its power to keep players at arm's length while at the same time trying to tell fans that "we're trying to build a winner."
How exactly are they accomplishing that goal? I really wish I could be a fly on the wall in Quinn's office for the talks between him and Darcy. I can only imagine what the directives are.
Posted by: Beavis | July 01, 2009 at 11:29 AM
The Sabres have a recruiting problem because young men earning a lot of money don't want to move to Buffalo. Would you choose Buffalo over beautiful cities like Vancouver, New York or Montreal? Or play with some of the best players in the game and of the caliber that Buffalo has never had in Pittsburgh or Detroit? Didn't think so.
Posted by: Greg | July 01, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Bucky - You're an idiot. I signed with Calgary because I have a girlfriend and house there.
Posted by: Jay Bouwmeester | July 01, 2009 at 10:08 AM