Jay Happy to be a Flame!

Hope this photo doesn’t scare you! Seems that everytime I see this photo I feel like I’m watching the twilight zone (showing my age?).

This photo was taken shortly after the departed Jay Bouwmeester became official property of the Calgary Flames this summer. As we all know Jay was never going to sign a long term deal here in Florida. A circus that went on for over two years as there was never an indication that he was committed to this team. Jay was concerned about the direction of the club, whether they could produce a winner, wanted the management carousel to stop and was looking to make the playoffs. He never felt that it would happen in Florida and while JM the GM thought he could convince Jay to stay, it didn’t happen.

I think anyone who was a serious observer of the situation here in Floriuda could see that for all the money Jay was being offered over the last two years, and by him not signing any of those deals, we knew that he would leave either by trade or via free agency. The biggest fear that the organization had was losing him for nothing if he couldn’t be signed. So Jay was traded shortly before the start of free agency this summer to the Calgary Flames for defenseman Jordan Leopold and a third round draft pick.  

Sorry, but  Leopold is a decent defenseman, but no where near the player that Jay is, and I’m not that big a fan of Jay either.  I do think he is slightlyoverrated.  The other thing about the trade is that the Panthers did not solve their biggest need, a true first line center!

Jay signed a 5 year 33 million dollar deal this summer with Calgary, adding him to an already strong defensive corps with Dion Phanuef and Robyn Regher.  Jay could really flourish there.  We really might see what type of player he really is, as here in Florida he was almost expected to carry the team.  However, I don’t think he made the team better, or anyone around him better either.  Maybe his talent was just too far above everyone else’s.  Or maybe there was just so much hype around him that most observer’s couldn’t see the flaws.

Now that he’s in Calgary an area that Jay is familiar with and was rumored to be heading to for a couple years, Jay can be in the real atmosphere of a hockey town as he puts it.  Media, fans, and everything that goes along with it. He made the following two quotes yesterday (I summarize):

            “I was looking for a place to play where hockey was more of a focus”.

            “In Florida it’s sometimes a battle to get people out to the games, and it’s something that’s not really natural    down there”.

Jay, all I can say is be careful what you wish for.  You may regret saying those words.

Thanks for reading!