Bouwmeester was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the first round of the 2002 NHL draft and was 3rd overall. The Blues traded for him last season, when he was a member of the Calgary Flames. To get him the Blues traded prospects Mark Cundari, Reto Berra, and a first round pick in the 2013 NHL draft. He currently owns the NHL's record for most consecutive games played and counting by a defenseman. Last season, he played in 47 games, fourteen of them as a Blue and thirty-three for the Flames. He scored 7 goals (one came with the Blues), 15 assists (six came with the Blues), and 22 points (seven came with the Blues). He also played in all of the Blues six postseason games, and has one assist. That was his first time he reached the playoffs in his career.
Jay Bouwmeester's career stats so far are: 764 games played, 72 goals, 235 assists, 307 points, and is a minus 60. The minus 60 is dropping, due to Bouwmeester playing better hockey. I think lots of that is because he was counted on a lot on the Panthers, who aren't that great of a team. It can also take players awhile to develop; not all of them become the player they are said to be on the team who they are drafted by. And then sometimes others fail to live up to expectations after they are drafted.
I'm glad that the Blues were able to get Bouwmeester signed to a long-term deal. Even though he likes St. Louis a lot, there's no way of knowing if his price may have been higher during preseason or the regular season. The Blues current ownership kind of reminds me of the way Bill Laurie's ownership group spent money, except this group seems to be better at working contracts out. They aren't afraid to spend money when it needs to be spent. And they seem to spend money the right way.
All the Blues need to do now is get defenseman Alex Pietrangelo under contract, along with forward Magnus Paajarvi. Paajarvi shouldn't cost much once he signs.
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