Bouwmeester Exits Naked, Soapy
Panthers have a decent draft as JayBo is finally traded -- while in the shower
By JANIE CAMPBELL
Updated 11:05 AM EST, Mon, Jun 29, 2009
.jpg "MONTREAL - JANUARY 23: Jay Bouwmeester poses for a portrait during the 2009 NHL Live Western/Eastern Conference All-Stars Media Availability at the Queen Elizabeth Fairmont Hotel on January 23, 2009")
A cat in a hot tin tub was dealt to Calgary on Saturday, when the Panthers received an offer for impending free agent Jay Bouwmeester while the star defenseman was in the shower.
After hopping out and drying off, JayBo noticed a lot of missed calls. "Four-oh-three area code -- I know where that's from," he said later. "It was Darryl [Sutter, Calgary's GM]."
Unable to unload him during the first two rounds of the NHL draft on Friday, the Panthers pounced on Calgary's offer -- and got a third round pick and a replacement free agent Flame, Jordan Leopold, out of the deal.
That he should be in the shower when the career-altering deal went down is probably the most excitement Bouwmeester's had lately while he intentionally and quietly recedes into free agency -- and South Florida's rear-view mirror. And, really, who can blame him?
"There's been a lot of change," he said, noting he'd stayed through six seasons at Florida. "A lot of turnover, from players to coaches and management. It just kind of got to the point that I thought a change would probably be the best thing."
That's fair enough, and the Panthers are already looking to the future. What may be their next big thing was acquired with pick no. 14, when they selected 18-year-old Russian defenseman Dmitry Kulikov. Kulikov, a particular favorite of Florida's direct of amatuer scouting Scott Luce, is still adjusting to the North American game -- but he's expected to challenge for a roster spot in the upcoming training camp.
"He's mature beyond his years, a very worldly young man,'' said Luce. ''His adjustment to North America was very quick and that speaks to his character. This guy can rush the puck, run the power play and is good defensively...Pete DeBoer is going to be pleasantly surprised in what we have packaged here for him in training camp."
The Panthers went offensive with their second through sixth round picks, choosing US developmental team center Drew Shore; with Calgary's third pick, winger Josh Birkholz; left winger Garrett Wilson; center Corban Knight; center Wade Megan; and center Scott Timmons.
As for Bouwmeester, the Flames are a good fit should they sign him -- even more so than rumored suitor Philadelphia, where mild-mannered -- and clean -- doesn't necessarily work for anyone.
Janie Campbell is pretty sure that by Saturday morning, Calgary could have acquired JayBo with a chicken biscuit. Her work has appeared in irreverent sports sites around the Internet.
Copyright NBC Local Media
First Published: Jun 27, 2009 11:28 AM EST
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