Briere for Bouwmeester, straight up?

by Travis Hughes on Mar 3, 2009 1:53 PM EST in Rumors

So here it is: J-Bo to Philadelphia for Daniel Briere. It’s win-win, I tells ya. Florida is ranked 17th in the NHL in goals-for and Briere gives them a No. 1 center (Nathan Horton has never scored more than 62 points in a season – that’s not No. 1 center production). On the defensive side, the Panthers will naturally have to reconcile the Nick Boynton situation, but assuming they do, the uptick in offense will counterbalance the loss on defense (and hey, that’s a pretty good return for a UFA).

For Philly fans, the math is simple: Briere’s contract is a millstone around the franchise’s neck ($6.5 million for the next six seasons after this campaign) and the team seemed to do fine when he was on the shelf with injuries. Most teams would kill for the depth the Flyers have at center and I think the Black and Orange will do just fine with Mike Richards and Jeff Carter down the middle, don’t you?

Briere’s contract does include a no-trade clause, but that hasn’t stopped teams from moving players in similar situations in the past.

In exchange, the Flyers pick up a No. 1 defenseman in Bouwmeester, which effectively primes them for a run at the Stanley Cup, assuming Martin Biron has some leftover playoff magic from last season.

>> Ryan Kennedy, The Hockey News

We've all complained about Danny's return -- how we've been fine without him, how he's hurting chemistry by returning, how worthy players are out of the lineup because of him, how he is a drain on the salary cap -- but would you really pull the trigger on a deal for him?

Mr. Kennedy makes a great case for this trade. My beef with the whole Bouwmeester thing has been that I didn't want to see our offensive depth go or one of Carle and Coburn go in the trade. Trading Briere for J-Bo, straight up, achieves that.

For me, it comes down to this. I love this deal. I think it's excellent, and it seriously solves our cap problem. BUT, I wouldn't do it if we're not guaranteed to sign Bouwmeester. I don't want a rental player, no matter who it is.

And how much would we be adding if we did sign Bouwmeester to a long-term contract? I'm sure it wouldn't be at Briere's level, but it definitely could strap the cap situation down again.

Would you do this trade?

hat tip to Litter Box Cats on the original story

Poll

Would you trade Briere for Bouwmeester, straight up?

Yes

282 votes

No

60 votes

342 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Ugh.

Biased answer – no.

Let's go Flyers!

by OrangeAndBlackk on Mar 3, 2009 2:19 PM EST reply actions

its the perfect trade for us however it wont happen. briere has a no trade clause and florida wants nothing to do with an oft-injured forward who has an inflated contract.

by njh3293 on Mar 3, 2009 2:28 PM EST reply actions

Yeah, I don’t make this trade. I know a lot of people are down on Briere and don’t think much of him because of his lack of defensive skills…but he is a proven playoff commodity (most goals since the lockout for any active player in the NHL playoffs) and well, Bouwmeester is not. Other than Biron, the only remaining player on our roster who was a playoff hero from last season is Danny. Umberger is gone.

What’s the point if you get to the playoffs and then can’t win anything? Then you’re just the Flyers of decades past. John LeClair was always great in the regular season but then seemed to sort of disappear in the postseason.

by doubleh on Mar 3, 2009 2:30 PM EST reply actions

I don’t think Florida would want any part of that contract.

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by Cory Lavalette on Mar 3, 2009 2:55 PM EST reply actions

I just hate the precedent it sets to sign a free agent to a big contract and then dump him if he gets injured. How many more big names will want to come here in the future? Also I’ve never thought much of Bouwmeester- a minutes monster, but definitely overrated offensive skills, and I mean, Florida has been letting go massive amounts of shots per game for years, and he’s certainly a part of that.

So, would I trade Danny for Bouwmeester straight up? Yes. In a heartbeat. I’d much rather have Kaberle or Pronger, but Bouwmeester’ll do.

by eeeeee on Mar 3, 2009 3:24 PM EST reply actions

I really don’t think we have any big holes on the blue line that need filling. If we win convincingly in Boston and Danny contributes, I say keep him. If not, why not. I’m really that short-sighted.

Swing by The Flyer Frequent if you have nothing better to do.

by Ben Rothenberg on Mar 3, 2009 3:51 PM EST reply actions