Time only thing on Panthers' side in Bouwmeester battle

Florida Panthers general manager Jacques Martin said it "was nice to have this behind us."

He meant that it was a relief to avoid Tuesday's scheduled arbitration hearing with defenseman Jay Bouwmeester.

Bouwmeester is just entering his prime at age 24. (US Presswire)

No surprise there. The one-year, $4.9 million deal Bouwmeester accepted a day earlier does ease some pressure on Martin as he tries to figure out what to do with a star player who has signaled that he wants out of Florida as soon as possible. In fact, the added time is about the only real tool the general manager has at his disposal to deal with the situation.

"It's a step in the right direction," Martin said. "We are pleased he is on board and we hope at some point during the season we can sign him to a long-term deal."

In theory, Martin has nearly a year before Bouwmeester becomes a much sought-after unrestricted free agent, although practically speaking, a deal to keep him would have to be done by February's trade deadline. But by settling without arbitration, Martin can at least start trying to sell the player on a longer contract immediately instead of being forced to wait until Jan. 1 to negotiate.

It won't be easy, but with the arbitration process being unpleasant by nature for players even if they win, there was no real advantage for the Panthers to get into it with Bouwmeester, particularly at a time when Florida is desperate to establish some credibility in its own market place and around the league. Keeping Bouwmeester on board at least temporarily and without the bad taste of arbitration in his mouth is critical to that effort.

Florida last saw the playoffs in the first round of 2000. Since then, the Panthers have had six coaches, five general managers and traded away franchise faces Roberto Luongo and Olli Jokinen in separate but equally questionable deals. They have gone with youth, veterans and a mix of the two at varying times, without any clear direction or formula to get close to the playoffs.

Meanwhile, two other division rivals have won Stanley Cups, and a third, the Washington Capitals, are teetering on the verge of greatness. It's been a process that has seen the Panthers almost fade completely off the local sports radar, while turning into a punch line around the league.

And that disarray is all Bouwmeester, who will be 25 when the season begins, has known in his NHL career. It is why his desire to get out is one of the worst kept secrets around the league.

After a high profile junior career in Canada, Bouwmeester was rated as the top pick for the 2002 draft, but went third because the Panthers traded down from No. 1 when they were assured they would get him with the lower choice. Bouwmeester was in Florida's NHL lineup that fall and by 2006 had established himself enough to gain a spot on Canada's Olympic team at Turin. He has evolved into one of the league's true elite young defenseman, a player who has yet to hit his prime and who many believe would develop into a legitimate Norris Trophy contender on a better team.

For now though, Bouwmeester remains an apparently frustrated low-key workhorse with big-time offensive talent. He was on the ice for a league-leading 27 minutes, 28 seconds per game last season, more than a minute more than anyone else and nearly two minutes longer than the third busiest player, while playing all of Florida's 82 games last season, the third time in a row he has done that since the lockout. And his scoring totals continued to increase as they have every year he's been in the NHL.

That kind of ability is a rarity in the league today and one reason the big money in this year's free-agent market was thrown at those who are in that mold.

As a restricted free agent, Bouwmeester might have been part of that mix this summer had anyone given him an offer sheet, but with the Panthers making sure everyone knew they would match, there were no bidders. So Bouwmeester made the most of his limited options, turning down several Florida offers of long-term contracts and filing for arbitration which, given the market comparables, effectively guaranteed he'd be compensated well for having to wait one more year before choosing his own destiny.

Bouwmeester and his agent, Bryan Baltimore, have not returned phone calls seeking comment on the new deal, but in essence they have done as well as they could have from an arbitrator without going through the hassle of a hearing. And they can still walk next summer when GMs will trip over themselves to get a shot at him.

Of course Florida will do everything it can to convince him to stay, not only because losing another star player won't sit well with those fans who still care, but because it will send a bad message to other players who might interest Florida as free agents down the line. But given Bouwmeester's approach, it would take a dramatic and unlikely turnaround on the ice to keep him from leaving Florida.

By avoiding arbitration though, Martin gained some leverage in making a trade because Bouwmeester is now under a reasonable contract for the season and his negotiating rights are available. But the GM should understand that rather than being behind him, the real problems are just beginning.

"You look at what each player brings and what the best options are for your club," Martin said. "We hope he is going to be with us for a long time, but this is something we'll have to deal with in due time."