Panthers' Bouwmeester awarded $4.35M in arbitration

TORONTO -- Florida Panthers defenseman Jay Bouwmeester was awarded a two-year, $4.35 million deal by an arbitrator Wednesday.

Bouwmeester scored five goals with 41 assists in 82 games last year for the Panthers, when he earned $945,630.

He'll more than double that in each of the next two seasons -- he's slated to make $2.1 million in 2006-07 and $2.25 million in 2007-08.

Florida has 48 hours after their final arbitration case is settled Aug. 4 to accept the deal. If the Panthers don't, Bouwmeester would become a free agent.

The Edmonton native was the third overall pick in the 2002 draft and was fifth on the Panthers in scoring last season.