Sign Rene Bourque. Now.
by Kent Wilson on Dec 1, 2009 3:16 PM PST
29 comments
Darryl Sutter isn't going to have a lot of decisions to make next summer. Almost all of his blueline is locked up long term and most of the forward free agents are guys like McGrattan Lundmark, Nystrom and Conroy - depth players that could be re-signed or replaced without too much fuss. Oh...and Olli Jokinen. Recent improvement notwithstanding, I think that particular decision won't be a difficult one.
The lone exception, however, may be Rene Bourque. I opined during the summer that Bourque may be in line for a step backwards this season, if only because the the hockey gods were kind to him last year and he led the team in terms of on-ice SH% and SV%. Well, he regressed to the mean in that regard (at least in terms of SV%) but it hasn't mattered: despite a tough assignment, most of Bourques counting and advanced stats are good-to-excellent. He was the best forward on the team in October when Jokinen and Iginla were playing like someone had slept with their wives and kept calling them before every game to remind them of it.
No, in direct defiance of my prognostications, Bourque has taken a very real step forward this season and is now, in my never humble estimation, a driver of results and one of the key members of the Flames forward group. He's also just 28 years old and thus right in the meaty part of the typical NHLers development curve. The only potential complaint one might have of Bourque is his injury-prone-ness, but that's a fairly minor quibble. A guy who can skate, hit, win board battles, move the puck north, play against the big boys and do some damage on both special teams probably deserves a 10 games off a season even if his leg/arm/back/face isn't hurting, right?
The reasons to re-sign Bourque are glaring and not really subject to argument at this point. The reason to sign him as soon as possible is probably equally as obvious: he gets incrementally more expensive with every successive good game he plays. If Bourque finishes anywhere near the 79 point pace he's currently on, he'll hold the hammer in negotiations come July.
You scooped a keeper from Chicago, Darryl. Well done. Now let's get his name on a decent value contract as soon as possible.
0 recs |
29 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Yeah
Thats not happening. Even now, I think he commands at least 3 mil a year. And if he gets to July unsigned? Expect around 5 mil on an offer sheet. A couple teams desperate for talent up front (see:Toronto) would pay through the nose for him.
by Justin Azevedo on Dec 1, 2009 4:09 PM PST up reply actions
I kinda figured more in the 4M dollar range. Close but not quite as much as Langkow which I think is a fair value. But yes Rene Bourque should be signed to an extension ASAP. Doubly so now that Savard is off the market.
Speaking of which, I’m not altogether convinced that Jokinen won’t be re-signed. I have a feeling that the price tag for Marleau is going to go way up and the price tag for Kovulchuk starts at “too expensive”. After that who’s left that isn’t in the twilight of their career other then Jokinen? And no, I don’t think Boyd can adequately fill that role, nor do I think that Backlund will be ready.
You bring up a good point re: free agents. The quality forwards eligible for UFA status next summer are a pretty slim crew, and centers are going to be a scarce commodity. Here’s the list via Cap Geek. Jokinen might end up being the best of a poor selection. That doesn’t preclude a trade for a player under contract, but if the Flames are looking for a top-flight center, that almost certainly means Phaneuf is going the other way, and filling the hole on defence via other means.
by Robert Cleave on Dec 1, 2009 6:26 PM PST up reply actions
This brings up a potential paradox for the Flames too: shallow UFA pools tend to inflate the lucky few quality options that are available. Thus: if Jokinen turns things around this year, he’llbe in demand come July, driving up his price likely beyond an economical amount. On the other hand, if he falls back into being terrible, he probably becomes more affordable, but it decreases the need or wish for the Flames to sign him AND further reduces the amount of quality options in the pool (further driving up their prices).
My opinion on Jokinen may change depending on how the rest of the season goes. However, based on the first quarter, I don’t think he’d be re-signed for any amount of money. Next year, Marleau is a free agent, but so is Whitney, Frolov, Hejduk, Stempniak, Kariya and Ponikarovsky…so there’s some options for sure.
Hejduk was extended for 10/11at 3 million, but I take your point. Tanguay and Colby Armstrong are UFA as well. Being honest, the only guys I’d want other than Marleau or Kovalchuk are my two, Frolov and Poni. Maybe Plekanec, but he could be pricey as well, and I’m not really a fan. I don’t want the Flames chasing a bunch of 30-somethings unless it’s a short-term deal. No Khabibulin-esque nonsense, please. Someone of Marleau’s (30) age is about as old as I’d want if there’s any sort of deal being handed out that lasts more than a year or two.
With Joker, like anyone else, it’s a matter of what he’ll sign for and how long. If he takes a haircut like Tanguay did for a short term deal, he might be back, because it would buy the Flames time. This really highlights the fact that the team has a group of centers in their 30s, and the next two best in-house options are in their early 20s. That’s quite a gap.
by Robert Cleave on Dec 1, 2009 6:51 PM PST up reply actions
Yeah the pick’ins will be pretty slim. With the Olympics and the short time for the trade deadline this year will make prudence a big thing.
As for Jokinen, it is fine for him to be re-signed but for half or no more than 3/4 of what he makes now IF he can produce in the 65-70 point range.
Where...someone someone....is greatly missed
What….no one is going to mention Matt Lombardi? He’s up for a new contract as well, although, I don’t want to see him come back.
I’m really thinking 4 Million with Jokinen not resigning unless we see a dramatic improvement to what he was like in FLA.
This will sure up some space that Sutter won’t have to hit a home run come July and sign a middle of the road player that will bring his all every night, like a Bourque but a little more prominent. Freaking Ruslan Fedatanko is making only 1.8 million this season also a Marek Svatos or Matt Stajan (Who will probably be traded at the deadline) are due to become free agents.
There is a lot out there and if there is the space I’m not sure why some of these guys couldn’t be Flames by 2010-11.
30 years of the NHL's Best Hockey, It got us through some tough times.
Oh, I dunno. I don’t think we can offer Bourque 4 million. I’m saying it’s too much. If I were Sutter I wouldn’t offer that kinda money for him. Remember, until today he is effectively a second line winger who has scored a career high 21 goals and 40 pts. He is also yet to play a full season, so he is somewhat injury prone. Lastly…he has 1 career playoff point in 5 games, was a -2 and had 22pm. These are the bargaining points.
Granted he is on pace for 70ish points this year, but that remains to be seen. I wouldn’t bet the bank on a guy shooting 14% forever.
With that said, I like Maimster’s number but I would think that are probably a touch low (which would be great for us)
I would assume a 3.25/year for 3 years and 2.95/year for 4 would be around the mark, provided he finishes the season with 60-75 points.
Combine that with the fact we have another year of having to re-sign Boyd, who is ever creeping toward the 1mil/year mark.
I’ll be interested to see what Bourque does with top line minutes, if he gets them, but perhaps he just stays were he is – with Lanks and Dawes – until we resign him.
Rene Bourque screams Calgary Flames and he’s the perfect player for us so the more I think about it I don’t think he can warrant 4 Mil per season just because he hasn’t done this on a consistent basis.
If he would have stayed healthy last season and hit the 30 Goal mark like he was on pace for and would have stayed healthy again this season then I believe 4 Million could be his but until he can show that he can be a healthy player all season, somewhere around 2-3 Mil per season is just as grand for a player like Bourque.
30 years of the NHL's Best Hockey, It got us through some tough times.
Your points are well taken – the Flames have some leverage in negotiations. For now. However, it won’t be an arbitration hearing in July that will drive Bourque’s price point – it will be what other clubs are willing to offer him. If he finishes the year with 70+ points while playing tough minutes, other GM’s will take notice. In a year of relatively few quality UFA options, that will likely drive his price up.
Incidentially, Sportak says that Lundmark is back in Abby and Bourque was practicing with Jokinen & Iginla today. Yay!
Good to hear. The other piece of news is that Sarich is still on the shelf. I had a brief peek at the Herald’s live chat, and I noticed John Down asking if this is Sarich’s last year in Calgary. Good question.
by Robert Cleave on Dec 2, 2009 3:11 PM PST up reply actions
Not much doubt in my mind.
No offense to Cory Sarich, whose a damn fine defenseman, but his skillset (Large, Physical, Stay-at-home d-man) isn’t particularily rare and the Flames practically have a younger clone of him honing his game in the AHL right down to the side of his shot. That’s about 2.8M worth of Cap Space (AKA Rene Bourques upcoming raise). If Sarich isn’t gone by the deadline I’d be willing to bet that he’ll be gone by Draft day.
That’s Pelech you’re referring to? If we deal Sarich (and I’m thinking we are gonna have to sweeten that deal with a + ______) and keep Kronwall and Johnson around, I would be happy with seeing Pelech move into a battle for the 7th defender spot next year. If Cory goes, I would like to see it in the off-season, unless we are desperate for a forward. Injured defenseman seems to be a theme for the Flames in the playoffs.
Rene
is the new heart of our flames, 2 yrs he has shown he can do it , Lets hope his health won’t hold him back , HE IS AND CAN BE THE NEW CAPITAIN CALGARY !!!
The fact you are recognizing you underestimated him makes me feel good.
After all I am not crazy in my assesments considering I was pointing out to you earlier this summer that I disagreed with you about Bourque’s potential this season.
in October when Jokinen and Iginla were playing like someone had slept with their wives and kept calling them before every game to remind them of it.
Funniest thing I’ve read in a long time. Couldn’t stop laughing.
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Northwest Standings
Flames Schedule
Next 5 Games
Vancouver
|
Tue 09/21 | 6:00 PM PDT |
|
@
Vancouver
|
Tue 09/21 | 7:00 PM PDT |
|
Tampa Bay
|
Sat 09/25 | 6:00 PM PDT |
|
Phoenix
|
Tue 09/28 | 6:00 PM PDT |
|
@
New York Islanders
|
Wed 09/29 | 5:00 PM PDT |
Last 5 Games
|
@
Vancouver
|
Sat 04/10 | L 3 - 7 |
|
Minnesota
|
Thu 04/08 | SO - L 1 - 2 |
|
San Jose
|
Tue 04/06 | L 1 - 2 |
|
@
Chicago
|
Sun 04/04 | L 1 - 4 |
|
@
Colorado
|
Fri 04/02 | W 2 - 1 |
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- In which former NHL coach Ken Hitchcock foils a shoplifter
- Montreal's Price talks new 2-year contract, expectations post-Halak
- Donald Fehr aware of Kovalchuk drama, mum on everything else
- Puck Headlines: Savard's agent rants on Bettman; Halak in Montreal
- Boudreau, Crawford placed on the coaching hot seat
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
