According to Comcast Sportsnet hockey contributor John Boruk, sources close to Florida defenseman and soon to be unrestricted free agent Jay Bouwmeester, says he has a short list of teams he wants to sign with. And the Flyers are one of them.
“According to a league source, free-agent defenseman Jay Bouwmeester has a “wish list” of about six NHL teams he would like to sign with and the Flyers are on it. According to the source, Bouwmeester likes the Flyers from an “organizational standpoint” and considers them an “up-and-coming team.”
During his press conference earlier on Wednesday, Flyers’ General Manager Paul Holmgren spoke almost too candidly about the Bouwmeester situation, saying that he expects a team to trade with the Panthers for the rights to sign the 6’4 blue liner before the July 1 start to free agency.
25-year old Bouwmeester is likely to command around $6-7 million in free agency, meaning the Flyers would have to move a roster player of significant salary. The Flyers have been rumored to be shopping forward Danny Briere, who makes $6.5 against the cap.
Phila.Bright 