The dismantling of the Calgary Flames continues, as they have traded their top defenceman, Jay Bouwmeester to the St. Louis Blues.
In return the Flames receive St. Louis’ 2013 First Round Pick, Defenceman Mark Cundari, and Goaltender Reto Barra.
However, if the Blues (currently in 9th in the Western Conference) miss the playoffs. The 2013 first rounder stays in St. Louis, and the Flames get the Blues 2013 4th rounder, and 2014 first rounder.
Bouwmeester has 6 goals and 15 points in 33 games for the Flames this season. He is a workhorse on defence and amongst the league leaders in minutes played. Bouwmeester adds a legitimate top pairing defenceman to the St. Louis roster, and rounds out a great young defence core.
Bouwmeester has never played an NHL playoff game in his 10 year career. His 750 regular season games with no playoff games is the most in NHL history.
Bouwmeester is signed for next season, with a cap hit of $6.68 million.
In Cundari, the Flames get a 22 year old defenceman playing for the Blues farm club in Peoria of the AHL. He was undrafted and signed with the Blues after finishing his junior career with the Windsor Spitfires. Just 5’9″ tall, Cundari is a puck moving defenceman who has 25 points in 56 games with Peoria this season.
Barra, 26, was the Blues 4th round pick in 2006. The goalie is currently playing in the Swiss Elite League.
Earlier, the Los Angeles Kings also added a former Calgary Flames defenceman, picking up Robyn Regher from the Buffalo Sabres for two 2nd round picks. Regher is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent on July 5th, 2013.
We also saw the Chicago Blackhawks pick up centre Michal Handzus from the Anaheim Ducks for a fourth round pick, and the Philadelphia Flyers traded Harry Zolnierczyk to the Anaheim Ducks for Jay Rosehill in what has been a busy day of trades just 48 hours before the NHL’s trade deadline.
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