OTHL NEWS AGENCY -- The Florida Panthers have a general manager know for not be gun shy when it comes to making big and sometimes bold trades. Today Jan Lapiolahti, also know as "Trigger" around the gm community, pulled the trigger of a major deal with the St Louis Blues.
The Panthers will send there top name on defense, the young Jay Bouwmeester to the Blues, along with Bobby Holik, Stephen Weiss, Mikael Samuelsson and the #7 pick in this years entry draft. Coming to sunny florida is defensive giant and Norris winner Chris Pronger, veteran center Mike Sillinger, Petr Nedved, young up and coming winger Michael Ryder and Jay McClement.
"Losing Nedved, Ryder and Pronger will hurt the team for this season but hopefully Weiss, Bouwmeester and the 7th overall pick in this year's draft will be able to take their place as the stars of the Saint-Louis Blues in the next few years." - Fred Younan the St Louis Blues general manager said, when he comment on the trade during today's press-conference.
The St Louis Blues working on getting under the $50 million dollar league salary cap, now shave off $4.853 million as they rid themselves of Prongers $9.5 million dollar salary, as well as Nedved's salary of $4.75 million dollars per year. However the team did add Bobby Holik and his $9 million dollar salary. But according to the Blues top man Fred Younan, the team is already trying to trade Holik and his salary.
"We doubt that Robert Holik will start the season in a Blue-and-Gold jersey, we are even ready to pay a part of his salary to trade him." - Younan said. He also admitted that as of right now, the interest for the big center is luke warm.
The Florida Panthers however have cap room to spare, and adding $4.853 million doesn't put the Panthers in any way near the current salary cap. And according to some sources they would not be surprised if GM Lapiolahti is already trying to move Petr Nedved and possible Mike Sillinger.
"He (Jan Lapiolahti) is probably already on the horn trying to move Nedved and Sillinger. And I doubt anyone would be surprised if Chris Pronger is also shopped around the league. He his not the guy that holds onto his player for to long." - The source claimed.
The two center pices in this trade is the 30 year old Chris Pronger, and the 21 year old Jay Bouwmeester.
In Chris Pronger (30) the Florida Panthers got a true top defender, and a captain, just the type of defender they where looking for when they drafted Jay Bouwmeester 3rd overall in 2002. Pronger looked on by many as one of the best defenders in the league, if not the best. With his 6'6, 225 lbs frame he can, and will move any forward entering his goalies crease. This while he also posses a offensive game that can help any team on the power play. And added to that is his leadership skills, he now leaves a big hole on the Blues blue line. A hole the Blues are hoping the 9 year younger Jay Bouwmeester will fill in a few years time.
Jay Bouwmeester a claimed by many to be a future Norris winner. At 6'4 and 210 pounds he has the size to play a physical game, just like Pronger. But Bouwmeester is playing a game more like the one by Niklas Lidström. Not overly physical, but gets the job done and will make it hard for any forward that comes close to the net. His biggest asset is his excellent skating. Jay Bouwmeester might be the best skater in the league, a asset he likes to use when he joins the rush.
"Its a win-win situation for both teams. The St Louis Blues got rid of some salary, got some very good young players and a high draft pick. They still have talent on the team, and could use Holik as a trading asset in a future trade." - Said a anonymous GM "Florida Panthers got some excellent guys to stick into the lineup now. They got one of the best players in the league, and they got some leadership. They also got some youngsters that will help soften the blow by trading Bouwmeester and Weiss. I like this trade for both teams."