After a successful rookie season with Calgary Flames, Lance Bouma has earned himself a deal with the team worth $6.6 million over three years. Calgary is having a great offseason, as the team picked up some good pieces such as Dougie Hamilton, who came over in a trade with the Boston Bruins.
Look for the Flames to make major impact in the very tough western conference playoff race this season.
In his first season with Calgary, Bouma scored 16 goals and 18 assists while recording a plus-minus of +10 in 78 games played. His presence added good depth to the team while on a playoff run which happened to end in a second-round defeat to the Anaheim Ducks.
Bouma showed some good potential of a second or third line center last season. His strengths are great shooting and passing while he speeds down the ice. Bouma is a more-than-worthwhile all-around prospect to have. With time to grow into his role, Bouma should be able to healthily develop into that second-line center who can become a 20-plus goal scorer and a 20-plus assist maker.
Calgary made a smart move signing the 25 year-old to a somewhat long-term deal. A three year deal warrants both sides some security on a relatively cheap deal in terms of price. Once Bouma establishes himself as a worthy quality player, he will be able to demand a max deal for himself. If he can keep up with his strong production from last season, Bouma will be a steal at the price that Calgary agreed on with him.
On the personal side of things for Bouma, the center is getting a sturdy and lengthy contract with a very nice wad of cash coming his way. Now with a new-and-improved contract, Bouma must play like a player worth more than the $6.6 million dollars that the team is paying him.
The Flames have invested lots of faith (and money) into Bouma to become a 20-goal or maybe even a 30-goal scorer. He must perform to improve his reputation, value, and eventually earn himself that fat check that comes at the end of all the hard work.