Stars' Alexander Radulov and Blues' Jay Bouwmeester go after a puck in front of goalie Jake Allen during the Jan. 8 game at Enterprise Center. Photo by J.B. Forbes, jforbes@post-dispatch.com
QUESTION: What happens to Bouwmeester after this season: He retires, or signs a 1 year contract?
TOM T.: I suppose he could retire, but the way he's been playing, I think he probably feels he has some seasons still ahead of him. With the young D the Blues have coming up, I don't see space for him in St. Louis, and if he took a one-year contract, it would also come with a big pay cut. He's more likely to get a bigger salary than the Blues would offer, both in terms of years and dollars, somewhere else. Re-sign Bouwmeester and with five other D coming back, it makes it tough to play up-and-comers Reinke or Walman or Mikkola.
