The Flames have played a part in the Panthers’ success for the past four seasons. On Apr. 12, 2021, the Flames sent Sam Bennett and a 2022 sixth to the Panthers for Emil Heineman and a 2022 second. Just over a year later, they sent Matthew Tkachuk and a 2025 fourth to the Panthers for Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt, and a 2025 first.

Of the two trades, the Tkachuk one looks to be better for the Flames. That 2025 first was used to select Cullen Potter, while the Flames traded Weegar to the Utah Mammoth for three 2026 seconds, Oli Määttä, and prospect Jonathan Castagna.

The Bennett trade worked out well for the Panthers, as he won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2025. On the other hand, the Flames flipped the pick for Calle Järnkrok and then traded Heineman and a few other assets for Tyler Toffoli, who eventually turned into Yegor Sharangovich and Aydar Suniev.

Both trades are notable ongoing trade trees, joining the Sven Bärtschi trade tree and the Curtis Glencross trade tree. You could say that the Flames lost both trades with the Panthers, but the same thing cannot be said about the Jay Bouwmeester trade nearly 17 years ago.

Jay Bouwmeester trade

Bouwmeester was drafted third overall by the Panthers after they traded down from the first overall pick. From all accounts, it sounds like Bouwmeester was their number one target, while the Columbus Blue Jackets drafted Rick Nash first overall in that draft.

The left-shot defenceman made his debut in the autumn of 2002, scoring four goals and 16 points in his rookie season. In 21 fewer games, he scored a then-career-best 20 points in 2003-04, but had his entire 2004-05 season wiped out due to the lockout, spending it in the American Hockey League.

The Edmonton, Alberta native broke out at the resumption of the league, scoring five goals and a career-best 46 points in 2005-06. He finished with 12 goals and 42 points in 2006-07, then scored 15 goals in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 season. However, the Panthers and Bouwmeester couldn’t agree on an extension, with the Panthers trading him to the Flames on Jun. 27, 2009.

Set to become an unrestricted free agent just a few days later, the Panthers got pennies on the dollar for the left-shot defenceman, acquiring Jordan Leopold and a 2009 third (Josh Birkholz) for the defenceman.

Bouwmeester signed a five-year deal with the Flames a few days later. He never reached the heights he did with the Panthers, but he was still a productive defenceman in his Flames tenure. In 2009-10, he scored three goals and 29 points, then followed that up with four goals and 24 points in 2010-11. His final full season was in 2011-12, where he scored five goals and 29 points in 82 games.

With the Flames out of the playoffs during the lockout year in 2012-13, they traded Bouwmeester to the St. Louis Blues for Reto Berra, Mark Cundari, and a 2013 first. At the time, he had six goals and 15 points in 33 games, finishing the season with a goal and seven points in 14 games with the Blues.

He got his first taste of playoff action that year, but only played six games, which was the same case in the following two seasons. Bouwmeester’s best season in Missouri came in 2013-14, as he scored four goals and 37 points in 82 games, the final time he reached the 20-point mark.

However, the Blues had a lengthy playoff run in 2015-16, then went on to win the whole darn thing in 2018-19, as Bouwmeester picked up seven assists in 26 playoff games in one of the best Cinderella runs you’ll ever see in sports. Unfortunately, Bouwmeester’s career came to an end after a scary cardiac arrest incident during a game against the Anaheim Ducks on Feb. 11, 2020. Thankfully, he survived and retired less than a year later.

Bouwmeester’s tenure as a Flame was short, playing just four seasons with the team where he scored 18 goals and 97 points in 279 games. The assets the Flames got back in the trade didn’t amount to much, as Berra was the most notable of the bunch, playing 76 NHL games, 29 of which came with the Flames.

Still, the initial trade with the Panthers happened to be a win for the Flames.

Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

Sponsored by bet365:

Editorials

Recent articles from Ryley Delaney

Flashback Friday: Looking at the Jay Bouwmeester trade with the Panthers

What’s Going On In the Pacific Division: Sharks, Kraken, and Kings are all in the wild card hunt

Flames prospect roundup: Trevor Hoskin scores overtime winner in Hockey East quarterfinals

Jay Bouwmeester trade

Recent articles from Ryley Delaney

Breaking News