Bouwmeester Rejects Multi-Year Deal From Panthers
All-Star Defenseman Will Go To Arbitration Later This Month
POSTED: Thursday, July 24, 2008
UPDATED: 4:22 pm EDT July 24,
2008
MIAMI -- Restricted free agent Jay Bouwmeester has reportedly turned down a multi-year contract offer from the Florida Panthers and will go forward with his arbitration hearing scheduled for July 29.
Several reports say the all-star defenseman turned down a deal worth more than $5 million per season.
Bouwmeester, 24, will now have the option of playing out his one-year deal with the Panthers before hitting unrestricted free agency next summer.