The city of Winnipeg still undoubtedly has that Christmas morning feeling as they anticipate the start of the 2011-2012 season, but an early gift from old st. Cheveldayoff, General Manager of the Jets, has come in the nick of time. 21 year old Zach Bogosian, the 2008 3rd overall draft pick of the Atlanta Thrashers has agreed on a two year deal. The deal is identical to recently signed Bruins forward Brad Marchand at $5 million, $2 million to be paid this coming season and $3 million the following year.
“Bogosian, for me, is someone I hope to build our defence around,” Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said earlier in the summer.
The highly touted youngster has been tabbed to be an NHL elite for years to come, and given his age; there’s not much doubt he can be. However, Bogosian hasn’t come anywhere close to that mark as of yet.
Last season he scored only 5 goals and 12 assists through 77 games with a lackluster -27 rating. He did
however average 3rd most in time on ice at 22:24, something that he definitely needs in his young career. Through 3 NHL seasons with the Thrashers Bogosian posted 24 goals and 35 assists for 59 points with a -34 rating in 199 NHL games. His best year, 2009-2010, saw him post 10 goals for 23 points with a franchise record 196 hits.
Bogosian suffered in his rookie year with a broken leg in the first month of his NHL debut, limiting him to 47 games played. Despite that misfortune, Bogosian’s numbers have been well under the expectations set for him prior to being drafted 3rd overall.
In today’s cap world a $2.5 million cap hit isn’t terrible, but for what he has produced thus far it is a bit high. In some ways he was lucky to land this contract at the agreed numbers, but in others he now has 2 years to prove his worth and get paid well for doing so. He is three years experienced and only 21, which means the Jets may just have that key defenseman already in the system.
- Kendall Grubbs
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