How does that Hives song go? "Hate to say I told you so / I do believe I told you so"?

I don't normally flaunt predictions that come true, but after I nailed our unofficial, intra-office survey for a Colts-Saints Super Bowl, I couldn't help but look back one projection I made last year.

There's been a lot of hubbub as of late about the Calgary Flames' slide, and that has led some pundits to call out the lackluster play of Jay Bouwmeester.

Chances are you heard plenty about the defenseman last season when he was one of the most targeted free agents. Bouwmeester finished out the year with Florida, matched a career high in goals and fell just shy of doing the same in points. The Panthers, realizing he wouldn't re-sign by July 1, traded his rights to Calgary. The Flames inked him to a five-year, $33 million deal.

What has $6.68 million bought Calgary this season? Two goals and 18 points. He leads the Flames in average time on ice (a little more than 26 minutes per game). He ranks second on the Flames in giveaways (41), second in missed shots (48) and fifth in hits (46). For that kind of ice time, you'd expect more production, no?

Which brings me back to that Hives song. Before last year's trade dealine, I pointed out Bouwmeester isn't all he's cracked up to be , and his departure from Florida wouldn't bury the franchise the same way the Roberto Luongo fiasco did.

[F]or the money [Bouwmeester is] seeking, Florida may be better off parting ways. Not because they're cheap, rather he's not the end-all-be-all in Florida. Bouwmeester is having an outstanding season (offensively), but as a friend put it, "does everyone else not see him enough to know his flaws?"

Bouwmeester is not a Dion Phaneuf- or Chris Pronger-like player who can put up offense and be physical in his own end. Actually, there are a lot of times where the defenseman doesn't use his size. He can be a liability in his own end at times, which is part of the reason why he's paired with Karlis Skrastins , who is about as defensive-minded as you can get.

In Florida's 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals a couple weeks back, Bouwmeester displayed his lack of physicality clearly. He was matched up against Alexander Ovechkin. There's no question Bouwmeester could keep up with the star (so few can), but on two occasions, he failed to play the body. On one of those, Ovechkin tallied the game-winner. A check or bump by Bouwmeester would have disrupted the play.

The Panthers' record is one win and three points off of last year's effort at this same point. The balanced attack from Florida's blueline has continued to some degree, with the Panthers' top four registering at least 16 points. Bouwmeester's departure also opened the door for rookie Dmitri Kulikov, a smooth-skating, puck moving defenseman who has not only been able to hang at the NHL level, but play a significant role. About the only thing Florida is missing from Bouwmeester is the 15 goals he contributed last season. For a team missing its top two goal scorers -- David Booth and Nathan Horton -- that is without question.

On the flip side, the Flames aren't any better either. They are four wins and five points off last year's pace. Bouwmeester's presence alone isn't at fault for Calgary's struggles, yet he is not doing the things expected of him -- and his lofty salary -- that would help the Flames pull themselves out of a rut.

And, while it is absolute speculation , one can't help but wonder what kind of impact Bouwmeester has had on Calgary's defensive corps, Phaneuf specifically. Once lauded as a franchise defenseman, future Norris Trophy contender and absolute Pac-Man when it comes to ice time, Phaneuf has been knocked from the spotlight. Rumors of his unhappines refuse to die down despite endless assurance from Flames GM Darryl Sutter. Calgary may host the Stampede, but in this case, there may not be enough room for two workhorses.

Could the Panthers be better off with Bouwmeester? Possibly. Are they surviving without him? Absolutely.

I do believe I told you so.

Got off the phone with Panthers (interim) GM Randy Sexton a while ago and he shared some insight about Florida's busy start to the free agency period...


- It appears Jordan Leopold, who was acquired in the deal which sent Jay Bouwmeester to Calgary, will be testing the free agent market.  Sexton said Leopold may sign with Florida, but after a long pause, called that chance "remote."

"We tried to do a few different things," Sexton said about contract negotiations with Leopold. "For whatever reason, it couldn't quite come together."


- Although there are still a few scorers available on the market, don't expect to see the Panthers to upgrade its top two lines. Sexton said Florida is comfortable with its top six and bluntly stated it is not likely the team will spend on offense.


- A good part of today's agenda involved re-signing players. In trying to keep David Booth and Radek Dvorak -- two players cited as models for the Panthers' makeup -- he found success. With backup netminder Craig Anderson, not so much.

On Booth: "We're just delighted. David embodies everything that's an ideal Panther. Speed, skill ... great work ethic and attitude."

On Dvorak: "We're really happy to have D-vo back. He helped us create the identity last year as an up-tempo team. ... He wanted to come back, and we wanted him back."


- When the Panthers lost out on Anderson, they turned their focus to finding a backup for Tomas Vokoun. Sexton indicated the Cats focused on two netminders, but found themselves leaning toward Clemmensen because of the assets he could bring to the team. Clemmensen's contract demands were in line with Florida's plan, so they went ahead with a deal.

Florida has $14.2 million committed to its goaltenders over the next two seasons, with most of that going to Vokoun. The Panthers seem comfortable, though, with the idea Clemmensen overtaking the Czech netminder for the No. 1 job.

"We would envision an open competition," Sexton said. "I don't think Tomas is a shrinking violet, and Scott is an extremely competitive guy. We expect a competitive situation for that starting position."


- No word on the Panthers' GM search, but Sexton says he's thankful for getting a hands-on opportunity to make his case for the job.

"[Panthers President Bill Torrey] and I talk every day and Bill is clear there are other good candidates," Sexton said. "I'm fortunate I got the chance to audition for the job."

SUNRISE, Fla. -- The cheer Florida Panthers fans gave up after David Booth scored in overtime had nothing on the one given to Richard Zednik before the game.

Stepping on home ice for the first time since suffering a gruesome, life-threatening injury last February, the Panthers winger received a long, loud ovation during pre-game introductions.

"Tonight felt great," he said. "It has been a long time. I felt really good."

Playing on Florida's top line with Booth and Stephen Weiss, Zednik recorded two assists in the win. The winger created several scoring opportunities, due in part to his speed, and nearly registered the game winner after tracking down a puck behind the Atlanta Thrashers defense.

"It's a pleasure to see him playing," Weiss said. He's a dynamic player, has a lot of speed."

"Richard was outstanding tonight," Panthers coach Peter DeBoer said. "That's the best game he's played for us since he's been here. He really raised his play a notch. Knowing what he went through last year, I know there's been an adjustment period coming back. He hasn't shown any ill effects."

About the only obvious difference with Zednik is the addition of a neck guard, but it hardly impeded his effort on Saturday.

"I'm a little hot in it," he said. "but I'll get used to it."