As an unrestricted free agent this off-season, there's a good chance Jay Bouwmeester will not be a member of the Florida Panthers when the puck drops on the 2009-10 campaign.
So it's not surprising the Panthers are trying to get the most out of their smooth-skating defenceman while he's still wearing their uniform.
Heading into last night's game against the Oilers, the local product was averaging a league-high 27:49 of ice time per game in addition to leading the team in scoring with 16 points in 27 games.
"He's been outstanding," said Panthers head coach Peter DeBoer.
"He's one of those guys that until you actually get behind the bench and coach him, you don't have a real appreciation for how good he is.
"He's got the unique combination of speed and range where he can shut down the best players on other teams.
"He also has really found his offensive game, which started last year when he scored 15 goals. He really does it all. He's our best player, our leading scorer and plays more minutes that anyone in the league. What else can you say?"
Bouwmeester, 25, will be one of the hottest commodities on the open market this off-season and will be able to sign with the highest bidder.
For that reason, the Panthers will likely trade the star defenceman if they are unable to come to terms on an extension, rather than lose him for nothing.
"Realistically my only focus right now is my time here and that's it," Bouwmeester said yesterday.
"At the start of the year there was a real sense of optimism here. There have been a lot of changes, but it's all been good. It took a while to sort things out, but we have been playing better of late. We're a team that has to work hard. That's the way things have been going lately."
Bouwmeester was Florida's first pick -- third overall -- in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
He's been a standout almost from his NHL debut, but has yet to play in the post-season. The Panthers have not made the playoffs since the 1999-2000 season.
The only playoff hockey Bouwmeester has played dates back to his junior days in Medicine Hat and during the lockout with the AHL's Chicago Wolves.
"I'm not going to single-handedly convince Jay to stay here," DeBoer said.
"My job is to try and create and environment here where he believes we can win on a regular basis and play some playoff games. That's the only pressure I put on myself and that goes for the whole group, not just to Jay.
"Things are not going to change overnight, not having played a playoff game in seven years, which is a long time. But I believe we're heading in the right direction.
"We're not going to convince Jay through any conversations to stay here. He's going to have to see it, and I understand that."
When Bouwmeester was drafted, the six-foot-four, 214-pound defenceman was considered the cornerstone of the franchise.
However, the Panthers have been unable to ice a competitive team around him, although they are playing a lot better as of late.
They came into Edmonton having won four of their last five.
"You just have to go about your business. I really don't worry about that," Bouwmeester said.
"We got off to a slow start, but as of late the team is playing better and that's all that matters right now."
The Panthers are hoping they can convince Bouwmeester to re-sign by showing him they're finally heading in the right direction. They've been able to create some stability in the organization and accountability among the players.
Having Bouwmeester back next season would go a long way to maintain that.
"I can't say enough about him," DeBoer said.
"He sure isn't playing like a guy that doesn't want to be here.
"He's giving it his all every night, he's showing up to work every day, he's blocking shots, doing all those little things to help us win every night, that's where the proof is for me.
"We were having a discussion the other night as a staff whether any of us have seen a better defenceman in the league so far.
"I've only been in the league for 27 games, but I haven't seen any. He's been that valuable for us."
