He's been beyond horrible. Slow, out of position, can't handle, pass, or carry the puck. Helps his line get pinned in their own zone most shifts, and when they do break out and get possession he's probably giving the puck right back and/or killing the play and/or nowhere near a position of support for the puck. Also weak defensively not only bc he's always stuck in his own zone, but because he loses puck battle after puck battle and isn't fast enough with his reads
He's good at screening the goalie but the pp unit hasn't been able to get set up for him to screen the goalie because he's sinking their puck control either by being out of position and taking himself out of the play, actively giving it away, or not receiving/providing passes that help with zone time (putting pressure on teammates).
I haven't ran the stats but he might be least detrimental on the pk, but even there he's not an upgrade on backlund, frolik, chiaisson, etc.
He's never been an especially strong playoff player either except for last year. I hope he reaches that level again but I'm not seeing it so far
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What good is a supposed playoff specialist when up until the last few weeks, the team was struggling just to stay in the race? He wasn't helping keep the Flames afloat when they were in danger of sinking, and he hasn't been helping during the resurgence either. All games are important and if he's the type that just coasts until mid April, then I don't want that as part of the team identity at all.
What an irresponsible post yours is. Holy crap, just terrible.
Yes, the team is winning, but they're winning pretty much in spite of Brouwer, not because of him. Brouwer has been of late the worst Flames forward on the ice (both the eye test & the advanced stats confirm this) and he's been mostly bad for the balance of this season.
If he doesn't find another gear to his game tomorrow, he should sit a game or two for Lazar.
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I hope he plays better but I don't really care at this point, I'm just hoping we expose him and they claim him.
If his style wasn't previously defined I would struggle to define him and basically label him as generally useless. If he can't figure out a way to be effective this far I have my doubts.
100% my thoughts.
Perhaps its linemates, but he really doesnt have a jam in his game right now.
Too bad, because he was one of the best players at the start of the year
Clearly the majority of posters here are disappointed in Brouwer and his level of performance. I wonder what GG and the coaching staff are feeling? Are they having some frank discussions with him in private?
I don't care if he is wearing a letter or not, if a guy isn't contributing at the level the team needs and at the level he is capable of, then I don't see why GG wouldn't sit him for a game, sooner rather than later. If he gets PO'd - then good.
I don't care if he is wearing a letter or not, if a guy isn't contributing at the level the team needs and at the level he is capable of, then I don't see why GG wouldn't sit him for a game, sooner rather than later. If he gets PO'd - then good.
We need Angry Brouwer and not Happy Brouwer. Happy Brouwer leaves a lot to be desired.
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4 points in his last 29 including 2 points in the panthers game...
All this while getting 1st unit PP time and 16:40 ATOI...
He needs to sit. I get it that there are politics to a move like that but at the end of the day no one is bigger than the overall team and he needs to get a shot in the arm here and start producing if he's being given every opportunity to produce. At the very least they need to sub Ferland into his role on the PP as he's not providing anything to the PP at this time.
Sit him and reward Lazar for being a good soldier in the practices and for not pouting/understanding the situation.
Vs the Penguins Brouwer had some big defensive plays, including stripping Malkin late as he was entering the zone for a rush. Also a big block on the PK in OT.
Terrible signing. Overpaying for players like him are what sink would be contenders. We need to all hope Las Vegas takes him. A buy out candidate worse than Mason Raymond if things don't turn around.
1) In all fairness to Brouwer, his line hasn't done much offenseively
2) In all fairness to Brouwer, his line looks disinterested in offense
There is two ways to analyze that. One is that the Bennett/Brouwer/Versteeg line is underperforming. Or...secondly, its entirely possible that the Versteeg-Bennett-Brouwer line has been asked to play a shut-down role in preparation for a playoff run.
I'm assuming its the latter. Bennett and Brouwer have been playing a great defensively oriented game since early February...which coincidently parellels the flames winning streak.
I hope he has another really good playoff. Than I hope he becomes the first captain for Las Vegas. The hand injury really derailed his season, but the Flames need to Houdini his contract.
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I guess even when the team goes 16-3-1, fans still need their whipping boy.
Has he been great? Absolutely not. But for the fans to sit here and say he does nothing useful, I think you're out to lunch.
Not saying he's doing nothing of use at all; defensively I think he's been as advertised.
We all knew we weren't getting an offensive dynamo in Brouwer but there comes a point where a message needs to be sent if we are going to continue to use Brouwer in offensive situations with little results. At the very least I want to see him moved from the top PP unit which needs to get going again here and with how creative Ferly has been with Johnny/Mony in 5 on 5 situations it only makes sense to give him an opportunity and challenge Brouwer to earn that time back.
Also sitting Brouwer for a game to reward Lazar isn't an end of the world scenario; I think it would be positive for both players involved.
Whipping boys are funny in that I think they generate so much angst that things get out of hand.
I see a guy that struggles getting the puck out of his own zone at times.
I see a guy that for whatever reason has gone through 6 weeks where plays die on his stick.
I didn't for see a 20 goal 50 point player, I thought he'd be 15 goals and 35 points or so and provide a lot of grit and leadership.
So at this point he's 5 goals and 9 assists short and unlikely to reach my goals. But I'm way more concerned at the puck always going off his stick or being bobbled.
But to say he has no jam is just silly, guy had 7 hits last night and one was the circus variety. I have little doubt about his effort and his drive to help the team. I know he's good in the room, and a guy that will snap if the team isn't going well. I worry that his ability to be pissed at his teammates is likely very hampered by his own play right now though.
His confidence is shot, I think that's the biggest issue.
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Saying Brouwer is useless is a bit much, but I can't argue he's been a massive disappointment so far. Hopefully it's just a bad year for him.
I have mixed feelings on exposing him. At this point I do think he's the odd man out but at the same time I could see him having a bounce back year next year.
Nobody's saying he had no jam. Just that jam is not worth 4.5 per.
He's barely replacement level based on his possession stats and he kills his linemates possession.
If you're going to talk intangibles and whatever then he better be able to turn water into wine because he's doing little on the ice, especially for the money.
Problem is that this is not surprising but entirely consistent with what you would expect based on his career to date. This year is just another data point on the downward trend in his career.
Another three to go.
Bottom line is you just can't spend bad money like this. See the problems we're in because of Wideman. Brouwer's contact is in the same bucket.