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Old 06-23-2017, 02:28 AM   #18
Calgary4LIfe
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I don't see why it is CRAZY to think that Brouwer won't rebound. He has been a pretty consistent player everywhere he goes for a while now, and I am not completely buying that what he showed last season is what he is. I would rather he not be on the team at this point, just to be clear, but I wouldn't necessarily totally write him off.

Some good things that Brouwer did last year:
- Underrated on the PP for his screens. I would much rather have Ferland there, and I think Chiasson did as good of a job to be honest, but credit should go to him on the PP for those screens. Lots of goals went in because he did his job there, even though he didn't receive any points.

- I guess he was decent on faceoffs when needed

- Played physical AT TIMES (not enough for my liking and what I was expecting) - but he did step up a few times.

What he did/does poorly:

- Footspeed is a bit of an issue.
- Defensively I thought he was lacking
- Seemed to pull everyone down when placed on a line (for me, this is the single most important attribute good or bad)

The one saving grace I think of when it comes to him is 'injury'. I think that PERHAPS he wasn't feeling 100% for most of the season and was playing through a nagging injury. Perhaps that is why you didn't see him 'battle' in front of the net as much, or be as physical as we were expecting.

I am not 100% expecting him to turn his game around, and I am not 100% expecting him to continue being the guy from last season (or worse). It wouldn't surprise me either way. I am just hoping he had a nagging injury that slowed him down somewhat. I don't think there is room for him to start in the top 9 next season though. Let him work his way back up. That spot next to Backlund should be used either for Tkachuk again (that line was elite after all), or it should be used for guys like Jankowski or Lazar to build up confidence and acclimatize them to the NHL and how to play a solid 200ft game.

Brouwer was the beneficiary of a lot of patience and a lot of opportunity last season. I think this season you start him off where he left, and just let him know that he will get more opportunity with better play again.
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