[Signing] Flames sign Brouwer (4 yrs, $4.5mil AAV, NTC)

[MrMastodonFarm]

Derek Wills (@Fan960Wills) tweeted at 11:42 AM on Fri, Jul 01, 2016:
Brouwer told by #Flames brass that they'd like him to play with their "young, skilled forwards". Looks like Gaudreau and Monahan have a RW

[hockey.modern]

Brouwer is very well spoken

[nik-]

Bennett is also a young and skilled forward

[jg13]

are Bennett and Tkachuk not young skilled forwards too?

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

???

He fights a few times a year and rarely against tougher players. I mean he will fight, but he's not a deterrent at all.

Although as posted in Lucic signing thread - deterrent doesn't really exist given Marc Savard had his career ended with Lucic on his wing and on the toughest team in the league.

"Fighting" isn't the issue. It is knowing that someone has your back that matters. With the Flames last year, everyone knew that there was no one willing to throw down when it became necessary. This year they have a guy and he'll be riding shotgun on one of the lines with the kids who need that confidence. This isn't about fighting. It's about the opposition knowing if they attempt to take liberties there will be an immediate response.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

sounds like Brouwer will be on the line with johnny and monahan...at least as a start...

if Tkachuk can stick, him and Bennet would be fun to see on a line.

Hmmm. Not that i object, but i thought one of the goals from management was to get someone for Bennet to play with this season?

[LouCypher]

I like this signing, great guy to pick up. Almost always a bit of over payment July 1st but not so bad in this case. I would still like to see Colborne back as well as IMHO there is some upside still to be untapped in him and maybe a guy like Brouwer can help him play to his size a bit more by setting a good example.

[FlamesAddiction]

Good deal for a tough player good for 30 to 40 points. Nice replacement for Raymond.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by jg13

are Bennett and Tkachuk not young skilled forwards too?

Can't see how Treliving would be banking on that as it's not a given in his eyes that Tkachuk makes the team out of camp.

[AC]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Hmmm. Not that i object, but i thought one of the goals from management was to get someone for Bennet to play with this season?

Bennett can play with Tkachuk.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

???

He fights a few times a year and rarely against tougher players. I mean he will fight, but he's not a deterrent at all.

Although as posted in Lucic signing thread - deterrent doesn't really exist given Marc Savard had his career ended with Lucic on his wing and on the toughest team in the league.

Unfortunately optics are more important than facts. I wonder who the deterrents were on the last two Stanley Cup Champs.

[Roof-Daddy]

Team getting bigger, more physical and in theory harder to play against.

If Tkachuk and Hathaway make it, along with Brouwer and Chiasson all four really up the SOB level of the team.

Hopefully they all rub off on Ferland and Bouma (if both are still here) because those two can be a little too "gentlemenly" at times.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by AC

Bennett can play with Tkachuk.

Tkachuk playing in the NHL next year is not a shoe in. Plus even if he played on that line wouldn't they want some veteran presence on that line also?

[Roof-Daddy]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Brouwer
Tkachuk - Bennett - Chiasson
Stajan - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Bouma - Hathaway

[FeyWest]

As much as some fans think Tre isn't as strong on UFA signings (UFA is brutal no matter who you are) but at least he keeps the contracts reasonable no ridiculous long Term deals (which ultimately causes a higher per year value).

I think this + Frolik makes our right side at least average if not slightly above average in terms of depth and potency. Now we hope some of our RW prospects can develop and take over when these contracts are near their end.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Classic case of grass is always greener on the other side. The player who played for you will always be the lazy one who took shifts/games off, the player you saw once in a while against the likes of Kris Russell is tough-and-mean. I get that Brouwer had a good game 7 - but it was one game. Stajan had a good game 6 against the Canucks - does that mean he earned his contract with it?

Any time people make claims like this it's rare they back it up. Even Ricardo's dumb damn Grit Index would probably show they're not as far apart over an 82 game season as it sounds.

Classic case of revisionist history. Plenty of fans had no trouble calling out Glencross for being lazy during his time in Calgary.

And my argument isn't for a single game, and you know that. I've backed it up quite well, thank you.

[simonsays]

I think it's an ok deal. But the hyperbole here is crazy. It seems like a signing is either a home run or a strike out. There are 3 other bases, acquisition wise Brouwer seems like a triple and contract wise he seems like a single. It's a solid move but probably nothing earth shattering.

[azzarish]

A lot of OTT reaction. I think people might be a bit surprised by him.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by simonsays

I think it's an ok deal. But the hyperbole here is crazy. It seems like a signing is either a home run or a strike out. There are 3 other bases, acquisition wise Brouwer seems like a triple and contract wise he seems like a single. It's a solid move but probably nothing earth shattering.

Thank you! Well put.

Don't let the contract turn you off of the player. He's not awful.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by FeyWest

As much as some fans think Tre isn't as strong on UFA signings (UFA is brutal no matter who you are) but at least he keeps the contracts reasonable no ridiculous long Term deals (which ultimately causes a higher per year value).

I think this + Frolik makes our right side at least average if not slightly above average in terms of depth and potency. Now we hope some of our RW prospects can develop and take over when these contracts are near their end.

Treliving is very smart in his signings. He goes after "money puck" players and gets guys who provide big bang for the buck, not just a big splash on the front page. Back-to-back good free agency periods for the Flames.