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

[sureLoss]

Treliving on 960 hinting that he envisions Brouwer playing with Bennett, but acknowledges that he may end up on the top line.

Nothing set in stone. Says that they are focused more on pairs... not necessarily putting the best 3 players on one line.

[Imported_Aussie]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Treliving on 960 hinting that he envisions Brouwer playing with Bennett, but acknowledges that he may end up on the top line.

Nothing set in stone. Says that they are focused more on pairs... not necessarily putting the best 3 players on one line.

This makes sense when you consider that Gulutzan, in his intro presser, stated the need to get a good veteran to play with Bennett to shoulder the load.

If you are keeping Bennett at centre, that would mean either playing Brouwer there, breaking up Backlund and Frolik to move Frolik there, or playing Bouma or Stajan on the LW (and likely over their head).


It may mean playing a guy like Chiasson up top, more for what he brings physically as opposed to him being a true top line forward, or you break up Backlund and Frolik anyway

Gaudreau - Monahan - Chiasson/Frolik
Tkachuk - Bennett - Brouwer
Bouma - Backlund - Frolik/Chiasson
Ferland - Stajan - Hathaway
Bollig as the 13th

[btimbit]

Makes sense, I think Bennett can really benefit from playing with a guy like that.

[Toonage]

Re: Treliving's interview

He mentioned the following pairings

Gaudreau-Monahan
Backlund-Frolik
Bouma-Stajan

Suggested Brouwer could play along side Bennett but conceded that he would likely play on the 1st line but that would be up to the coach.

[FlameZilla]

Tkachuk - Bennett - Brouwer

Opposing D will be nursing some serious bruises after playing against that line.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

I detest posts like this.

I love them. I love watching people get called out. I wish it happened more.

[PepsiFree]

I'd be a lot more comfortable with Tkachuk making the team if he's on the same line with Brouwer, that's for sure. Great pro for Bennett and Tkachuk, I think he'd help them a long way.

[JohnnyTitan]

I think people who don't like this signing aren't looking at the full picture. It's not just $4.5M / 4 for Brouwer.

You also have to factor in that we got Elliot from the same team. And got Gio as an undrafted player. And the new coach and then Tkachuck in the draft.

So it's really Brouwer + Elliott + Gio + Tkachuk + Glen Gulutzan

Sincerely,

Oiler fans still trying to rationalize the Taylor Hall trade. ;-)

[JohnnyTitan]

Seriously though, I 100% agree with the group of fans advocating that there's more than stats (or fancy stats) to building a winner.

You need winners. And leadership and guys that stand-up for one another while at the same time fitting our needs. (RW / PP).

This is a great signing. I predict Brouwer will be universally loved by Flames Fans by game #10 this season. You win with guys like Troy Brouwer. I'm stoked!

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by JohnnyTitan

I think people who don't like this signing aren't looking at the full picture. It's not just $4.5M / 4 for Brouwer.

You also have to factor in that we got Elliot from the same team. And got Gio as an undrafted player. And the new coach and then Tkachuck in the draft.

So it's really Brouwer + Elliott + Gio + Tkachuk + Glen Gulutzan

Sincerely,

Oiler fans still trying to rationalize the Taylor Hall trade. ;-)

I think it is even beyond that. They model and plan for multiple years. They obviously place a high importance on a strong veteran leadership group. Within the season or before the start of next year, out will be Stajan, Engellend, and Wideman. That is a pretty significant change in the room.

This is still a very young team and Brouwer gets high praise for being a team guy/leader.

[JohnnyTitan]

Originally Posted by Robbob

I think it is even beyond that. They model and plan for multiple years. They obviously place a high importance on a strong veteran leadership group. Within the season or before the start of next year, out will be Stajan, Engellend, and Wideman. That is a pretty significant change in the room.

This is still a very young team and Brouwer gets high praise for being a team guy/leader.

That's actually a really good point that I didn't think of.

Obviously the Flames will still have Gio as a leader...but losing the names you mentioned (potentially Stajan but maybe not?) gets rid of some bad contracts which we're all excited about, but it also risks "Turning the team over to the kids" ie -> Going full Oiler.

You need some grizzled vets to keep the boys grounded and focussed. Player-coaches if you will. With one year of being a Flame under his belt by next season, Brouwer will no doubt be one of the top three guys the young players will look up to.

[Weitz]

I heard that the Capitals moved him out because he would clash with the leadership group there, but then he was good in St. Louis.

If anything the way the Caps seasons have gone he probably should have clashed more considering they can never get over the hump so to speak.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I heard that the Capitals moved him out because he would clash with the leadership group there, but then he was good in St. Louis.

If anything the way the Caps seasons have gone he probably should have clashed more considering they can never get over the hump so to speak.

I'm assuming you have a source?

[Knut]

It was well known at the time that he was calling out players in the Capitals dressing room. Can not seem to find a source.. but it was around the Oshie Trade last summer.

[Husky]

Assuming he stays healthy like in past seasons, and plays on the top line I would expect 25-25 season and a decent amount of garbage goals infront of the net on the PP.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Zevo

I'm assuming you have a source?

I thought it was mentioned in one of Friedmans 30 thoughts. Maybe clash was the wrong word but I thought it mentioned his leadership style didn't gel well with the Caps leaders (ovechkin and co)

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

This makes sense when you consider that Gulutzan, in his intro presser, stated the need to get a good veteran to play with Bennett to shoulder the load.

If you are keeping Bennett at centre, that would mean either playing Brouwer there, breaking up Backlund and Frolik to move Frolik there, or playing Bouma or Stajan on the LW (and likely over their head).


It may mean playing a guy like Chiasson up top, more for what he brings physically as opposed to him being a true top line forward, or you break up Backlund and Frolik anyway

Gaudreau - Monahan - Chiasson/Frolik
Tkachuk - Bennett - Brouwer
Bouma - Backlund - Frolik/Chiasson
Ferland - Stajan - Hathaway
Bollig as the 13th

Looks good for the most part, but I think we should be hoping that Shinkaruk plays his way into the opening day line-up. That would push Bouma out of the 3rd line and Hathaway down to first call-up.

I'd like to see Shinkaruk continue to battle for top RW along with Chiasson, Brouwer and Ferland. Frolik is too good of a 3rd liner with Backlund to really mess with that line. He can create his own offense and isn't overly effective with skilled players.

Excited to see who comes to camp in the best shape with the confidence and ability to steal a spot.

[Bingo]

The signing ...

I'd would have preferred 800K less or one year less but then I get it, UFA signings have a premium and this one doesn't worry me. In one of those Lucic discussions I mentioned something like I'd put a moratorium on any UFA signings over 5M and over 5 years. Glad to see Calgary didn't get into the madness of bonus up front contracts that can't be bought out for guys that clearly will lose a step in a 3-4 years.

The thing that jumped out to me the most was his secondary scoring consistency. Have always liked Brouwer but didn't realize how consistent he was, a huge plus. Loved the Treliving comments about bringing noise to the room. I don't think Giordano is the most vocal guy in the room, would be good to get someone that gets fed up with weak periods etc in the fold, though I admit that's a tight line ... the player has to be living up to the same bargain himself.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Treliving this morning talked with Boomer about the fact that he met with Brouwer and that Treliving's wife met with Brouwer's wife.

Not particularly earth shattering but I found it interesting how dedicated Brad is to making sure players feel at home.

[Red]

I think people need to realize that we can't just sign stars. Stamkos wasn't coming here. And had he actually done so we would be complaining about the contract too. Same with Lucic or some other higher profile player.

Those that lament about Colborne need to realize that the NHL is not about being the youngest or having the most projects (Colborne was that). It's about winning games and Brouwer will help more than Colborne or any rookie we would otherwise call up.

And the time is ticking on those good ELCs we have, can't exactly wait for some rookie to become a Brouwer 3 years down the road.

I wonder how many people dont like this signing because Brouwer is a large guy and a bruiser. It speaks "truculence" and that's a taboo around here. It's fashionable to disagree with Burke, I get that.
And lastly, if a 4.5 mil contract is that huge a concern then the team is butchered elsewhere. This is not a Luongo contract we are talking here. It's not this contract that will make things difficult down the road.