Capitals forward Troy Brouwer is expected to play a simple role on the top line: Bang bodies, retrieve pucks for Alex Ovechkin and Nick Backstrom and get his big 6-foot-2, 214-pound frame to the front of the. Mixed results so far for the 26-year-old, acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in a draft day trade. He did score a goal in the second game of the year against Tampa Bay. But otherwise that is Brouwer’s only point. He has mustered just six shots on goal so far. His even-strength time on ice is hovering just above the 13-minute mark with limited power-play time – just over a minute per game.
“I feel I’ve been playing solid. Not wowing anyone right now,” Brouwer said. “I’ve only got one goal – one point in the first five games. On a personal note, that’s a little unacceptable for me, especially with who I’m playing with. They need me to get going and in turn that’ll help them with their starts and with their games.”
Didn’t get a chance to ask Brouwer this at the morning skate in Philadelphia today – but you wonder if there’s still an adjustment ongoing with his repaired right shoulder. Brouwer had surgery in May and avoided much contact early in training camp. By the end he was consistently playing in preseason games and hasn’t missed any time in five regular season games entering tonight’s contest against the Flyers. Brouwer also has 24 hits after placing fifth in the league in that category last season. That’s a good sign. But “hits” are also a notoriously unreliable stat in the NHL with different statisticians using their own judgment to determine who gets credit for what.
Either way, no one sees reason for concern yet. Brouwer played in pain virtually all of last season with the Blackhawks. With that corrected he at least can play the role expected of him and hope he gels with his new linemates, too. The Caps are already 5-0-0. If Brouwer starts producing this offense has a chance to get back to its 2009-10 level. Until then, it’s the little things that count.
“If he could score a couple goals would be nice. Other than that, he’s hitting people, he’s defending, he’s doing his job,” Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said. “It’s like anything else, you’d like to be able to see guys score. But I’m not sitting there saying this and then putting pressure on him to score. You’re asking that question.”
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