Capitals general manager George McPhee wasn’t kidding when he said the organization didn’t see the 2011 NHL draft as a strong one. On Friday night McPhee dealt his first-round selection – No. 26 overall – to the Chicago Blackhawks for left wing Troy Brouwer.
The 25-year-old had 17 goals and 19 assists last season and 22 goals and 18 assists the year before. He is a physical player who ranked fifth in the NHL in hits in 2010-11 with 262 and 26thin 2009-10 (189). He is 6-2, 214 pounds. Wears number 22 – same as Mike Knuble – so that will have to change. This is a chance for the Caps to add some physicality at forward, especially with Brooks Laich, Jason Arnott, Boyd Gordon and Matt Bradley all veterans who are unrestricted free agents as of July 1.
“Well, for George McPhee this is a preemptive strike. One of the reasons you go out and get Troy Brouwer is the potential to lose some players to unrestricted free agency,” TSN analyst Pierre McGuire said on that network’s draft telecast. “One of them is Brooks Laich, who is such an important player. Troy Brouwer [is] close to a 20-goal scorer in Chicago – sometimes a little above, sometimes a little below. Obviously, playing with some world class players in Chicago. He’ll have some real good players to play with in Washington. The biggest part of his game is that he can go to those danger areas like the front of the net and to the corners, win battles.”
The majority of Brouwer’s minutes in Chicago were on the top line with center Jonathan Toews and right wing Patrick Kane, according to DobberHockey.com. So he’s used to playing alongside skill. He is a right-handed shot and played on the left side with the Blackhawks. That’s one of the few combos in the league that can match Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom move-for-move. Brouwer also saw time with Michal Frolik/Jake Dowell and Dave Bolland/Bryan Bickell. Would occasionally be paired with Patrick Sharp, too. He’s a guy Chicago felt comfortable moving around.
For every 60 minutes Brouwer was on the ice at even strength, Chicago gave up 2.65 goals and scored 2.41 goals every 60 minutes at even strength. They scored 2.66 goals/60 when Brouwer was off the ice and gave up 2.20 without him.
Brouwer’s acquisition seems to signal a trend so far this offseason. Earlier, the Caps added Swedish forward Mattias Sjogren, who was described by McPhee as a two-way player with offensive upside who is expected to contend for a roster spot in training camp. Brouwer has a nice scoring touch with 49 goals in three NHL seasons. Even with that physical style he’s only missed 20 games since 2008-09. Had 102 points during his last junior season with Moose Jaw in 2005-06. The Caps now must actually sign Brouwer. He is only a restricted free agent and does have arbitration rights. Last season he had a salary-cap hit of 1.025 million and is due a raise.
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