Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE
In the mad dash to get players signed to new contracts before the NHL lockout shuts down the league, it looks like Troy Brouwer has become the latest beneficiary. Brouwer and the Washington Capitals agreed to a three-year contract extension on Wednesday.
Brouwer’s first season with the Caps was a successful one. He was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks last summer for a draft pick that the Hawks turned into Philip Danault, who became one of their better prospects in the organization. But the Caps are surely happy with their end of the deal.
Brouwer saw a career-high in ice time with the Caps last year, averaging over 17 minutes a game. He didn’t quite reach his career high, but proved a key piece of this team, finishing with 33 points. His 18 goals were just four off of his career-high of 22.
He also proved to be an important guy in the locker room. The Capitals are known to have issues somewhere in the locker room, but Brouwer was a nice presence for this team. He wore the ‘A’ on several occasions, with Nicklas Backstrom out for much of the year.
The deal is worth $11 million total. Brouwer will receive $3.6 million in the first year, and then it will increase slightly in the two years that follow. Is it a slight overpayment for Brouwer? Probably. But the Chicago Blackhawks underestimated the importance of an offensively skilled grinder like Brouwer in their lineup.
It doesn’t look like the Capitals are making that same mistake.
