[Ed. note: As part of the build-up to the second round playoff series between the Capitals and the Lightning, Japers’ Rink will be looking at some of the important but lesser-known (or in this case, newer) players on the Lightning and how they might impact the series.]
| Assets | Has great size and leadership qualities. Moves well laterally and carries a good shot from the point. Can log big minutes. |
| Flaws | Needs to be smarter, overall. Lacks the hockey sense needed to produce big offensive numbers in the NHL. Could play a more aggressive game. |
| Career Potential | All-around defenseman and leader. (Assets, Flaws and Career Potential via SB Nation player page) |
Why you should know who he is – Brewer leads all Tampa blueliners in total ice time (and ice time on each special teams unit), points, shots and blocked shots in this year’s playoffs and has seemed a bit rejuvenated since being acquired from St. Louis at the trade deadline. The Caps haven’t seen much of Brewer over the years (the blueliner has played just 13 of his 777 career games against Washington), but that’s about to change in a big way.
How the Caps can stop him – It’s not so much a question of stopping Brewer as it is one of not being stopped by Brewer. He’s a very solid defensive defenseman and one of the many would-be blockades that Caps forwards will have to fight through en route to the net if they’re going to have much success in the series.
