Your savory Saturday brunch links:
- With the 26th pick in the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the Capitals elect to trade said pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for the expiring RFA and arbitration-eligible contract of forward Troy Brouwer. [NHL.com, Dump’n’Chase, CI (Carrera), WashTimes (Whyno), PHT, SportsNet.ca, SB Nation Chicago, Chicago Sun-Times, Northwest Herald]
- “A preemptive strike.” So sez Pierre McGuire. [DCEx (McNally)]
- Grittier. [CSN Washington (O’Halloran)]
- GM George McPhee explains how the deal went down… [CI (Carrera), Puck Daddy (video)]
- …but it’s not time to talk about the free agents. Not just yet. [CW (Whyno)]
- So why did the Hawks want to trade him anyway? [Sporting News (Custance), ESPN (Burnside), WashTimes (Whyno)]
- Hmm. The Canucks were in on Brouwer as well. [The Province]
- HawksNation had some thoughts on the matter. Boom. [Second City Hockey]
- JapersNation had some thoughts too. [Japers’Rink]
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“I’m very excited for it,” Brouwer said of the trade. “It’s going to be a great opportunity for me moving to a team that, like the Blackhawks, is going to be a contender next year for a Stanley Cup.
“(But) I’m kind of sad to leave Chicago where I’ve had so many good memories including being able to win a Stanley Cup. Chicago had given me the opportunity to come into the NHL.”
As a restricted free agent, Brouwer realized he was one of the players who could be moved.
“I’d be lying if I said it was surprising,” he said. “It always comes as a shock just because I was a restricted free agent and I wasn’t sure if Chicago was going to move me or not. I wish things would have worked out with us and the Blackhawks because the city is great.
“It’s tough to move on but you also understand where the Blackhawks are coming from. I’m glad that they kept me in mind … trading me to a team that has the potential to win the Stanley Cup year after year.”
- Apparently Brouwer and Jeff Schultz were just reliving their old WHL days in the pic up top ^. [EBay (stick tap to Steck It Out)]
- Programming note: Sunday Clips returns tomorrow with full coverage of Day Two of the draft and CapsBlogNation analysis of the Brouwer trade.
- Finally, happy 37th birthday to Glen Metropolit