Tampa Bay Lightning Fantasy Forecast: Defense

#2 Eric Brewer

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Age: 35

Height: 6’3

Weight: 220

2013/2014

GP: 77   G: 4   A: 13   Pts: 17   +/-:  +10

For Eric Brewer, the 2013/2014 season started with a demotion that everyone saw coming.  It turned out to be a blessing in disguise.  Relegated to third pairing minutes, Brewer had one of his most solid seasons, front-to-back, in recent memory.

In terms of cold, hard numbers, Brewer’s average icetime (17:33) dropped three minutes from the previous season, and a whopping six minutes from the season before (when, for the record, the Lightning were a defensive trainwreck).  At this point in his career, less responsibility suits Brewer well.  His +10 rating was the best he’s posted since the 2000/2001 season.

2014/2015 Forecast: This is quite likely Brewer’s last hurrah with the Tampa Bay Lightning.  His contract is up after this year, and with Mark Barberio and Andrej Sustr fighting hard for a regular NHL role, and with newly acquired Jason Garrison around for the long term, and with prospects like Slater Koekkoek, Luke Witkowski, and Anthony DeAngelo in the pipeline, Brewer is likely to make an amiable exit from the Lightning organization after this season, much like Sami Salo.  There’s also a possibility he will be moved sometime around the trade deadline.

In the coming season, however, you should expect more of the same.  Brewer’s icetime might dip below 17 minutes, but whatever minutes he plays should be steady.  He might be put on babysitting duty for a young, unpredictable blue line partner, as was often the case last year.

Also: Don’t be surprised if he sees some time in the press-box this year, especially if Barberio proves he can handle the physicality of the NHL on a full-time basis.

2013/2014 Prediction

GP: 67   G: 2  A: 9  Pts: 11