What Eric Brewer’s Return Means for the Anaheim Ducks
By Ben Tuval
Benjamin Franklin once said: “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” For the Anaheim Ducks this season, however, it’s certainly been difficult to maintain being healthy.
The latest Duck to return to (seemingly) full health is seasoned veteran defenseman Eric Brewer, who will bring more sand paper to the Ducks’ defensive zone. The 35 year-old, 6’4″ lock-down defenseman brings a grittiness to the Ducks’ back end, a quality that can always be bolstered. Unfortunately for Brewer, who was acquired in a trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning in November, tonight’s match-up against the league-leading Nashville Predators will be Brewer’s third game in a Ducks sweater.
Recall that Brewer sustained a foot injury from a slap shot to the inside of his boot that sidelined the defenseman for 24 games. As a result of the injury, Ducks general manager Bob Murray instituted an equipment policy, ensuring that all Ducks players on the ice wear a thin, clear-like sheet of protection over their skates.
This isn’t the first time a Ducks player has sustained a foot injury because of a slap shot. I can recall as far back as Chris Pronger of the Ducks, who made a wardrobe change to his skates, wearing a black cover over his laces after he sustained a foot injury back with the Ducks.
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Back to Brewer: Keep an eye out on the Ducks’ relationship with Brewer: after all, the future is never guaranteed for any National Hockey League player. After playing just two games with the Ducks after the trade, the Ducks may use Brewer as an asset during the trade deadline. There are rumors surfacing, according to reports by Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun, that the Ducks are interested in towering defenseman Tyler Myers of the Buffalo Sabres, which may be a deadline move that can propel the Ducks into a deeper playoff run.
But for now, the Ducks need to continue to play a full 60-minute game, without having to crawl their way back late, like they did most recently in a 5-4 overtime victory against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Brewer will be replacing Ben Lovejoy (healthy scratch) and will pair on defense alongside Cam Fowler. In Brewer’s second game for the Ducks against the Boston Bruins back in December, the blue-liner played a season-high 21:05. Expect for the Ducks to turn more to Brewer for a tighter back end on the ice–that is, for now.