Troy Brouwer missed the final 2:16 of regulation and didn't play in overtime after absorbing a hit courtesy of Anaheim defenseman Toni Lydman. He appeared to suffer an injury to his right shoulder on the play, which could be bad news for him and his fantasy owners because that is the same shoulder he underwent surgery on this past off-season. We'll keep you posted on his status.

Troy Brouwer has one goal in five games to start the season despite playing on the same line as Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. "I don't want to say I'm a notorious slow starter - I was hoping to change that when I got that goal this year," Brouwer said. "I need to be better, whether it's the start of the season or not. I know I'm finishing my checks but there's more to my game than just that. I expect to be able to score goals for myself and for my team, and create goals as well." He will look to break out against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night in what is shaping up to be a very interesting matchup.

Troy Brouwer will play on the same line as Alex Ovechkin on Monday night in exhibition play versus Columbus. Mike Knuble and Joel Ward have also seen action with Ovechkin, but the physical presence of Brouwer could give him an edge if that's a direction that coach Bruce Boudreau decides to take. Marcus Johansson appears to be the favorite to act as the Great Eight's center when the regular season begins, but Nicklas Backstrom shouldn't be counted out of the equation.

Troy Brouwer, who had off-season shoulder surgery, was cleared for contact on Saturday. "I've been on pace all summer to be ready for the start of the season and nothing's changed as of now," Brouwer said. "For me, [the goal] has always been the start of the season. I don't want to miss any games. It's an important season for this hockey club and I want to be a part of it all of the way." We'll keep an eye on him, but right now, it looks like he'll be fine for the start of the regular season.

Troy Brouwer has agreed to a two-year contract worth a reported $2.35 million per season. With this signing the Capitals are slightly more than $1.8 million over the NHL salary cap of $64.3 million for next season. However, teams are permitted to exceed the cap by 10 percent in the summer, so they still have time to get back under it via a trade. Brouwer had 17 goals and 36 points in 79 games last campaign with Chicago.

The Washington Capitals still want to re-sign restricted free agents Troy Brouwer and Karl Alzner. However, the team is slightly over $500,000 away from the salary cap of $64.3 million following Saturday's bargain signing of goaltender Tomas Vokoun. Capitals owner Ted Leonsis wrote on his blog that an off-season trade will likely be made to help facilitate new contracts for Brouwer and Alzner. "We will be able to re-sign Karl Alzner and Troy Brouwer so everyone who is amped up, please try to relax just a bit," he said. "We will look to make some trades in the offseason maybe even sign another free agent. We will continue to look at all of our options. We may not be able to get anything done. We may be able to do something. Time will tell."

According to Troy Brouwer, who Chicago recently traded to Washington, some of the current Blackhawks players are frustrated with Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman's decisions. "I kind of thought they would make more of an effort to try and keep the team together, but obviously that's not the case," Brouwer said. "And I've talked to a couple of guys on the Blackhawks currently that are a little frustrated with how everything is going. But that's the direction that the team is going in right now and (general manager Stan Bowman) is going to do what is best for his hockey club." Chicago won the Stanley Cup in 2010, but Bowman has been forced to radically alter that team because of the salary cap problems he inherited. However, Chicago's cap situation looks much more manageable after their decision to trade Brouwer, Brian Campbell, and Tomas Kopecky over the last several days.

The Capitals are very happy to have traded for Troy Brouwer. With the collective status of free agents Brooks Laich and Matt Bradley still up in the air, Washington is confident Brouwer can step in immediately and fill the potential void left by their departures. "We thought it was a really good move for our club at the right time," said GM George McPhee. "I talked to him [Friday] night; he was really excited and sounds like a great kid. It's amazing to feel that after a three-minute conversation, but he seems like the kind of leader that we're looking for." Brouwer is technically set to become a restricted free agent on July 1st, but it's expected he and Washington will come to terms.

The Vancouver Canucks were in talks to land Troy Brouwer from the Blackhawks on Friday. The Canucks were in the mix to land Brouwer but ultimately decided to pass on him. "At this time of year, you talk to every other general manager in the business because you don't know what might happen," Gillis said just before Friday evening's first round. "I think it was proven [Thursday]. Walking around here, a lot of people were unaware those trades were being discussed. So you try to talk to everybody. You don't know what may come out in the mix, but you talk to everybody."

The Chicago Blackhawks got a lot younger on Friday night. The Hawks shook up their roster as they sent away both Brian Campbell and Troy Brouwer in trades. The moves free up a lot of cap room for GM Stan Bowman as he tries to bring another Cup to Chicago. Brouwer was set to receive a raise from his $1.05 million salary. Look for Chicago to be active in the free agency market with their newfound cash in pocket.