Brewer Dealt $16 Million Over Four Years To Avoid Free Agency

Tampa Bay Lightning General Manager Steve Yzerman has perhaps his biggest task ahead of him in the coming months with the need to ink pending restricted free agent (and NHL 12 cover athlete) Steven Stamkos to a new deal. But he made a little time Friday ahead of the NHL Entry Draft to re-sign an important defenseman from their postseason run. The Lightning and former first round (fifth overall) pick of the New York Islanders from 1997, Eric Brewer, will remain together for at least the next four seasons at the price tag of about $16 million.

Brewer was acquired late last season by the Lightning from the St. Louis Blues for propect Brock Beukeboom and a third round selection in tonights draft. He went on to player 22 regular season games for Tampa Bay, putting one goal and an assists with a plus-5 rating en route to the playoffs. In his first postseason showing since 2003 with the Edmonton Oilers, Brewer added a goal and six assists while remaining a steady defensive presence for Tampa Bay.

The two concerns that come along with the 32-year old veteran are his health and his consistency. This is not the first big-money deal he has come across, as he is coming off a four-year, $17 million that he signed as a member of the Blues. He was a great leader, but questions did arrise as to whether he played his best hockey on a nightly basis. He's also been a bit limited due to injuries over the last few seasons. The 76 games he played between Tampa Bay and St. Louis last year were the most since he suited up for 77 back in 2007-08. Otherwise, he played just 54 games in 2009-10 and 28 in 2008-09.

In Tampa Bay, he won't carry as much of the workload as he did a lot of the time in St. Louis and can afford to remain more of a defensive presence than force an offensive push thanks to the many scoring threats the Lightning have on their roster. Staying healthy and working off the upswing in his game that came during the playoffs last year could make him a valubale asset to the Lightning for the duration of the deal.

Brewer's contract will count as a $4 million annual cap hit, which may be a bit less than he actually would have seen had he hit the free agent market. And it helps the Lightning work toward at least hitting the minimum allowable payroll of $48.3 million, as they currently sit at about $41 million. Of course, Stamkos' eventual deal will likely do more than enough to make them cap complient.