Eric Brewer

Brewer is the Bolts' shutdown specialist, a guy who lays a wet wool blanket over the opposition's best. He'll also hit and block shots (200 of each this season?), but won't deliver the trifecta with PIMs, too. There are probably better options in your specialty formats.

Brewer should join forces with Sami Salo to form the Bolts' top shutdown pair. He'll be sent over the boards against the opposition's best players and on the PK, so temper any thought you may have of him providing fantasy value.

Brewer is the Bolts' keel on blue line -- he gives the team directional control and stability. He won't rack up much of anything -- goals, assists, plus-minus, PIMs. But he will give the rest of his team the confidence to go out and score while he lays a wet wool blankie over the opponent's best players. He's a classic "better on the ice than in the fantasy arena" guy.

Brewer enters the final year of his contract after a second consecutive season marred by injuries. He was limited to 59 games with a knee and back issues. His five seasons in St. Louis are notable for his double-digit plus/minus every season (minus-76 in five years). Billed as defenseman with some offensive talent, Brewer has largely been a disappointment with the Blues, though the team hasn't been good that good during his tenure. He's the most veteran of the Blues' top four defenders and will occupy a similar role in 2010-11, however, injuries are creeping up every year.

Brewer's got some offensive potential from the blue line, but injuries figure to dampen a second straight season. Already coming off two back surgeries and questionable for the season opener, Brewer underwent arthroscopic knee surgery late in August and removed all doubt about his availability Oct. 2 against Detroit. There's some concern about his health for the short-term, but the Blues aren't running out to replace him. They expect him back, though when exactly that is remains unknown.

The Blues' captain will see plenty of ice time but he hasn't scored more than 29 points in his NHL career. We don't expect that to change on the low-scoring Blues but he should come close to that total considering the amount of ice time he'll get.

Brewer who has never scored more than 30 points in a season and has had a positive plus-minus rating only once in his eight-year career. He does have some offensive talent and has the ability to put up some points, yet he is often injured and therefore a huge fantasy risk. He is a steady, if unspectacular, stay-at-home defenseman whose job will not be to put the puck in the net.

Brewer has some offensive talent and has the ability to put up some points, yet he is often injured. He is worth a late round draft selection since it is always possible he could stay healthy and have a big year. Chances are, he will see a good chunk of time on the Blues’ first PP unit along with Dennis Wideman, but he’ll have youngsters Christian Backman and Barret Jackman nipping at his heels for ice time.

Brewer, at age 26, was brought in this offseason to be the number one defenseman. He won't put up the 50 points that Chris Pronger did when he was in St. Louis, but he'll contribute between 30-35 points on the top defensive pair, and on the number one power play line.