Photo: Rob Carr
Tuesday, recently-traded Caps forward Troy Brouwer continued to say his goodbyes, this time joining 106.7 The Fan’s Grant and Danny for a 12-minute interview. The segment was fascinating, and at times sweet (in that awkward radio kind of way). One of those moments was when Brouwer received a surprise call (at the 10:50 mark).
“This is Gary from the Verizon Center,” the caller began. “From all the security guards in the Verizon Center, we’d like to wish you good luck in your next stop and we’ll see you around.”
How cool is that?
Here are more quotes from The Big Lebrouwski’s radio appearance.
On whether he knew the trade was coming:
“I hadn’t heard much of anything. I’d talked to my agent a little while before about how the season went but he said that it’s unlikely – unless there’s a deal in place that [the Caps can’t say no to]. He’s like, ‘You probably won’t be moved,’ but in this line of work you have to be ready for any situation.”
On what he would remember most:
“The people, the people that I was able to meet in my time here: my teammates everybody who works for the organization, you know just first class people, a first-class organization all the way. Plus, the fans, and their love of their teams here in D.C., the love of Washington sports, that passion, the blind allegiance. It’s fun to be a part of … and I feel very fortunate that I was able to be here and be a part of it.”
On what he would you tell young Troy Brouwer about what’s coming in his career:
“Enjoy the ride. Just have fun with it. It can be stressful, you can be put in stressful situations, your future’s a little uncertain at times, and enjoy it. There’s not many people that get to experience or do what you do for a living and the people that you get to meet day in and day out, year in and year out. So have a good time with it and don’t stress too much because you work hard and be a good professional and it’ll all work itself out.”
On what he thinks about the team’s direction under Trotz and how close the Caps are compared to when he got here:
“With Barry I think he’s done a great job implementing a good defensive style while still letting our offensive players have free range to be offensive and make sure they’re trying to contribute and score goals.”
“We are losing a few players this year, but with the acquisition of Williams and now Oshie as well, it’s a real good, real round hockey team. If Holtby continues to play as well as he did last season, they’re going to be a team that’s very, very competitive to come out of the East.”
On new Caps forward TJ Oshie:
“Oshie’s a very dynamic player. He obviously got a lot of recognition with the Olympics a few years ago, and he’s a player that’s going to make this team better. Like I said I’m kinda going the other way so I’m not going to get to see the day-to-day product, but at the same time he’s a dynamic player, I think he’s going to fit in real well with the guys. I know the guys in that locker room are very easy to get along with and there’s no bad guys in there.”
On his personal highlight and lowlight from his time in Washington:
“Well I mean I guess I can’t really argue with the Winter Classic goal. That’s one of the biggest goals that I’ve scored in my career just as far as the setting of how it took place and the timing and my old team and the stage of the Winter Classic.”
“There’s been a couple battles along the way with teammates – I won’t say who they are – butting heads, but it’s all because both guys want to be better. They want the best out of each other.”
On the Brouwer Rangers:
“The loyalty and the support that I got from the Brouwer Rangers was unparalleled; it’s tough to find fans that are that dedicated. And Nathan and Ryan, they’ve been phenomenal to me and my family, making sure that they’re respectful but still having a great time. I know my daughter absolutely loved taking pictures with them, seeing them – I know they’re fan-favorites for being fans, and that’s a lot of fun. And I’m proud that they named themselves after me.”
On which teammate he’ll miss the most:
“I was probably the closest with Backstrom. We lived two blocks away from each other, our daughters were roughly the same age, so we just had a lot in common. He’s one of the easiest-going, nicest people I’ve met in hockey and away from hockey and he’s probably one of the guys that I’m going to miss the most.”
Brouwer also spoke to CBS Sports Radio 920 in St. Louis (the same station Oates was on the other day) on Tuesday, and the conversation included a discussion of whether the Brouwer Rangers would follow him to his new team.
On whether his side of the trade made anyone cry (like Oshie’s departure made the young Blues fan cry):
“I don’t know if I made anyone cry. I don’t know if you guys know, I’ve got a two-man following, they call themeselves the Brouwer Rangers and they dress up in red power rangers suits and they’ve been loyal fans of mine and they’ve tweeted me and gotten out to me saying how disappointed they are but excited for me to be able to move on and continue my career in another new city.”
On whether there should be Brouwer Rangers in St. Louis:
“Maybe a couple blue power rangers.”
