The Washington Capitals have signed free agent left wing Donald Brashear, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Brashear, 34, appeared in 270 games for the Philadelphia Flyers during the past four seasons, posting 66 points (22 goals, 44 assists) and 648 penalty minutes. He has led the Flyers in penalty minutes in each of the past three seasons (2002-03 through 2005-06). In 2002-03 Brashear was named the winner of the Flyers’ Pelle Lindbergh Memorial Trophy as the team’s most improved player in a vote of his teammates. [.continue.]

I do have to say I kind of miss not having Brashear on the team and many other Flyers fans feel the same. We enjoyed his physical play and the energy that he brought to the ice. However the negatives were there. First one being the salary cap. His salary was way out of proportion to what his contributions were. Second he was a marked man. Being the heavy weight he was he drew penalties, badly. He had a slashing called on him a couple years ago when he was at closest 15 feet away from the guy. Third being the ‘New’ NHL with the BS instigator penalty under 5 minutes remaining in the game.
Also last year because of his shoulder injury he was not able to fight in the second half of the season which really cut into his game.

At any rate I am glad he found work. It will be interesting to see him play the Flyers.
September 26 in Philly and the 29th in DC are the first two games. If he fights, who will he go with? Richards last year wasn’t afraid to drop the gloves and go.

One thing I haven’t thought about this year yet is who will be the Flyers enforcer?
I think if anyone should step up it should be Hatcher. He is a big guy and for what the Flyers are paying him it should be added to one of his duties.