St. Louis Blues team captain and defenseman Eric Brewer was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline Friday, exchanged for the rights to Lightning draft pick Brock Beukeboom and a third-rounder in next year's NHL draft.
Brewer has been a member of the Blues for six seasons, and had eight goals and six assists in 54 games in 2010-2011. He was the Blues' captain this season, but with the team falling out of playoff contention there was no room for the 31-year-old in the team's future plans.
Beukeboom, 18, is currently playing in the Ontario Hockey League, where he has a goal and seven assists in 44 games. The Lightning, tops in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division with a 34-18-6 record, drafted him with the 63rd pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, so the Blues find themselves with what amounts to two third-rounders in exchange for Brewer.
The NHL Trade Deadline is February 28, 2011, at 2 PM CST. The Blues, last in the Central Division, could be active right to the deadline.