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The Calgary Flames recently bit the bullet and bought out the remaining two years of Troy Brouwer's contract.
Brouwer was an extremely inefficient scorer, and big-time possession anchor, during his tenure with the Flames so there's no doubt the team as a whole will be better off without him.
Which players will benefit the most from his departure, though? Let's take a closer look.
Mikael Backlund
After Michael Frolik and Matthew Tkachuk, Brouwer was Backlund's most frequent linemate in 2017-18. They spent ~260 minutes together at 5v5 and Backlund's numbers fell off a cliff during that time.
Not only did his Corsi For%, Scoring Chance For%, and Goals For% decrease, but he averaged just 1.38 points per 60 with Brouwer riding shotgun. Even in a down year offensively, Backlund still averaged ~1.50 per 60 without Brouwer, which is in the same ballpark as T.J. Oshie and Nolan Patrick.
For a perspective of how bad things were with Brouwer, Scott Laughton averaged 1.36/60 and Jay Beagle averaged 1.35/60. Backlund's offense was neutered to the level of defensive-minded role players, which you never want to see from a No. 2 center.
Backlund couldn't escape Brouwer on the penalty kill either. He had two primary linemates and Brouwer was one of them (Frolik was the other). Backlund's results with Frolik were much better, to say the least.
With Brouwer gone – and a better stable of wingers to work with – I'd bet on a better season from Backlund.
Sam Bennett
This poor soul had Brouwer attached at the hip for more than 40% of his 5v5 ice in 2016-17. The difference in performance with and without Brouwer was almost shocking.
The Flames controlled just 44.25% of the shot attempts and 43.42% of the chances with Bennett and Brouwer on the ice. They controlled 52.38% of the attempts and 50.96% with Bennett sans Brouwer.
In 2017-18, Bennett's numbers with Brouwer (44.76 CF%, 45.95 SCF%) were once again drastically worse than his numbers without (53.26 CF%, 54.89 SCF%). I don't think that's a coincidence, although I should note Bennett saw much less time with Brouwer last year.
Nevertheless, the 22-year-old should be thrilled he won't have to spend another second being weighed down by Brouwer.
Austin Czarnik
Brouwer's departure clears a regular spot for Czarnik. He probably won't get a ton of ice playing behind a solid stable of right wingers that features James Neal, Elias Lindholm, and Frolik but at least he'll get in the lineup consistently – as he should.
It surely would have been tempting for Bill Peters to go with the big ticket, gritty, established veteran on the 4th line as opposed to a small (5'9'), unproven 25-year-old. Now that won't be an issue.
Recent posts:
On Troy Brouwer's disatrous tenure in Calgary
On Noah Hanifin and his next contract
On Mark Jankowski's bridge deal with the Flames
There were positives in Sam Bennett's disappointing campaign
Flames sign Elias Lindholm to a six-year extension
A closer look at the Derek Ryan and Austin Czarnik signings
James Neal a necessary signing for the Flames
Dynamite U21 seasons from Andersson + Kylington put them in good company
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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