Donald Brashear plays 31 seconds in SHL debut

Longtime NHL enforcer Donald Brashear made his SHL debut on Saturday, playing one 31-second shift in a 4-1 Modo victory over Lulea.

Brashear, 42, signed a contract with Ornskoldsvik, Sweden-based SHL club Modo this week. The longtime NHL tough appeared in 1000 NHL games and amassed more than 2500 PIMs over a 15-year career in the show.

According to Swedish media reports the Brashear effect was instantaneous, as it resulted in Modo wresting control in a tied game. That's laughable, particularly because Brashear didn't even fight.

He did reportedly push some people, including former Edmonton Oilers grinder Lennart Petrell. He also seemed to be trying to go toe-to-toe with Lulea tough Per Ledin.

Asked after the game if he knew anything about Ledin's fighting abilities or style, Brashear revealed that he's become a Sun Tzu disciple in his time as a retired NHLer.

"I knew everything I needed to know," Brashear told Expressen.se, according to Google Translate. "If you go to war, you must know your opponent."

Brashear also suggested that Ledin was avoiding the fight.

"Yes, but I just wanted to go out there and show that I was there. I knew he would not drop the gloves, but also knew that if I pushed a little on him, I could get him out of the game, (make him have) second thoughts. That was my plan."

As for his limited playing time - just one short shift - Brashear indicated he's just happy to be playing hockey.

"You always want to play more," Brashear said. "But I am here to help in any way they now want. If there is one, two or three substitutions per game (it doesn't) matter. I'll do what it takes, what the coaches want me to do."