Derick Brassard

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Derick Brassard
Derick Brassard playing with the Islanders in 2020 (Quintin Soloviev).jpg
Brassard with the New York Islanders in 2020
Born (1987-09-22) September 22, 1987 (age 33)
Hull, Quebec, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 202 lb (92 kg; 14 st 6 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Philadelphia Flyers
Columbus Blue Jackets
New York Rangers
Ottawa Senators
Pittsburgh Penguins
Florida Panthers
Colorado Avalanche
New York Islanders
Arizona Coyotes
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 6th overall, 2006
Columbus Blue Jackets
Playing career 2006–present

Derick Brassard (born September 22, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Brassard has previously played in the NHL for the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, New York Islanders, and Arizona Coyotes. He was selected in the first round, sixth overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Blue Jackets.

Early life[]

Brassard was born on September 22, 1987, in Hull, Quebec.[1] His father Pierre is a former star junior ice hockey player for the Pembroke Lumber Kings of the Central Junior Hockey League, and although he was selected by the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 1976 NHL Entry Draft, he was cut from the team after training camp.[2] Brassard began ice skating around the age of five, and he started playing hockey shortly after that.[3]

Playing career[]

Minor and junior[]

As a youth, Brassard played in the 2001 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Gatineau L'Intrépide minor ice hockey team .[4] He later served as captain of the same midget team.[5] He was selected in the second round, 18th overall, of the 2003 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Draft by the Drummondville Voltigeurs.[6]

Brassard spent most of the 2003–04 season playing midget hockey with the L'Intrépide before making his debut with the Voltigeurs where, in ten regular season games and seven playoff games, Brassard registered one assist.[7] He spent the entire season with the Voltigeurs during the 2004–05 season, registering 76 points in 69 games. Brassard's results were enough that he was named to the CHL All-Rookie Team and the QMJHL All-Rookie Team. He was also named the QMJHL Rookie of the Year and awarded the Michel Bergeron Trophy as the Offensive Rookie of the Year.[citation needed]

Brassard improved on his results during the 2005–06 season, finishing the regular season with 44 goals and 72 assists for 116 points in 58 games. He participated in the CHL Top Prospects Game and, at the conclusion of the season, was named to the QMJHL First All-Star Team, the CHL First All-Star term and was awarded the Michael Bossy Trophy for QMJHL Best Professional Prospect.[citation needed]

Brassard was selected in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the sixth overall pick. Considered one of the better skaters in the Draft by both NHL Central Scouting and the International Scouting Service, Brassard is said to be a "great playmaker that can score as well."[by whom?]

Brassard was returned to the Voltigeurs for the 2006–07 season but suffered a serious shoulder injury during a pre-season game and spent the rest of the season sidelined, appearing in only 14 games.[citation needed]

On November 20, 2016, Brassard's number 61 was retired by the Voltigeurs as part of their 35th season celebrations.[8] He scored 75 goals, 143 assists and 218 points in 151 games with the Voltigeurs.[9] His linemate Guillaume Latendresse had his number 22 retired later the same season.[10]

Professional[]

Columbus Blue Jackets[]

Brassard signed a three-year entry level contract with the Blue Jackets on September 21, 2006.[11]

Brassard began the 2007–08 season with the Blue Jackets' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. Following his first month, he was named the AHL's Rookie of the Month. While a broken jaw sidelined him for two months, he continued to put up impressive numbers in the league.

Brassard with the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2010–11 season

Brassard was recalled to Columbus on January 10, 2008. However, after playing 17 games with the Blue Jackets, where he registered one goal and one assist, Brassard was sent back to the Crunch on February 27, totalling 26 points upon his return to finish the regular season.

In an attempt to assure himself a roster spot for the 2008–09 season, Brassard, among several other players, spent the 2008 off-season in Columbus with the Blue Jackets personal training staff, just as forward Jared Boll had done the previous off-season. Brassard made the team out of camp for 2008–09 and performed remarkably well, being named NHL Rookie of the Month for October 2008 with the most points by any NHL rookie,[12] closely followed by linemate and fellow Jackets first round draft pick Jakub Voracek.

On December 18, 2008, Brassard was injured during the first period of Columbus' 6–5 shootout loss at the Dallas Stars during a fight with the Stars' rookie winger James Neal. In the fight, he suffered a dislocated shoulder and had to undergo surgery. At the time of his injury, Brassard had 10 goals, 15 assists, with 17 PIM and a plus-minus rating of +12 in 31 games, leading the NHL in rookie scoring.

As a lockout indefinitely suspended the start of the 2012–13 NHL season, Brassard was one of many North American hockey players to play with a European club, signing a deal with EC Red Bull Salzburg of the Erste Bank Eishockey Liga.[13] After playing in six games with Salzburg, scoring four goals and one assist, Brassard abruptly left the team, telling reporters that he planned to return home to wait out the lockout.[14] Many of the NHL players who joined EC Salzburg abruptly quit shortly into their contract term, including Brassard's Columbus teammate Derek Dorsett, but Brassard had informed the club one week before his departure that he intended to stay. Salzburg responded by notifying the IIHF of Brassard's breach of contract while seeking additional legal advice. His agent Allan Walsh, meanwhile, accused Salzburg of "unprofessional management", saying that one of the NHL expatriates had called the team "a joke".[15] Pierre Page, the Salzburg coach who had previously coached in the NHL, had a notorious temperament and was known as "one of the most demanding coaches in all of hockey".[16]

New York Rangers[]

During the lock-out-shortened 2012–13 season, on April 3, 2013, Brassard was dealt in a trade deadline day deal by the Blue Jackets, along with Derek Dorsett, John Moore and a sixth-round draft pick, to the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Marian Gaborik and two minor league defencemen.[17]

On July 27, 2014, Brassard signed a five-year, $25 million contract extension with the Rangers.[18]

In the 2014–15 season, Brassard enjoyed career highs, recording 19 goals and 41 assists, for a total of 60 points. He also led the Rangers in playoff goals and points.

Brassard with the Senators during the 2017 playoffs

Ottawa Senators[]

After three seasons with the Rangers, Brassard was traded along with a 2018 seventh-round draft pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Mika Zibanejad and a 2018 second-round draft pick on July 18, 2016.[19] The trade had been agreed upon weeks prior, but the Senators were reluctant to pay a $2 million bonus that Brassard was due to receive on July 15, so the trade was stalled for a few weeks.[20]

In his first season with the Senators, Brassard would help defeat his former team, the New York Rangers, in the second round of the playoffs as Ottawa advanced to the Eastern Conference Final before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games.

Brassard with the Pittsburgh Penguins shortly after his trade in 2018.

Pittsburgh Penguins[]

After being the subject of trade rumours for much of the season, Brassard was involved in a three-team trade involving the Senators, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Vegas Golden Knights on February 23, 2018. Brassard, along with prospect Vincent Dunn and a third-round 2018 draft pick, was traded to the Penguins in exchange for a 2018 1st-round draft pick, a 2019 third-round draft pick, defenseman Ian Cole, and goaltender Filip Gustavsson.[21] As part of the deal, Brassard was briefly property of the Golden Knights as a means of that franchise retaining 40% of Brassard's contract over the next two seasons, helping the Penguins remain under the NHL salary cap.[21]

Florida Panthers and Colorado Avalanche[]

Brassard never found stable chemistry with his linemates in Pittsburgh,[22] and on February 1, 2019, after scoring only 23 points since he was acquired the previous February, Brassard was traded to the Florida Panthers along with Riley Sheahan, a second- and two fourth-round picks in 2019 (one of which initially belonged to the Minnesota Wild) in exchange for Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann.[23]

After just ten games with the Panthers, Brassard was traded to the Colorado Avalanche on February 25, 2019. He was moved along with a conditional 2020 sixth-round pick in exchange for a 2020 third-round pick.[24] Just hours after being traded, he and the Avalanche played the Panthers at the Pepsi Center in Denver. Brassard scored in the game, but the Avalanche lost 4–3 in overtime.[25]

New York Islanders[]

On August 21, 2019, Brassard signed a one-year contract with the New York Islanders.[26] With the Islanders, Brassard played most of his time at right wing as opposed to his natural center position, playing mostly on a line with Anthony Beauvillier and Brock Nelson. Before the regular season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brassard scored 32 points in 66 games, including 10 goals.

Arizona Coyotes[]

As the pandemic-delayed 2020–21 NHL season approached, the Arizona Coyotes signed Brassard to a one-year contract on December 30, 2020.[27] He had become interested in the team while watching Arizona during the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, while Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong wanted to add a veteran center to a lineup that skewed younger.[28] Brassard missed most of the Coyotes' training camp due to COVID-19 quarantine protocols, but joined the team for a scrimmage on January 6, scoring a goal for Team A in the process.[29] Head coach Rick Tocchet appointed Brassard as an alternate captain on a temporary basis at the start of the season, with the intention of re-evaluating after the first five games. Instead, Brassard carried the role through the season; on the ice, he took a variety of roles, playing both left wing and center on the second, third, and fourth lines.[30] On March 20, Brassard helped snap a five-game losing streak with a hat trick in a 5–1 defeat of the Anaheim Ducks. It was his first regular-season hat trick in 883 NHL games; among active players, only Valtteri Filppula of the Detroit Red Wings, who had played in 1,038 games without a hat trick, had a longer drought.[31] While the Coyotes failed to qualify for the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, having been mathematically eliminated from postseason contention on May 6 after a 4–2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings,[32] Brassard finished the season with eight goals and 20 points in 53 regular-season games.[33]

Philadelphia Flyers[]

The Philadelphia Flyers signed Brassard to a one-year, $825,000 contract on August 25, 2021.[34]

Personal life[]

Brassard has one older sister, Janie, who played college ice hockey for the Concordia Stingers.[2] She now works as a teacher in Quebec.[3] As a Quebec native, Brassard is bilingual and speaks fluent French.[35]

Outside of hockey, Brassard also enjoys gridiron football and golf.[1][3] He maintains close friendships with fellow NHL players Cam Atkinson, Mats Zuccarello, Kevin Hayes, and Mark Stone, and he served as a groomsman at Atkinson's wedding.[3]

Career statistics[]

Regular season and playoffs[]

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2002–03 Gatineau L'Intrépide QMAAA 42 7 33 40 38 — — — — —
2003–04 Gatineau L'Intrépide QMAAA 32 19 45 64 84 — — — — —
2003–04 Drummondville Voltigeurs QMJHL 10 0 1 1 0 7 0 0 0 0
2004–05 Drummondville Voltigeurs QMJHL 69 25 51 76 25 6 1 5 6 6
2005–06 Drummondville Voltigeurs QMJHL 58 44 72 116 92 7 5 4 9 10
2006–07 Drummondville Voltigeurs QMJHL 14 6 19 25 24 12 9 15 24 12
2007–08 Syracuse Crunch AHL 42 15 36 51 51 13 4 9 13 10
2007–08 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 17 1 1 2 6 — — — — —
2008–09 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 31 10 15 25 17 — — — — —
2009–10 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 79 9 27 36 48 — — — — —
2010–11 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 74 17 30 47 55 — — — — —
2011–12 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 74 14 27 41 42 — — — — —
2012–13 EC Red Bull Salzburg EBEL 6 4 1 5 6 — — — — —
2012–13 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 34 7 11 18 16 — — — — —
2012–13 New York Rangers NHL 13 5 6 11 0 12 2 10 12 2
2013–14 New York Rangers NHL 81 18 27 45 46 23 6 6 12 8
2014–15 New York Rangers NHL 80 19 41 60 34 19 9 7 16 20
2015–16 New York Rangers NHL 80 27 31 58 30 5 1 3 4 0
2016–17 Ottawa Senators NHL 81 14 25 39 24 19 4 7 11 8
2017–18 Ottawa Senators NHL 58 18 20 38 30 — — — — —
2017–18 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 14 3 5 8 4 12 1 3 4 4
2018–19 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 40 9 6 15 29 — — — — —
2018–19 Florida Panthers NHL 10 1 3 4 2 — — — — —
2018–19 Colorado Avalanche NHL 20 4 0 4 8 9 0 1 1 8
2019–20 New York Islanders NHL 66 10 22 32 16 18 2 6 8 6
2020–21 Arizona Coyotes NHL 53 8 12 20 12 — — — — —
NHL totals 905 194 309 503 419 117 25 43 68 56

International[]

Medal record
Representing Canada Canada

Derick Brassard 1.jpg

Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2016 Russia
IIHF World U18 Championship
Silver medal – second place 2005 Czech Republic
Representing Canada Canada Quebec
World U-17 Hockey Challenge
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Canada
Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2004 Canada Quebec U17 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 6 1 0 1 4
2005 Canada WJC18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 6 0 4 4 6
2016 Canada WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 10 5 6 11 4
Junior totals 12 1 4 5 10
Senior totals 10 5 6 11 4

Awards and honours[]

Award Year
QMJHL
All-Rookie Team 2005
Rookie of the Year 2005
Michel Bergeron Trophy 2005
CHL All-Rookie Team 2005
First All-Star Team 2006
Mike Bossy Trophy 2006
CHL Second All-Star Team 2006
CHL Top Prospects Game 2006
AHL
All-Star Game 2008
NHL
Rookie of the Month (October) 2008 [12]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Malinowski, Mark (May 17, 2015). "Getting To Know: Derick Brassard". The Hockey News. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Warren, Ken (October 11, 2016). "Senators forward Derick Brassard finally gets to experience a hockey homecoming". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Crechiolo, Michelle (March 26, 2018). "Getting to Know: Derick Brassard". National Hockey League. Pittsburgh Penguins. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  4. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  5. ^ "Derick Brassard joueur par excellence CCM du mois de décembre". RDS. January 5, 2004. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  6. ^ "2003 QMJHL DRAFT". Rivals.com. Yahoo Sports. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  7. ^ "Derick Brassard". Elite Prospects. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  8. ^ "LHJMQ : Les Voltigeurs de Drummondville ont retiré le numéro 61 de Derick Brassard". November 20, 2016.
  9. ^ "Derick Brassard Stats - Hockey-Reference.com". Hockey-Reference.com.
  10. ^ St-Gelais, Roby. "Guillaume Latendresse, un fier immortel chez les Voltigeurs". Le Journal de Montréal.
  11. ^ "Columbus signs C Brassard to three-year deal". ESPN. September 21, 2006. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b "TSN: Blue Jackets' Brassard named Rookie of the Month for October". The Sports Network. Retrieved November 6, 2008.
  13. ^ Halford, Mike (November 23, 2012). "Blue Jackets' Brassard signs with Red Bull Salzburg". Pro Hockey Talk. NBC Sports. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  14. ^ Portzline, Aaron (December 20, 2012). "Blue Jackets: Players cut short their stay in Europe". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  15. ^ "Austrian club Red Bull angry after Blue Jackets' Brassard walks out". The Hockey News. Sports Illustrated. The Canadian Press. December 19, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  16. ^ Halford, Mike (December 19, 2012). "Austrian team says Brassard 'turned his back' on club, fires breach of contract accusation". Pro Hockey Talk. NBC Sports. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  17. ^ "Kekalainen injects life into Blue Jackets with Gaborik". National Hockey League. April 3, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  18. ^ Peters, Chris (July 27, 2014). "Derick Brassard, Rangers agree to five-year, $25 million deal". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
  19. ^ "Senators acquire forward Derick Brassard from Rangers". Ottawa Senators. July 18, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  20. ^ "Rangers deal Brassard for Zibanejad, as Ottawa goes win-now". Yahoo Sports. July 18, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  21. ^ Jump up to: a b "Penguins Acquire Derick Brassard in Three-Team Trade with OTT and VGK". National Hockey League. February 23, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  22. ^ Mackey, Jason (December 4, 2018). "20 Penguins thoughts: Brass thinks Brassard fits. Are they nuts?". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  23. ^ "Brassard, Sheahan traded to Panthers by Penguins". National Hockey League. February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  24. ^ "Avalanche Acquires Derick Brassard from Panthers". Colorado Avalanche. February 25, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  25. ^ "New Av Derick Brassard Scores Against Former Team, But Colorado Falls In OT". CBS Denver. February 25, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  26. ^ "Brassard Agrees To Terms On A One-Year Contract". New York Islanders. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  27. ^ "Coyotes Sign Derick Brassard to One-Year Contract". National Hockey League. Arizona Coyotes. December 30, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  28. ^ Kinkopf, Alex (December 30, 2020). "Brassard Wings West to Help Center Coyotes". National Hockey League. Arizona Coyotes. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  29. ^ Romero, José M. (January 6, 2021). "Newcomers Caggiula, Brassard score for Arizona Coyotes in first camp scrimmage". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  30. ^ Romero, José M. (March 21, 2021). "Derick Brassard shows leadership ability in first season with Coyotes". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  31. ^ "Derick Brassard scores hat trick as Arizona Coyotes rout last-place Ducks". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. March 20, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  32. ^ Morreale, Mike G. (May 6, 2021). "Coyotes miss playoffs, inability to generate offense among reasons". National Hockey League. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  33. ^ Carchidi, Sam (August 25, 2021). "Flyers sign veteran Derick Brassard, giving them more depth and versatility up front". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  34. ^ "Flyers sign free agent forward Derick Brassard". National Hockey League. Philadelphia Flyers. August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  35. ^ Kandrach, Sasha (August 21, 2019). "7 Facts: Derick Brassard". National Hockey League. New York Islanders. Retrieved August 25, 2021.

External links[]

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Gilbert Brule 		Columbus Blue Jackets first round draft pick
2006 		Succeeded by
Jakub Voracek
Retrieved from ""