Derick Brassard

Derick Brassard (born September 22, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Derick Brassard
Brassard with the Islanders in 2020
Born	(1987-09-22) September 22, 1987 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	New York Islanders Columbus Blue Jackets New York Rangers Ottawa Senators Pittsburgh Penguins Florida Panthers Colorado Avalanche
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	6th overall, 2006 Columbus Blue Jackets
Playing career	2006–present

Brassard has previously played in the NHL for the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers and Colorado Avalanche. He was selected in the first round, sixth overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the Blue Jackets.

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 .[1] He later served as captain of the same midget team.[2] He was selected in the second round, 18th overall, of the 2003 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) Draft by the Drummondville Voltigeurs.[3]

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.[4] 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.

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.

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."

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.

On November 20, 2016, Brassard's number 61 was retired by the Voltigeurs as part of their 35th season celebrations.[5] He scored 75 goals, 143 assists and 218 points in 151 games with the Voltigeurs.[6] His linemate Guillaume Latendresse had his number 22 retired later the same season.[7]

Professional

Columbus Blue Jackets

Brassard signed a three-year entry level contract with the Blue Jackets on September 21, 2006.[8]

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,[9] 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.

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.[10]

New York Rangers

On July 27, 2014, Brassard signed a five-year, $25 million contract extension with the Rangers.[11]

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 7th round draft pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for forward Mika Zibanejad and a 2018 2nd round draft pick on July 18, 2016.[12] 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.[13]

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 Finals 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.[14] 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.[14]

Florida Panthers and Colorado Avalanche

Brassard never found stable chemistry with his linemates in Pittsburgh,[15] 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.[16]

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.[17] 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.[18]

New York Islanders

On August 21, 2019, Brassard signed a one-year contract with the New York Islanders.[19] 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.

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
NHL totals				852	186	297	483	407		99	23	37	60	50

International

Medal record
Representing Canada
Ice hockey
World Championships
	2016 Russia
IIHF World U18 Championship
	2005 Czech Republic
Representing Canada Quebec
World U-17 Hockey Challenge
	2004 Canada

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2004	Canada Quebec	U17			6	1	0	1	4
2005	Canada	WJC			6	0	4	4	6
2016	Canada	WC			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	[9]

References

1. "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
2. "Derick Brassard joueur par excellence CCM du mois de décembre". RDS. January 5, 2004. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
3. "2003 QMJHL DRAFT". Rivals.com. Yahoo Sports. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
4. "Derick Brassard". Elite Prospects. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
5. "LHJMQ : Les Voltigeurs de Drummondville ont retiré le numéro 61 de Derick Brassard". November 20, 2016.
6. "Derick Brassard Stats - Hockey-Reference.com". Hockey-Reference.com.
7. St-Gelais, Roby. "Guillaume Latendresse, un fier immortel chez les Voltigeurs". Le Journal de Montréal.
8. "Columbus signs C Brassard to three-year deal". ESPN. September 21, 2006. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
9. "TSN: Blue Jackets' Brassard named Rookie of the Month for October". The Sports Network. Retrieved November 6, 2008.
10. "Kekalainen injects life into Blue Jackets with Gaborik". National Hockey League. April 3, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
11. Peters, Chris (July 27, 2014). "Derick Brassard, Rangers agree to five-year, $25 million deal". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
12. "Senators acquire forward Derick Brassard from Rangers". Ottawa Senators. July 18, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
13. "Rangers deal Brassard for Zibanejad, as Ottawa goes win-now". Yahoo Sports. July 18, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
14. "Penguins Acquire Derick Brassard in Three-Team Trade with OTT and VGK". National Hockey League. February 23, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
15. Mackey, Jason (December 4, 2018). "20 Penguins thoughts: Brass thinks Brassard fits. Are they nuts?". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
16. "Brassard, Sheahan traded to Panthers by Penguins". National Hockey League. February 1, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
17. "Avalanche Acquires Derick Brassard from Panthers". Colorado Avalanche. February 25, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
18. "New Av Derick Brassard Scores Against Former Team, But Colorado Falls In OT". CBS Denver. February 25, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
19. "Brassard Agrees To Terms On A One-Year Contract". New York Islanders. Retrieved August 21, 2019.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
• Derick Brassard's Golf Tournament

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