Derick Brassard joins the New York Islanders on a one-year deal to fill the space left at third-line center.
Lou Lamoriello has changed the complexion of the New York Islanders offseason with his first free agency signing since July 1. The Isles signed Derick Brassard to a one-year contract, per a team announcement.
According to Arthur Staple of The Athletic, the deal is worth $1.2 million—a bargain for the Islanders.
The last two seasons have been extremely unstable for the former New York Rangers center. Brassard has played for four different teams in that span.
Starting with the Ottawa Senators in 2017-18, Brassard posted 18 goals and 38 points in 58 games before being traded at the deadline to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Though he was able to maintain his overall productivity with 21 goals and 42 points, the 2018-19 season would not be as kind.
Brassard tallied nine goals and 15 points in 40 games for the Penguins before being sent to the Florida Panthers where he’d net a goal and four points in 10 more games.
One last stop with the Colorado Avalanche saw Brassard produce just four goals in 20 regular-season games before posting a single assist in nine playoff games.
In 70 total games last season, Brassard scored 14 goals and 23 points. However, he was unable to establish himself as a mainstay in any of his three homes.
He will get a chance to reinvent himself with the Islanders, who have been in need of a third-line center since Valtteri Filppula left for the Detroit Red Wings on July 1.
The stability at the center position is likely what Brassard needs to get his career back on track. At 31-years-old and just two years removed from a 20-goal, 40-point season, there’s still plenty left in his tank.
Lamoriello has shown that the offseason isn’t over yet, and more moves may well be on the way. This solidifies the Islanders’ center depth for at least next season and shifts the feeling of the offseason closer to satisfactory.
