NHL Journeyman Derick Brassard Announces Retirement

Forward Derick Brassard announced his retirement from professional hockey on Sunday, following a 16-season career. Brassard, the former sixth overall pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2006, played for ten teams in his career, most notably for the New York Rangers.

Brassard made his NHL debut in 2007 for Columbus, playing in 17 games in the 2007-08 season, recording a goal and assist. Brassard went on to spend four and a half more seasons in Columbus, registering 57 goals and 167 points in 292 more games, before being dealt to the New York Rangers on April 3rd, 2013, as the key part of the return for Marian Gaborik.

In New York, Brassard would become a key piece of the team, scoring 69 goals and 174 points in 254 games over the course of three and a fourth seasons, including a career-high 60 points in 2014-15, and followed that up with a career-high 27 goals the following season. Brassard also became a key playoff performer during this time, as he had 18 goals and 44 points in 59 playoff games between 2013-2016. Brassard also helped the Rangers reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2014 with six goals and 12 points in 23 games that run.

In the summer of 2016, the Rangers elected to deal Brassard (along with a seventh-round pick), to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Center Mika Zibanejad and a second-round pick. Brassard would struggle in his first season in Canada’s capital, as he would only record 14 goals and 39 points in 81 games. However, he did rebound with four goals and 11 points in 19 games in the postseason. The following season was better for Brassard, as he had 18 goals and 38 points in 58 games before being involved in another blockbuster trade.

On February 23rd, 2018, with Brassard playing well and the Senators out of playoff contention, Ottawa sent him to Pittsburgh, along with Vincent Dunn, in a three-team trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. The Sens received defenseman Ian Cole, goaltender Filip Gustavsson, a first-round pick, and a third-round pick in return. In Pittsburgh, Brassard was brought in to be the third line center the Penguins desperately needed, however, he did not fit well in the Steel City. Brassard only put up three goals and eight points in 14 regular season games and had a goal and four points in 14 playoff games. The following season, after putting up only nine goals and 15 points in 40 games, the Penguins shipped him and forward Riley Sheahan to Florida for Jared McCann and Nick Bjugstad.

His stay in Florida was not a long one. After only appearing in ten games for the Cats, putting up a goal and four points, he was shipped off to Colorado just 25 days after being acquired by the Panthers.

Brassard finished the season with the Avalanche, scoring four goals in 20 games. In the playoffs, he had one assist in nine games.

The following season was a bit of a bounce back season for Brassard. As a free agent, he signed a one-year contract with the New York Islanders for the 2019-20 season. In 66 games played, he scored ten goals and 32 points. He also had two goals and eight points in 18 games in the postseason.

Once again, a free agent at the end of the season, Brassard elected to go elsewhere. He signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Coyotes. In 53 games with the Yotes, Brassard had eight goals and 20 points.

He once again elected to not re-sign, and ended up signing other one-year deal, this time with the Philadelphia Flyers. As a Flyer, he had six goals and 16 points in 31 games played. He was viewed as a good depth piece heading into the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline. With the Flyers out of the playoffs, they shipped him to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a fourth-round pick.

As a member of the Oilers, he scored two goals and added an assist in 15 games played. He also played in one playoff game with the Oilers.

With his best years behind him and his career coming to an end, he was not signed as a free agent. Instead, he was brought back by the Senators to a Professional Tryout Offer. In training camp, the team felt he did well enough to earn a contract. He signed a one-year deal, and ended up with 13 goals and 23 points in 62 games, showing he was still capable of playing. However, in one of the final games of the season, Brassard was injured and suffered a lower-body injury. That injury kept him out of the entire 2023-24 season.

Brassard ends his career with 215 goals and 545 points.