PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 18: Derick Brassard #19 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates against the Seattle Kraken at the Wells Fargo Center on October 18, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Flyers defeated the Kraken 6-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Photo Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Chuck Fletcher preached changes this offseason, and he wanted to make the Flyers tough to play against for the 2021-22 season. With revamping the lineup some new leadership changes have taken place with now five players in Rasmus Ristolainen, Derick Brassard, Keith Yandle, Cam Atkinson, and Ryan Ellis formerly Assistant Captain’s.
Brassard is strong defensively, and really has a keen hockey sense. He isn’t the fastest skater, but he can pot goals in tight spaces, and is tough to move off the puck. Brassard plays a two-way game, and possesses puck skills to succeed at the NHL level. For his efforts, he can can play the penalty kill, and he is a sizable Forward down the middle as he stands 6’1″ 202 pounds. The Flyers wanted to become tougher to play against, and Brassard provides this aspect of the game.
“That guy came after our captain, and we answered the Bell.” – Derick Brassard said following the game on Monday nights against the Seattle Kraken after Nate Thompson beat Nathan Bastian after Bastian hit Claude Giroux
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This 33-year-old in Brassard is a solid versatile, bottom 9 player that plays the game the right way, and is good in the locker room. For his efforts, Brassard has netted one goal, and tallied four assists for a total of five points in three games played. Brassard there’s also a plus six, and on fire. It appears him and Cam Atkinson make a good line, and that may be because of familiarity as Flyers Head Coach Alain Vigneault said last night, “I talked to Brass, and him and Cam have some chemistry going way way back- they knew one another from Columbus and Joel can just play with anyone,” Vigneault said. “So am I really surprised (About chemistry)? Not really. I think all those three guys have one thing in common, they’ve got great hockey saves and they all love to compete. So there’s no doubt that tonight that they made some big plays at the right time.”
Fletcher indicated to the media in the offseason that he wanted to improve the special teams, not only the penalty kill, but the lackluster power play, as well. Well, he brings in Rasmus Ristolainen and Keith Yandle (Both have one hell of a shot from the point), a finisher in Cam Atkinson, Ryan Ellis, Nate Thompson, and Derick Brassard. Brassard could be an effective penalty killer, maybe not as effective as Atkinson, but solid nonetheless.
Yes, he is no longer in his prime, but Brassard is still an effective skater that has played in 908 games throughout the course of his NHL career. Brassard has tallied 195 goals and registered 313 assists for 508 points, along with 419 penalty minutes. He has also scored 25 goals and added 43 assists for 68 points in his 117 playoff games.
Again Brassard wasn’t the flashiest, or sexiest addition by any means. However, he is really finding a home in Philadelphia, and it may be the familiarity he has with Flyers Head Coach Alain Vigneault as Brassard played for him from 2013-16. This cheap addition by Fletcher really has paid off in the early going as he is one of six players that is tally points in the Flyers first three games
