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Flyers General Manager Chuck Fletcher has had an itchy trigger finger all offseason long and plucked an experienced Center/Winger off the free agency market in Derick Brassard, as he signed a one-year deal worth $825,000.
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.
it appears that Fletcher wants to keep Claude Giroux on the wing, as Brassard fills a need in case Morgan Frost does not make the team as a third line Center out of training camp.
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. Moreover, he will fit in well in Head Coach Alain Vigneault’s system, as he is a defensive first type of player. Brassard played for Vigneault from 2013-16, so he knows exactly what to expect from AV.
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Again Brassard wasn’t the flashiest, or sexiest addition by any means. However, he checks off boxes of need for the Flyers overall. Now it’s time to see how this addition helps the Flyers post-season push.
From all of us here at Flyers Nitty Gritty, our hearts, thoughts and prayers remain with the Hayes family during this difficult time.
