Photo Credit: Len Redkoles/Getty Images
There’s no doubt that the injuries of the Kevin Hayes and Ryan Ellis have impacted this team but- to the general manager’s and coach’s credit- it has not been to the extent that most would have been led to believe, given their positions of hierarchy on the team. That is due largely to the play of a few players who have stepped up immensely in their absence, and this includes Derick Brassard.
Brassard, a 34-year-old center who the team brought in for a very modest $825,000 this off season (just in case this type of thing were to happen), has been tasked with the duty of replacing the team’s second line center Kevin Hayes (whose cap hit is over $7.1 million a year)- and has done so flawlessly. For some, playing on a line with Joel Farabee and Cam Atkinson might seem like a dream come true, but Derick (who has 913 NHL regular season games under his belt) has remained realistic. He knew that this would be a challenge (Being placed in the top six comes with the expectation that not only are you supposed to produce but you also need to make sure your new, highly-talented linemates are able to produce as well). So far, Derick has proven that he has been able live up to both of those tasks, currently operating on a .075 point-per-game (PPG) average posting a goal and five assists for six points in eight games played (GP). His two-way play and his hard work in front of the net and along the boards has allowed for linemates Atkinson and Farabee to start out the year on a hot streak as well: Atkinson is working at a .875 PPG average so far- netting six goals and one assist for seven points in 8GP, and Farabee averaging a 0.75 PPG with stats that include three goals and three assists on the year. But offensive production is not all this player has brought to this line and others: Brassard is also a +7 right now despite his playing on the penalty killing unit at times as well. With Derick’s much appreciated ability to step up in the Flyers’ time of need, it has made it so that the team’s management hasn’t felt the need to rush Hayes- their star center- back into the lineup, which has allowed him the proper time to heal and recover.
Then there’s the wisely old veteran defenseman Justin Braun. This year, once top pairing defenseman Ryan Ellis went down with a nagging injury after playing in just three games to start the season, Braun has been able to take on the extra minutes and thrive. While the 34-year-old Braun may not be the lightest of foot any more, he has somehow managed to make the most out of his chance to play alongside the team’s star defender Ivan Provorov these last five games. Getting the chance to play in upwards of 24 minutes a night (like he did recently against Edmonton when he played 23:42), Braun has managed to produce like a first pairing defenseman as well, totaling one goal and five assists for six points in eight games played this season. Additionally, Justin has been able to average a +8 on the season as well. When the news broke of Ellis’ injury, many fans immediately thought the worst given the team’s play defensively last season but, surprisingly, Justin’s play in Ryan’s absence has been nothing short of amazing.
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With these two veterans possessing the aptitude to step up in a time of crisis it has allowed the team to remain in contention within the Metropolitan Division instead of surely faltering when faced with these kinds of injury in years past. With the decision of the team’s general manager Chuck Fletcher to bring in Brassard/ back Braun- among others- the team does not tend to look at these situations the same. Before, the team would be in a mindset of misery and despair when hearing of injuries occurring such as these; now, the team looks at it as a challenge that they will be forced to overcome and will set out to do so with a renewed sense of grit and determination. With this type of ability to adapt and overcome now back in the locker room, there’s no telling what heights this team will now be able to reach this season.
