Islanders Derick Brassard isn’t effective away from Beauvillier and Brock

Derick Brassard was brought in to be Valtteri Filppula 2.0 for the New York Islanders. He hasn’t yet been able to fill that role.

The New York Islanders are looking to buy at the trade deadline. Ideally, they’ll bring in a top-six winger who can score goals. If they do, that likely means Derick Brassard will be bumped down to anchor line three. Like he was brought in to do during the offseason.

That shouldn’t technically be an issue for the 13-year NHL veteran center. He’s been around the block, he should be able to carry a third line that’s being asked to contribute some depth offense while playing some responsible defensive hockey.

But when Derick Brassard is away from

Brock Nelson

and

Anthony Beauvillier

, he just can’t perform.

With and Without

With Brock Nelson and Anthony Beauvillier, Derick Brassard has been an effective top-six player. We all remember that 12 game stretch between October 24 and November 21 when Brassard scored 15 points.

But now that Brassard is away from the duo of Brock and Beau he hasn’t been able to hit the same highs. At 5on5 Brassard has three points all season, when his ice time with Beau and Brock dips below ten percent. When he isn’t playing with them he isn’t producing.

Away from Beau and Brock, Brassard holds a 33.33GF percentage and a 48.55xGF percentage with 53.29 of his faceoffs taken in the offensive zone. But together, the trio holds a 61.9GF percentage and an xGF percentage of 50.24 percent with 45.83 of their faceoffs in the offensive zone. All at 5on5.

(All stats from NaturalStatTrick.)

Even though Brassard is given a more offensive role away from Brock Nelson and Anthony Beauvillier, he isn’t giving the Islanders that offense. If anything Derick Brassard is being caved in offensively when he’s away from the two B’s.

He’s been fine on the power play with seven points, tied for the lead with Mathew Barzal and Josh Bailey at eight power-play points. But his play at 5on5 just isn’t there.

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And that needs to change. Like yesterday.

Ideally, the Islanders will find a top-six goal scorer in the trade market. And that means Derick Brassard will have to find a way to anchor the third line like he was brought in to do last August.