Islanders: How Ineffective Is Derick Brassard?

Derick Brassard has been as cold as cold can be for the New York Islanders after a solid first 20 games of the season. Just how bad is it?

When the New York Islanders signed Derick Brassard to replace Val Filppula the thought was that he’d be at least a lateral step over in the third line center role. Both centers had seen better days but were good enough veterans to fill a role on the third line, or so we thought.

In the first 20 games of the year, Brassard put up 16 points. There was even a stretch where he netted goals in five straight games while playing on the wing. In the 45 games since Brassard has just 14 points.

He has gone into a complete shell and was one of the main reasons why the Islanders felt it was necessary to bring in JG Pageau at the trade deadline.

For more context over his last 32 games, Brassard has just two goals. Two goals in 32 games is almost impossible to do for a forward, just ask Leo Komarov.

Sure, a third-line player can be effective without putting up goals but he isn’t necessarily doing that either. He has only played 3:22 on the penalty kill this year. So if you aren’t putting up points, helping out on the PK or really moving the needle in either direction what exactly are you doing here?

Brassard’s contract expires at the end of the year and you can bet your bank account that he will not be brought back to the Isles for the 2020-2021 season.

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