Islanders: Grading Derick Brassard’s lackluster 2019-20 season

The New York Islanders didn’t get what they thought they would get from Derick Brassard in 2019-20.

The New York Islanders signed now 32-year-old forward Derick Brassard back on August 21st, 2019 to a one-year, $1.2 million contract. He was signed to fill the void that was the Islanders’ third-line center, however, that quickly changed because Brassard struggled in this role.

In 66 games for the Islanders, Brassard managed 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) and an average time-on-ice (ATOI) of 13:42. Out of his 10 goals, three came on the power play and one was a game-winner.

When we look at how these stats compare to the rest of Brassard’s Islanders teammates, they aren’t the greatest. Brassard’s 32 points ranked eighth on the team and seventh among forwards, his 10 goals were tied for seventh overall and among forwards, and his 22 assists were tied for seventh overall and sixth among forwards.

Brassard’s three power-play goals were tied for the second-most on the team and among forwards, his one game-winning goal was tied for fifth-most overall and among forwards.

Break Down

If we break down Brassard’s ATOI of 13:42, he averaged 11:56 at even strength, 1:43 on the powerplay, and just 0:02 on the penalty kill. Respectively, these rank 16th on the team among skaters and ninth among forwards, 16th on the team and eighth among forwards, 10th overall and eighth among forwards, and 20th overall and 10th among forwards with at least 20 games played.

Brassard’s offensive point shares (OPS) and defensive point shares (DPS) weren’t the greatest either. With a 1.7 OPS, Brassard was tied for eighth on the team and seventh among forwards, while his 1.0 DPS was tied for ninth on the team and tied for third among forwards.

Although Brassard was signed to play center, he didn’t play it the majority of the time. He took just 357 faceoffs this season, however he had a good amount of success taking them, winning 55.2% of his faceoffs.

The Grade

With Valtteri Filppula leaving for the Detroit Red Wings last offseason, the Isles signed Brassard to fill that third line center hole. However, Brassard struggled with the defensive responsibilities that came with this position.

Brassard also struggled offensively, not scoring a goal until the ninth game of the season on October 24th against the Arizona Coyotes. He would then go on a five-game goal streak (half of his season total) that ended on November 2nd against the Philadelphia Flyers. This hot streak could be attributed to his move from third-line center to second-line right wing.

However, this level of play and success didn’t stay long with Brassard as he didn’t score again until three games after this streak ended and couldn’t manage to score in consecutive games for the rest of the season.

Because of the lack of offensive production by Brassard and his inability to effectively play the position he was signed to play, I think a grade of a C- is good for Brassard.