Islanders: Can Derick Brassard Provide Depth Scoring In Playoffs?

Derick Brassard has 10 goals for the Islanders this year. Can he be the depth scoring they need in the playoffs?

Lou Lamoriello was able to find Derick Brassard in the bargain bin this past summer. He signed a one-year deal with the Islanders for $1.2 million to be the third-line center. In 66 games this season, he had 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) a pace of 40 points over a full season.

While on paper 40 points from your supposed third-line center seems great, there’s really more to the story than that. Six of his 10 goals came within the first 17 games of the season and 16 of his 32 points came in the first 20 games.

That means, in his final 46 games of the year he had just 16 points and four goals. Also, keep in mind at that point in the season (when he was productive), Brassard was playing on the wing on the second line, not in his third-line center role.

Due to his short-comings, the Isles elected to trade for JG Pageau, who is now their third-line center, and a much more well-rounded one at that.

When looking at what Derick Brassard has done during his career in the playoffs and with him back on the wing, could the Islanders see some production from him?

In the playoffs, Brassard has 60 points in 99 career games or a pace of 50 points over a full season. Something to keep in mind is a huge chunk of Brassard’s production came before turning 28.

He had 40 of his 60 points in his first 54 playoff games. 40 points in 54 games is a pace of 61 points over a full season, obviously great numbers. Since then, he’s had 20 in his last 45 which is a pace of 36 points.

More recently, in his last two playoff trips, he has just one goal and five points in 21 games. Obviously that’s a smaller sample size, but that’s a pace of just 20 points.

Want your voice heard? Join the Eyes On Isles team!

Write for us!

So no, I wouldn’t expect Derick Brassard to be the random savior for the Islanders. Yes, he has been known for his playoff heroics but this is from many, many, many moons ago. They’re more likely to get heroics from someone else on that line that we’ll discuss more tomorrow.