The Ottawa Senators reportedly signed free agent centre Derick Brassard to a one-year, $750,000 deal. This contract takes Brassard just through to next summer, when the 35-year-old will hit free agency again.
The #Sens have signed forward Derick Brassard to a one-year, $750,000 deal pic.twitter.com/CldhN8Ldmh
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) October 10, 2022
Derick Brassard Signed One-Year Contract with Ottawa
Over his 15-year NHL career, Brassard played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, New York Islanders, Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers and Senators. (*Pausing to catch my breath after listing all 10 squads Brassard suited up for*.) Columbus drafted him back in 2006 with their first round, sixth overall selection. In the years since he amassed 202 goals and 320 assists for 522 career points in 951 games.
What This Means for the Future
Brassard spent five and a half years with Columbus to start his career, and then three and a half with the Rangers. From the 2016-17 season and onwards, though, he has played less than two full years in any one city. That comes out to eight different franchises over the last six NHL seasons. At least in Ottawa, he returns to a city he spent a year-and-a-half in. But even that is a short stint in the eyes of an average NHL’er.
The Sens made a ton of moves this past offseason, to bolster their lineup around their developing young core. Brady Tkachuk, Joshua Norris, Drake Batherson, Mathieu Joseph, Tim Stutzle, Alex DeBrincat, Shane Pinto and Alex Formenton are all 25 or younger. Joseph came over midseason last year, while DeBrincat came this offseason via trade. They inked veteran star Claude Giroux to a three year deal this summer too. Now with Derick Brassard signed and added to the mix, and the Senators host a very competitive forward group.
This team wants to make noise, and make it now. They look a lot stronger on paper today than they did a year ago. Expectations go up this year, too. Expect a push for the playoffs from this team, though they may fall just short.
SNAPSHOTS: Derick Brassard would be thrilled to carve out a Jason Spezza role with Senators https://t.co/6hDUlrQyH9 pic.twitter.com/uqUUlEh5KT
— Ottawa Sun (@ottawasuncom) October 3, 2022
