{"id":7030,"date":"2017-02-26T10:02:50","date_gmt":"2017-02-26T15:02:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=7030"},"modified":"2017-02-26T10:05:02","modified_gmt":"2017-02-26T15:05:02","slug":"derick-brassard-centre-ottawa-senators-looking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/02\/26\/derick-brassard-centre-ottawa-senators-looking\/","title":{"rendered":"Derick Brassard: the Centre the Ottawa Senators Have Been Looking For"},"content":{"rendered":"

Seven months ago the Ottawa Senators traded Mika Zibanejad<\/a> <\/strong>to the New York Rangers, in return they received Derick Brassard<\/a><\/strong>. The then 28-year-old was pitched as the left-shot centre that Bobby Ryan<\/a><\/strong> needed. For many he was simply an older, more expensive Zibanejad, and yet another example of Ottawa\u2019s inability to make structured, thought-out decisions. And he was, until all of the sudden he wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Derick Brassard: the Centre the Ottawa Senators Have Been Looking For<\/h2>\n

The beginning of the Brassard era in Ottawa was a far cry from what fans, and likely the player hoped for. \u00a0After two points in his debut, Brassard notched just six points in the next 18; two of which were secondary assists. He cycled through line mates, spending time with Bobby Ryan, Zack Smith<\/a><\/strong>, and Mike Hoffman<\/a> <\/strong>among others. His possession numbers were average at best, and his goals-for percentage was an eye-sore. None of this was made better by the fact Zibanejad was dominating in New York.<\/p>\n

By game 15 Guy Boucher had had enough, and decided to make a change<\/a>. Ryan was out, in his place: Mark Stone<\/a><\/strong>. It took a few games to adjust but the difference has been light and day. Brassard\u2019s possession numbers sky-rocketed, his team was scoring more goals with him on the ice than they were giving up, and he notched 25 points over the proceeding 39 games. That\u2019s including a goal-scoring drought where he was praised by Boucher despite his misfortune when it came to putting the puck in the back of the net.<\/p>\n

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#Sens<\/a> TV has Head Coach Guy Boucher's post-game comments following tonight\u2019s 6-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. pic.twitter.com\/UF9gkhLZpx<\/a><\/p>\n

— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) February 19, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n