New York Islanders: Derick Brassard adds much needed depth

The New York Islanders got more than they expected out of Valtteri Filppula last season. Could Derick Brassard do the same? 

Last summer, the New York Islanders signed Valtteri Filppula to a one-year deal worth $2.75 million. It wound up paying off for them, though it required a shooting percentage of over 20% to do so. This summer, the Islanders needed to replace him. They have done so by signing Derick Brassard to a one-year deal worth $1.2 million.

Brassard is a pretty solid guy to bet on. His 2018-19 season was a nightmare, as the usually consistent center put up a career-low 23 points in 70 games split between the Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, and Colorado Avalanche.

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Before last season, Brassard was someone you can pencil in for 40 points a season. From 2010-11 to 2017-18, he either got to 40 points or was on pace to do so in a lockout-shortened season seven times. The only time Brassard didn’t get to 40 points, he had 39 points.

Those days of 40+ points are most likely over for him. Age tends to hit players over 30 hard. Brassard faced a sharp decline last season. While it’s not a guarantee he will continue to decline, once a player starts declining, it’s not easy to reverse the trend.

With that said, Brassard should be able to help the Islanders. At even strength, he will take over Filppula’s third-line center role. It’s worth noting this is the same role Brassard didn’t fit in with the Penguins, but the Islanders have a more structured system. Maybe that helps.

Brassard should also help the Islanders power play issues. Last season, they struggled mightily with an extra man on the ice, converting on just 14.54% of their chances. The Isles have two distinct units, which is different from what he had with the Penguins and Avalanche. Both teams tend to use their first power-play unit more. The Islanders are closer to a 50-50 split than them.

While he could fit on the first unit, Brassard might be best suited in helping stabilize the second power-play unit. The second unit lacked a consistent force last season. Brassard could help solve that issue.

If the Islanders are smart, they might be able to squeeze a decent season out of him. However, it’s not as simple as putting Brassard with the same guys Filpulla played with – Leo Komarov and dal Colle (towards the end).

A simple switch on the right side could make a huge difference. Brassard could be a stabilizing force on the third line if he’s flanked by young players such as Josh Ho-Sang and dal Colle, as Shayna Goldman from The Athletic notes.

At $1.2 million for one year, it’s hard to hate the Brassard signing. He’s not far removed from being a useful player. Last season, Trotz got the most out of Filppula by finding the right role for him and putting him with guys he gained chemistry with. Brassard’s certainly not a long-term solution, but he could follow in Filppula’s footsteps and keep the third-line center spot warm while the Islanders look for a long-term option.