Derick Brassard:
How Far Will He Go?
Alan Bass
Issue date: 12/4/08 Section: Sports
According to the Columbus War Room, Brassard had speed, creativity, hands, and great hockey sense. They too, however, were worried about the size of young Derick, at about 170 pounds at the time.
Kjell Larsson, Columbus' then European scout, did not think that he was an NHL-ready player, but that he could be. "He's not a goal scorer now-he's in the elite league, playing against pros. But a a goal scorer, I think he will become that."
And a goal scorer he did become.
(The source for the previous paragraph was Gare Joyce's book, Future Greats and Heartbreaks).
The 21-year old wonder was playing in Drummondville in late 2006 when he was assigned by the Columbus Blue Jackets to the NHL team. While there, he managed a mere two points in 17 games.
He was sent down to the AHL to Syracuse, where he proceeded to score 51 points in 42 games. He then spent the offseason training in Columbus in order to make the NHL team out of training camp, which he did.
"[The Blue Jackets] are weak at center…rookie Derick Brassard needs time to develop" -THN Pool Guide.
Now, he is being paired with Kristian Huselius and Nash on the top line for the Blue Jackets, as he continues to average a point per game. He indeed has the makings of a star; he is already one in Columbus. It is only a matter of time before he becomes known as a star in the NHL.
Is this season a one-year wonder? Perhaps. Will he even continue to score points on a nightly basis? Maybe not.
But in the last ten games, he has 13 points. After starting off the season with a "mere" six points in eight games, Brassard is hot. If he continues to get the playing time he has received from coach Ken Hitchcock, and if he continues to play with superstar Rick Nash, he will most likely continue to score at this pace, and perhaps increase his production.
The skies are limitless for Brassard. We have seen players like Thomas Vanek have a monstrous season, and then go on to drop down the stat sheet. Or, we have players like Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin who pop into the league and almost easily score hundreds of points. Which one will he be?
There are many players who seem to be having breakout seasons in the NHL this year, including Derick Brassard, Alexander Semin, Devin Setoguchi, and JP Dumont. Will all of these players continue to be stars in the National Hockey League? Who knows.
But I'll bet my money that Derick Brassard is going to be a perennial star in the NHL for years to come.
Kjell Larsson, Columbus' then European scout, did not think that he was an NHL-ready player, but that he could be. "He's not a goal scorer now-he's in the elite league, playing against pros. But a a goal scorer, I think he will become that."
And a goal scorer he did become.
(The source for the previous paragraph was Gare Joyce's book, Future Greats and Heartbreaks).
The 21-year old wonder was playing in Drummondville in late 2006 when he was assigned by the Columbus Blue Jackets to the NHL team. While there, he managed a mere two points in 17 games.
He was sent down to the AHL to Syracuse, where he proceeded to score 51 points in 42 games. He then spent the offseason training in Columbus in order to make the NHL team out of training camp, which he did.
"[The Blue Jackets] are weak at center…rookie Derick Brassard needs time to develop" -THN Pool Guide.
Now, he is being paired with Kristian Huselius and Nash on the top line for the Blue Jackets, as he continues to average a point per game. He indeed has the makings of a star; he is already one in Columbus. It is only a matter of time before he becomes known as a star in the NHL.
Is this season a one-year wonder? Perhaps. Will he even continue to score points on a nightly basis? Maybe not.
But in the last ten games, he has 13 points. After starting off the season with a "mere" six points in eight games, Brassard is hot. If he continues to get the playing time he has received from coach Ken Hitchcock, and if he continues to play with superstar Rick Nash, he will most likely continue to score at this pace, and perhaps increase his production.
The skies are limitless for Brassard. We have seen players like Thomas Vanek have a monstrous season, and then go on to drop down the stat sheet. Or, we have players like Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin who pop into the league and almost easily score hundreds of points. Which one will he be?
There are many players who seem to be having breakout seasons in the NHL this year, including Derick Brassard, Alexander Semin, Devin Setoguchi, and JP Dumont. Will all of these players continue to be stars in the National Hockey League? Who knows.
But I'll bet my money that Derick Brassard is going to be a perennial star in the NHL for years to come.