While we wait for training camp to open in September 12, not much is going on in Rangers land. Based on that, I wanted to get back to the 20+ offseason questions. As a reminder here is a
link to the 20+ questions initially raised, I have explicitly covered questions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 14 previously. Implicitly, we covered 16. Is Darroll Powe brought back for depth?; 19. Which free agents would you target? and 20. Who would you look to trade, since we have discussed those ad nauseum, ad infinitum?
Today's topic:
17. Has Derick Brassard truly turned the corner and can he be relied upon as a second line center? Or was it a small sample size and fools gold?
When the Rangers trade Marian Gaborik to the Blue Jackets, many of us, myself included questioned the rationale for the dal. Beyond just the cap relief obtained from deal Gabby, how was the team going to make up the loss of offensive potential - if not production, despite the down year from Gabby - and there were questions as to whether what they had received was sufficient for Gaborik? In addition, many of us felt that Dorsett might be the key to the deal given his physical style of play and how that was a major need for New York, despite the recent addition of Ryane Clowe just before this deal went down. How wrong we all were.
In full transparency, here is what wrote back on April 3: " I like Brassard's upside, but to date he has done little to justify his selection as the 6th overall pick in 2009. In addition, can he mentally stand up to Torts' machinations and fit into the Rangers system?" Brassard answered all those questions and more in New York, as he was a major reason why the Rangers made the playoffs and beat Washington. He had 11 points in 13 games in the regular season, but picked up his play in the playoffs. After going scoreless the first two games against the Capitals - both losses - he tallied nine points the next five games, including the sole goal in Game 6. Against Boston, while New York as a whole struggled, Brassard had three assists in the five games.
Brassard's struggles in Columbus built upon itself, as each one moved him further and further into the doghouse. He clearly needed a change and admitted so during the year, saying “I’ve always played with passion and energy, and I kind of lost that in my years in Columbus. I’ve found that again. It’s a great atmosphere for me (speaking about coming to the Rangers).” Now comes the hard. Many players get a bump in moving to a new team, as what happened hear with Brassard. Lots of people have taken notice as to his rejuvenated play to the point of him being mentioned as a long-shot for Team Canada if he gets off to a hot start. How will handle success? In addition, you now have added a reminder to times past with Scott Arniel, who Brassard had an extremely contentious relationship with in Columbus, now an assistant coach in charge of the PP in NY. How will Brassard deal with that situation? Can he move past that difficult relationship and not allow it to impact his game?
Brassard has tremendous skill and creativity, with his puck-handling his best suit. Those attributes would appear to fit seamlessly in with how Alain Vigneault uses his forwards in the offensive zone. Brassard should have learned from his past struggles, so that if he does have a rough patch it doesn't have a cumulative downward effect.
What also is unknown is who Brassard will play with? Assuming Derek Stepan re-signs and is in camp or on the team before the regular season starts, one top center spot is spoken for. With Brad Richards back with the team, having not been bought (not rehashing that as we have discussed that way too much) the question is who centers the second line, Brassard or Richards? The Hockey News projects Brassard as the Rangers third line center between Kreider and Zuccarello. I could easily see that happen, which if it does, it might lower his overall numbers, but would enable him to still play between two talent offensive forwards. To start the year, all the lines may be in flux because of the likely absences of Carl Hagelin and Ryan Callahan, so how the combinations are set for Game 1, may not be how they are for Game 20.
I always thought Brassard had major talent and he showed some signs of it in 2007-08, when he stormed out of the gate with 10 goals and 25 points in 31 games, before a shoulder injury cut short his year. He was never the same after that until he joined the Rangers. So back to the question: has Derick Brassard truly turned the corner and can he be relied upon as a second line center? Or was it a small sample size and fools gold? In my opinion, he has turned the corner, but I don't expect him to keep him that kind of scoring pace. If Brassard can score 50-55 points, make a difference on the power play and win close to 53% of his faceoffs as he did after coming to NY, then it will be a wildly successful for Brassard and likely the team.
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