As the song says, fairy tales can come true, they can happen to you.
Could have happened to Derick Brassard, but the Avalanche couldn’t protect the 3-2 lead he gave them with a third-period goal Monday, and they lost 4-3 in overtime to the Florida Panthers, their 12th defeat in 13 games after regulation this season.
Even so, the 31-year-old forward made a positive impression in his Avalanche debut, changing locker rooms to play against his former teammates after being traded about 7 1-2 hours earlier.
Brassard had barely made his way onto the Pepsi Center ice for the Panthers morning skate when he was taken off, given word that he’d be heading to the Avalanche for a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL draft.
Playing left wing on a line with center Tyson Jost and right wing Matt Calvert, Brassard logged 13:20 of ice time (1:41 on power plays), took three shots on goal and won nine of 12 faceoffs.
“He was pretty good,… coach Jared Bednar said. “Hadn’t skated in a couple days, comes in, gets brushed up on things, scores a big goal for us. Pretty good on the draws. We’ll get to know him a little bit better. I don’t know him real well as a player, trying to do my homework on him. I liked his talk out there, a veteran guy, knows what’s going on, making the right reads.…
General manager Joe Sakic was interested in Brassard for his experience, the fact that he can play center and left wing, and play on different lines.
“We’d like to make the playoffs and this group deserves a chance for a little boost to try and help us get there," Sakic said. "We’re in a fight with a few different teams to try and get in.…
The Avalanche will get Florida’s sixth-round pick in 2020 if Brassard re-signs with them; he’s eligible to become an unrestricted free agent July 1. “Every time you're going to a new team, you have to find your way into the lineup and kind of start all over again,… Brassard said. “For me, I was looking for a fit and I feel like this team is the right fit for me.…
Brassard was Columbus’ first-round pick (No. 6) in 2006 and he spent parts of six seasons with the Blue Jackets before getting traded to the New York Rangers in 2012-13. He had his best two seasons with the Rangers, collecting a career-best 60 points in 2014-15 and 58 points (with a career-high 27 goals) in 2015-16.
He hasn’t had that kind of success since leaving the Rangers, with stints with Ottawa and Pittsburgh. The Penguins traded him to Florida on Feb. 1.
Calvert, who signed with the Avalanche last summer, played with Brassard in Columbus and is happy to have him on board.
“He’s a great team guy,… Calvert said. “When I first came to the league, he took me in. I stayed with him for a month or two at his house, so I got to know him well and I’ve kind of followed his career since and kept close in touch. I’ve seen him at a few weddings over the summer, so great addition for our team, a lot of talent, and he’s only going to help our playoff chances.…
Brassard has 20 points (11 goals, nine assists) in 51 games this season, 448 points (173 goals, 275 assists) in 767 regular-season games. He’s been involved in some lengthy playoff runs and has 59 points (23 goals, 36 assists) in 90 postseason games.
“I've played close to 100 games in the playoffs, so I’ve played in some big games,… he said. “I went to the Stanley Cup finals (with the Rangers in 2014), had some good runs with New York. I'm going to try to bring that experience. I feel like this team, it's not upcoming, I think we're right there. At the same time, we have a lot of good players. The core of this team is still really young.
"I mean, I don't like saying this, but I'm probably one of the oldest guys here. I'm going to try to bring that experience. We'll see how it's going to go.…