Based on one of the suggestions from my last blog, I will provide grades for each player, the GM and coach, including the assistant coaches. But to make it a bit different and interactive, I am going to change it up a bit. Usually, I would present a lot of background along with a rating on the player. Not this time.
The player will be given a rating. Factoring into that rating will of course be his performance but another input is going to be performance versus expectation coming into the season. Much of the background I likely covered in my tear down blogs, so don't expect massive chapter and verse but possibly some quick hitting information if not already covered in those blogs. In addition, to create some parameters, a player will have had to play 20 games to get a grade. Anything less means there isn't a representative sample for which to make a decision, so Brady Skjei and Marek Hrivik, to name two, will not get grades.
Here is where it gets really funky and interactive. I want you the reader to comment on the blog as to the rating. But not just hey I think you are right on or you are crazy but to provide your own rating and rationale for it. So if you agree with what I wrote, great, say that. But if the belief is the rating should be higher or lower, then you have to provide the rationale accordingly. Plus and minus grades are allowed to enable a broader opinion. Before the next blog, we will see if the blog comments consensus rating mirrors mine.
In addition, to shake it up, I will jump around a bit, so not all the players of the same rating are listed in a row, same with positions. So in the immortal words of Forrest Gump, you never know what you're going to get. Let's get it started.
First up: Derick Brassard
This is what I wrote in the third tear down blog: Brassard is slated to make $5 mil per for three more years. Big Game Brass did have four points in the Pittsburgh series, but he was invisible far too often. When he was on the ice, he was grossly outplayed by whoever he was matched against, as his defensive failings were on constant display. After scoring 19 goals and 41 assists in the first year of his deal, Brassard had 27 goals and 31 assists this year. Seeing how good his shot is, you just wish Brassard would shoot more but that isn't always his game.
Brassard, like Derek Stepan, could be a cap creation casualty. A decision on Brassard may depend on just how much change and turnover is desired. His skill set and decent salary for at worst a #2 center should bring back a healthy return. I would say is 55-45 he returns, but I wouldn't be shocked if he goes, though he does have an NTC, which could make any deal complicated.
Grade: B (despite solid offensive production, his tendency to vanish at times, coupled with defensive liabilities brings his grade down slightly).