Former Penguins Forward Announces Retirement
One of the more disappointing trade targets in Pittsburgh Penguins history has hung up the skates.
PITTSBURGH – He may not have been a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins for long, but Derick Brassard was one of the most polarizing players when wearing black and gold. After not finding a team for the entire 2023-24 season, the NHL journeyman calls it a career.
Brassard officially announced his retirement from the league with 1,013 games under his belt, 54 of which came with the Penguins. Over his career, Brassard scored 215 goals and 330 assists for 545 total points with 10 teams across the league.
The Penguins acquired Brassard from the Ottawa Senators during the 2017-18 season in exchange for Stanley Cup-winning defenseman Ian Cole, prospect goalie Filip Gustavsson, a first and third round draft picks.
Brassard scored eight points to close out that season, then added four in 12 postseason games. To kick off the 2018-19 season, Brassard struggled with 15 points in 40 games. The Penguins flipped Brassard to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Jared McCann and Nick Bjugstad.
Rightly or wrongly, Brassard will be remembered in Pittsburgh mostly as a disappointment. He was never able to find his game in black and gold, and cost the Penguins a hefty price.
The Penguins did enjoy a good run with McCann for a few seasons, but he went on the blossom with the Seattle Kraken.
Over the course of his 16-year career, Brassard became a six-time 40-point scorer, maxing out at 60 in 2014-15 with the New York Rangers. The steady playmaker never won the Stanley Cup, but was part of the Rangers team that lost in the Cup Final in 2014.
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