The Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins are reportedly involved in trade talks surrounding Derick Brassard.
Trade deadline day is only a few weeks away and a flurry of rumors and reports surrounding the Columbus Blue Jackets are already stirring. Today, The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline reported that the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins are reportedly involved in trade talks surrounding Derick Brassard.
Brassard, a former first round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, has been a popular candidate on the trade block for the last few season’s as the Pens picked him up from Ottawa last year and now he seems to be available this year.
It’s no surprise the Jackets are targeting a center at the deadline. With disappointing play from Alexander Wennberg and Riley Nash, this team doesn’t have any game changing options down the middle past Pierre-Luc Dubois. What is surprising is the targeting of a player in their own division, and one that is, quite frankly, not very impressive.
Told #CBJ have had trade talks with #Pens regarding center Derick Brassard, who was drafted by Blue Jackets (No. 6 overall, ’06) and spent parts of six seasons in the sweater.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) January 17, 2019
Given CBJ need at center, not a surprise. But trading with a Metro rival would be a tricky business.
Trading for Brassard would be adding another bottom six center that won’t truly move the needle. He has been a below average third line center in Pittsburgh this year only posting eight goals and six assist. Brassard is underwater in every possession metric and is less than 50% at the face-off dot.
Adding Brassard would likely come at the cost of a draft pick and/or AHLer as Pittsburgh doesn’t any cap room whatsoever. That seems nice to not have to give up a piece but at the same time, you are giving Pittsburgh cap room if you take him off of their books and give Jim Rutherford more flexibility as he looks to prime his roster for a playoff run.
Why give the Penguins that flexibility for another sub par center that will not make a huge difference in this teams playoff hopes. Stay away from Derick Brassard and target a center like Matt Duchene who, although will be more expensive to trade for, will actually make a difference in this team’s playoff fate.