On December 1st, Derick Brassard’s agent, Allan Walsh, blasted the Columbus Blue Jackets’ management and specifically former coach Scott Arniel for making his client the “scape goat” and “fall guy” for the teams’ misfortunes. Five days later when the Blue Jackets traveled to Montreal, Brassard was benched for the eighth time.
This time, the scratch hurt even more. The Hull, Quebec native was born nearby. It was essentially a homecoming for the 24-year old, but nobody asked him to dance.
During the first part of the season, Brassard, who was expected to have a breakout year, was caught in a catch 22. He wasn’t getting playing time because he was stuck in a slump and he was slumping because he was away from the ice.
Occasionally, the center would pick up a game, but the lack of consistency made it hard for Brassard establish himself.
When Scott Arniel was relieved of his duties behind the bench on January 9th, Brassard moved back into the Blue Jackets locker room on a more permanent basis. Now, after getting the chance to string together consecutive games, the 24-year-old center is meeting expectations.
In the past five games, Brassard has two goals and two assists. On February 3rd, the center notched the first multi-goal game of his career against the Anaheim Ducks.
Despite being scratched eight times this season, Brassard is tied for sixth among team leaders with 19 points (9 goals and 10 assists). As a result of his offensive production, he is finding more time on the team’s top units. In the month of January, no. 16 registered 27 shots.
Though even with an innate ability for finding the back of the net, the Canadian has not reserved his 6-1 frame entirely for making plays. Perhaps more than anyone, Brassard has fully embraced Columbus’ willingness to bang bodies.
In the past ten games, the forward has recorded 22 hits. Then, against San Jose, Brassard squared off with Dan Boyle in an effort to make it known that he did not enjoy the liberties being taken against his team.
More than anything the fight was an expression of leadership, an attribute Brassard has proved to posses. But don’t expect him to lobby for a captain's position anytime soon, he’s just happy that come game day, he’s wearing a sweater instead of a suit.
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