With the Eastern Conference Finals set to continue on Monday between the Washington Capitals and the Tampa Bay Lightning, one team that hasn’t been sitting around for the last couple of years is the Pittsburgh Penguins. Entering the playoffs red-hot after a key trade deadline acquistion, many people thought that the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins might make their third-straight trip to the Stanley Cup. Instead, they were ousted by the Capitals, who are fighting for their life.
The Penguins felt they hit the jackpot after making a big three-way trade between the Ottawa Senators and the Vegas Golden Knights to acquire that second-line center they desperately needed in Derick Brassard. While he seemed to be a good fit early during the final part of the regular season when he put up eight points in 14 games, Brassard suffered through an undisclosed “difficult injury,” near the end of the season and struggled throughout the playoffs. He managed just one goal and four points in 12 playoff games.
“I don’t know if we ever got there, to the comfort level where we know he’s capable of being the player he is,” said head coach Mike Sullivan following the season.
In exchange for Brassard, the Penguins gave up quite a bit to the Ottawa Senators and Vegas Golden Knights, including defenseman Ian Cole (who was subsequently flipped to Columbus), goaltending prospect Filip Gustavsson, enforcer Ryan Reaves, a 2018 first-round pick, a 2019 third-round pick and the Vancouver Canucks’ 2018 fourth-round pick.
Cole fit in nicely with Columbus and became a key piece to the Blue Jackets’ defensive core and his gritty play and leadership may have been missed from the Penguins lineup, although defenseman Chad Ruhwedel did a solid job replacing him. While many won’t miss Reaves, his size and leadership also may have been underestimated as he eventually was a key figure in the Vegas Golden Knights’ playoff run, scoring the game-winning goal to clinch the team’s first trip to the Stanley Cup. And while the Penguins are overloaded in prospects, Gustavsson finished his season, came over to the U.S. and already on the Senators’ AHL roster getting valuable playing time.
That doesn’t include the picks that the Penguins have given up, not including the fact that Pittsburgh will have drafted in the first round just once in the past six years (and Kasperi Kapanen was traded not long after to Toronto).
On a positive note, the Penguins have one more year to show that Brassard was worth the haul they gave up. He still has one more year at $3MM (after Vegas retained some of his salary) suggesting he’s on a very affordable contract.
So, did the Penguins make the right decision in trading for Brassard?
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
Malkin is their second line center. Brassard was acquired for the third line.
Chad Ruhwedel played well so losing Cole didn’t actually matter much as it seemed like it might and Reaves likely wouldn’t have played much, if at all.
Having Cole around wouldn’t have stopped Letang from making rookie level mental mistakes each game.
Having Reaves around wouldn’t have stopped Tom Wilson from being a gutless punk because Wilson refused to fight Oleksiak when challenged. If he won’t drop the gloves with anyone, he sure wouldn’t have dropped them with Reaves.
We have no way of knowing if Brassard would have played well if he stayed healthy because he could barely skate and it’s not fair to evaluate him based on that. He’s always been a great playoff player in the past.
Matt Hunwick, not Derick Brassard, is the lamentable Rutherford transaction this year. Brassard has been a great player most of his career. Oleksiak and Sheahan played great for the team. But Hunwick didn’t make sense at the time and it didn’t work out.
Dude – your smoking crack – Cole and Reaves were the only physical players the Pens had on there roster – I love Oleksiak but he’s not feared around the league like Reaves – when Reaves was on the bench during regular season games against the Caps Wilson didn’t pull any of that crap. Reaves value is magnified by five during the playoffs. Get a grip – you don’t know “shit” about Hockey!!
Yes. They had to go for it. A 3 peat would’ve been very impressive, especially given the “parity” the league claims to have. Given that he’s under control for another year at a low price, it’s fine. If he was a rental it would’ve been too much.
Brassard is very good and is normally a great playoff performer. But they gave up way too much for two years of him.
Great value on that contract now too. They gave up a lot but a full season with him will obviously help
Brassard had nothing to do with pitt losing. Kris Letang was 100% at fault. Guy cant seem to understand hes a defensemen
Agree – The Caps exploited him always freelancing and out of position – every time the guy was on the ice there was an odd man break!!
Brassard happened to get hurt right before the playoffs. If he was healthy going in, might have been the difference in more scoring for the 3rd line.
What is this poll? Is this serious? “Hey, this guy got injured and wasn’t playing his best hockey. The injury happened after he was acquired. Should the Penguins have looked into a Crystal Ball before acquiring him?”….
I’m dumbfounded right now. The Penguins center depth was amongst the worst in the league… It went Crosby, Malkin and a series of rejects.
I know hockey news is only fun on two days a year, but this is reaching and then some.