One of the most consistent players throughout the Ottawa Senators playoffs run was Derick Brassard. He may not have always been the flashiest like Karlsson or Ryan, but he rarely had an off game. However, his status for next season is in doubt.
The playoffs are a tough beast for any player to handle. Injuries are plentiful and players from every team play through them. As a result these players may worsen these injuries for a chance at a championship. This was unfortunately the case with Brassard as a he suffered a shoulder injury during the playoffs. Despite injury, Brassard didn’t miss a game in the playoffs for the Ottawa Senators and he contributed 11 points in 19 games.
The result of playing through his shoulder injury is a longer recovery time. Early in June Brassard had surgery on his shoulder. The expected recovery time was about 4-5 months directly after surgery and there haven’t been updates since then. This could result in him being good to go on opening night, or he could miss up to a month at the start of the season. Only time will tell.
Presuming Brassard is healthy for the season he should be slotted for an improved season. He finished just shy of 40 points which was a drop off from his recent production in New York. However, this is likely because he was playing in a new team under a very different, strict system. A year later, Brassard should be able to utilise his experience to have a better season.
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Whenever it is that Brassard returns for the Ottawa Senators, he should slot in as the number two center. He will likely play between the likes of Clarke MacArthur and Bobby Ryan. Although it is uncertain when he will start the season, the biggest question is whether his injury could negatively impact his performance once he returns.