Derick Brassard, a member of the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2021-22 season, has announced his retirement from the NHL.
The Hull, Québec native announced his retirement in an interview with French-Canadian publication La Presse.
“I probably would have played one more season,” he said. “I was in D. J. Smith’s plans, I think. But it took me eight months to recover. Arrived in November, with the signing of Vladimir Tarasenko, the Senators’ salary situation, it wouldn’t have worked. I’d be able to play right now, but at my age, after missing a full year, it would be impossible to come back. Hockey is over for me.”
Brassard’s final NHL game came with the Ottawa Senators on March 30th, 2023 against the Flyers at Canadian Tire Centre. The forward suffered a fractured fibula in the contest that he needed surgery to repair and missed the entire 2023-24 season as a result.
“They attached my foot to the back. I never wanted to see the resumption of play again, it was too disgusting,” explained Brassard. “Mikhail Sergachev suffered the same thing. I texted him, by the way. I was surprised that he could come back after three or four months.”
The 36-year-old contemplated returning to hockey to represent Team Canada in the 2024 Spengler Cup.
“I was interested in the Spengler Cup tournament, but I would have had to go to Switzerland and with a 10-month-old boy, I was still quite comfortable at home. I didn’t want to travel.”
(Heather Barry Images, LLC)
Brassard appeared in 31 games with the Flyers in 2021-22, recording 6 goals and 10 assists for 16 points. In just his second game with Philadelphia, Brassard scored a goal and tacked on 2 assists in a 6-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken on October 18th, 2021.
A Philly first for Derick Brassard! #SEAvsPHI | #BringItToBroad pic.twitter.com/RB0Uy0piuU
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) October 19, 2021
Brassard found instant chemistry on the second line with Joel Farabee and Cam Atkinson, leading to the trio being dubbed “The FAB Line” throughout their early season success.
Brassard reached a milestone by scoring his 200th NHL goal with the Flyers on March 12th, 2022. It was the only goal in a 3-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes and it was also Brassard’s final goal as a member of the Orange and Black.
All square after two periods thanks to Derick Brassard.
The third period is underway from Raleigh as we aim to break the tie. #PHIvsCAR | #BringItToBroad pic.twitter.com/geNiSHV5ad
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) March 12, 2022
Brassard was later traded to the Edmonton Oilers for a fourth-round pick at the 2022 Trade Deadline. The Flyers used the pick to select winger and current prospect Alex Čiernik.
Before joining the Flyers, Brassard was drafted 6th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2006 NHL Draft after an illustrious junior career with the QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs, highlighted by a 116-point campaign in his draft season. He spent parts of six seasons with Columbus before being traded to the New York Rangers in 2013. He helped the Rangers reach the 2014 Stanley Cup Final before being traded to Ottawa for Mika Zibanejad in the 2016 offseason. In his first year with the Senators, Brassard helped lead the team to the 2017 Eastern Conference Final. He later made stops with Pittsburgh, Florida, Colorado, the Islanders, and Arizona before signing in Philadelphia.
(Heather Barry Images, LLC)
Brassard made one last trip to the Eastern Conference Final in the 2020 COVID bubble with the Islanders after they eliminated the Flyers in seven games.
Brassard ends his NHL career with 215 goals and 330 assists for 545 points in 1,013 games.
