Pens and Jackets hold talks about Brassard in tricky trade to come

Brassard might be on his way back to Columbus!

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HockeyFeed
Published 5 years ago
Pens and Jackets hold talks about Brassard in tricky trade to come
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It seems expected across the National Hockey League that Pittsburgh Penguins centre Derick Brassard will be traded ahead of the Feb. 25 deadline. 

Actually, it seems like it might take place sooner rather than later. 

According to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline, the Columbus Blue Jackets have just held talks with the Penguins about acquiring Brassard. 

The veteran centreman was acquired by the Penguins last season in a three-way trade prior to the deadline that involved the Ottawa Senators and Vegas Golden Knights. He was part of a three-team trade with Vegas as the Knights retained 40 per cent of Brassard's salary that season.

If he is on the move again, and it almost seems like a sure thing, it will be a fourth trade for Brassard ever since he was selected in the first round, sixth overall by the Blue Jackets back in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. However, he might enjoy heading back to Columbus and could benefit from the change of scenery. 

However, as mentioned by Portzline, "trading with a Metro rival would be a tricky business" for the Pens and Jackets. 


Brassard has recorded 14 points in 37 games and is an unrestricted free agent at season's end.

Penguins GM Jim Rutherford has made it clear it is looking for an upgrade down the middle on his third line as Brassard hasn't been a good fit in Pittsburgh. According to the information provided by Cap Friendly, the 31-year-old has one season left on his current contract and is owed $5 million this season with $2 million retained by Vegas. He does own a modified no-trade clause that includes a list of eight teams he wouldn’t accept a trade to so Rutherford will have to work with his forward if he wants to move him ahead of the trade deadline. 

He might accept a trade to Columbus, who is in dire need of another centre. 

Source: Twitter