Penguins Trade Deadline and Brassard Syndrome

My earliest memories of playing hockey involve me, my brother, and neighbors in my basement with metal roller skates that had to be strapped onto your shoe. Goals were painted on the wall with red paint we constantly scored the game winning goal of the Stanley Cup while pretending to be players like Pronovost, Kehoe & LaRouche.

Nhl’ers grew up the same way. They all had hockey hero’s. If and when they made it to the NHL they were always going to be a star player. Most of the players that have made it to the NHL have been a star on a team at one point. Whether it was midgets, high school or juniors. The NHL gets the best of the best. This has built up an ego or two.

Brassard Syndrome

Derick Brassard was brought to the Penguins to solve a third line center problem that had plagued the Penguins since losing Nick Bonino. The Brassard trade was unpopular in some circles more because of what the Penguins gave up than what they picked up.

Like the trade or not, the Penguins GM Rutherford had picked up a legitimate third line center. A quality scoring center that had a proven track record and could easily be a top two center on many NHL teams.

Brassard didn’t work out. He had spent his entire life working his ass off to achieve the right to be a “star” player on a team. Here in Pittsburgh Brassard had absolutely no chance in the world of usurping the number one and two centers from a team that had just won back to back Cups. He also wasn’t going to see a second worth of time on the teams #1 powerplay. Brassard was unhappy, his dour attitude wasn’t good for the team it eventually got him shipped out-of-town.

Simply put, the Brassard Syndrome is a players problem thinking they are more important than their role on a team.  A symptom is putting ones needs in front of the needs of the team.  Fewer players on a team with B.S. is better for the team.

The Penguins want a good winger

Looking at the Penguins roster, it is easy to see their biggest want would be a quality left winger for Evgeni Malkin. There are numerous guys names being thrown around that could fill that role.

Ilya Kovalchuk – Kings,  Micheal Ferland – Hurricanes, Wayne Simmonds – Flyers, Thomas Vanek – Red Wings, Jacob Silfverberg- Ducks, Gustav Nyquist – Red Wings, Patrick Maroon – Blues, Marcus Johanssen – Devils, Andre Burkovsky – Capitals, Artemi Panarin – Blue Jackets and Jeff Skinner – Sabres to name a few.

All of the above at some point in their career have played left-wing. Most of the above are rental players.

What Should the Penguins do?

I’m going to start with what the Penguins shouldn’t do. They should not throw out the first round pick, quality prospect or player for a rental player. Rental players tend to play soft so they stay healthy to get a big contract the next year. The “Brassard Syndrome” will ensure the rental player isn’t going to sign with the Penguins. If you doubt that, you can reference just about every Ray Shero trade deadline deal he made for the Penguins.

Stay away from players with B.S.  The Penguins can’t even make room for Phil Kessel on the top two lines or powerplay, how would they fit anyone else in without irking Kessel?

The Penguins scouts probably have already done the hard work scouting to find the wingers who have potential but are being under used. Diamonds in the rough if you will. Warren Young or Robbie Brown type guys that need a superstar center to show their real potential. These guys, would most likely be paired with Evgeni Malkin and/or Phil Kessel.  They must be a strong defensively, have some speed, and not be afraid to go to the traffic areas.

Knowing Rutherford, the guys he has in mind are probably already signed for a year or two more than rentals players.

If a trade doesn’t happen, recently traded for Nick Bjugstad or Jared McCann may already be the perfect winger for Malkin. The emergence of Teddy Blueger has given the Pens lineup the versatility they would need to see if either would work, but there are only five games left before the deadline to find out.