The Ottawa Senators gave Gatineau forward Derick Brassard a professional tryout on Thursday ahead of their upcoming training camp.
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Brassard, 34, wore the team’s uniform for 139 regular season games between 2016 and 2018. In his first campaign in the federal capital, he helped the “Sens” reach the third round of playoffs. The veteran spent last season with the Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers. He had eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points in 46 games. In the playoffs, the forward has only played one game.
Asked about the arrival of the pivot and that of winger Michael Dal Colle, also invited by the club, general manager Pierre Dorion is happy to have acted in this direction. In the center, Brassard will have a lot to do to carve out a place for himself. The organization is counting on Josh Norris, Shane Pinto, Tim Stützle and Dylan Gambrell in this position.
“It’s a decision we had to make. Simply, Derick was in our sights and Michael played under the orders of [l’entraîneur-chef] TJ Smith [dans les rangs juniors, chez les Generals d’Oshawa]. Currently, we have four center players, except that we have always wanted to create a healthy competition there, “commented the DG to the local newspaper.
“He will be there and he will play exhibition games at the center,” he then promised, referring to the Quebecer. We’ll see what he still has in store.”
The Senators’ first preseason game is scheduled for Sept. 24 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. During the preseason schedule, they will do battle four times with the Montreal Canadiens, on October 1, 4, 6 and 8.