Career
Before playing in the NHL, Brassard played parts of four seasons with the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He had a successful time with the Voltigeurs. He was awarded the Michel Bergeron Trophy for the QMHL's Overall Rookie of the Year, the RDS Cup for Rookie of the Year, and he was selected for the QMJHL All-Rookie Team in 2004. The next season he was awarded the Michael Bossy Trophy for being the best prospect in the QMJHL.
He was drafted 6th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2006 NHL entry draft. On September 21, 2006, Brassard signed a three-year, $3.74 million entry-level contract to join the Blue Jackets. He was immediately sent down to play for their AHL-affiliate Syracuse Crunch while he was recovering from an injury. On January 11, 2008, the Blue Jackets called him up and he made his NHL debut in a 6–4 win against the St. Louis Blues. On January 20, he recorded his first NHL point, assisting on a Fredrik Modin goal in a 3–1 loss against the Colorado Avalanche. On February 2, Brassard scored his first NHL goal against Niklas Bäckström in a 4–1 loss against the Minnesota Wild. On September 4, 2009, Brassard signed a four-year, $12.8 million contract to stay with the Blue Jackets. When the NHL went into a lockout, Brassard decided to travel overseas and signed a contract to play for EC Red Bull Salzburg of then Erste Bank Eishockey Liga (EBEL). He played 6 games with the team, scoring 4 goals and recording 1 assist before the NHL season resumed and he rejoined the Blue Jackets. Brassard and many other players left Salzberg on bad terms, claiming that the team was a "joke" and that head coach Pierre Pagé was too hard as a coach.
On April 3, 2013, the Blue Jackets traded Brassard along with Derek Dorsett, John Moore, and a 2014 sixth-round pick to the New York Rangers in exchange for Marián Gáborík, Blake Parlett, and Steven Delisle. He helped the Rangers during the playoffs. They defeated the Washington Capitals four games to three in the first round and were eventually defeated by the Boston Bruins four games to one in the semi-finals. Over the course of the playoffs, Brassard recorded 12 points. He helped the Rangers during the playoffs again the next year. They defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Montreal Canadiens. They were eventually defeated by the Los Angeles Kings four games to one in the Finals. On July 27, 2014, Brassard signed a five-year, $25 million contract to stay with the Rangers.
On July 18, 2016, the Rangers traded Brassard along with a 2018 seventh-round pick to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Mika Zibanejad and a 2018 second-round pick. He helped the Senators during the playoffs. They defeated the Boston Bruins and Brassard's former team, the New York Rangers. They were eventually defeated by the Pittsburgh Penguins four games to three in the Eastern Conference final. Brassard had been playing through the playoff run with a torn glenoid labrum and needed surgery in the postseason.
On February 23, 2018, he was included in a three-team trade. The Senators traded Brassard along with Vincent Dunn and a 2018 third-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Ian Cole, Filip Gustavsson, a 2018 first-round pick, and a 2019 third-round pick. The Vegas Golden Knights received Ryan Reaves and a 2018 fourth-round draft pick from the Penguins while trading Tobias Lindberg to them and retaining 40% of Brassard's salary. He struggled with production during the playoffs, suffering two groin injuries, and mainly played on the bottom six line late in his tenure with the team.
On February 1, 2019, the Penguins traded Brassard along with Riley Sheahan, two 2019 fourth-round picks, and a 2019 second-round pick to the Florida Panthers in exchange for Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann. He played 10 games with the Panthers, scoring 1 goal and recording 3 assists.
On February 25, 2019, the Panthers traded Brassard along with a 2020 conditional sixth-round pick to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a 2020 third-round pick. He played 20 games with the Avalanche and scored 4 goals during his time with them.
On August 21, 2019, Brassard signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract to join the New York Islanders. He was able to find production again, going on a five-game point streak.
On December 30, 2020, Brassard signed a one-year, $1,000,000 contract to join the Arizona Coyotes. He was named an alternate captain during his time with the team. He ended up playing 53 games with the Coyotes, scoring 8 goals and recording 12 assists.
On August 25, 2021, Brassard signed a one-year, $825,000 contract to join the Philadelphia Flyers. He struggled through injuries during his time with the Flyers. He ended up playing 31 games with the team, scoring 6 goals and recording 10 assists.
On March 21, 2022, the Flyers traded Brassard to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a 2023 fourth-round pick. He played 15 games with the team, scoring 2 goals and recording 1 assist.
On October 10, 2022, Brassard signed a one-year, $750,000 contract to rejoin the Ottawa Senators. He joined the team after signing a professional try out (PTO) contract the month before and playing with the team. On March 2, 2023, Brassard played in his 1,000 career NHL game. Brassard scored two goals during the game and the Senators defeated the New York Rangers by a score of 5–3.
On June 23, 2024, Brassard announced that he was retiring from playing professional ice hockey.
.jpg)
Canada