Derick Brassard Daily Fantasy News, Rankings, Projections

With Gabriel Landeskog out indefinitely, Derick Brassard has been thrust into a more prominent role. Last time out, Brassard logged 20 minutes of ice time on the team's top line alongside superstar Nathan MacKinnon. While Brassard has not been fantasy relevant in years, his price is far too cheap for a plus matchup against an Anaheim team on the tail end of a back to back. Brassard is just $3,000 on DraftKings which gives him massive appeal in cash games and tournaments to be able to grab that stud defenseman or forward.

While a matchup with a defensively-sound Stars' team is not the most targetable, it is hard to look past Florida's very cheap top line with the ever-underrated Aleksander Barkov. Since coming over from the Penguins, Brassard is averaging nearly three more minutes per game. His price is still just $3,500 on DraftKings which can really open salary elsewhere. Florida has scored three or more goals in six of their last eight games and Dallas has been vulnerable on the road where they have just 10 wins in 27 contests.

Derick Brassard has never really taken flight in Pittsburgh, but we care more about tonight, and the matchup against a Chicago team on the tail end of a back-to-back is one to exploit. Brassard is listed as a center on both sites, but last game he operated as a wing alongside Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel. Brassard's price on both DraftKings ($3,600) and FanDuel ($4,200) is one to take advantage of. Brassard picked up a goal last time out and has a point in three of his last four games. He will continue to see sufficient ice time with Patric Hornqvist still woozy.

Derick Brassard (DraftKings - $4,900, FanDuel - $4,400) saw the shift to the top line on Saturday night against Montreal. While Brassard did not find the scoresheet, he logged nearly 18 minutes of ice time with Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel. Brassard has yet to really get going as a Penguin, and much of that is due to playing on the third line, but if there were ever a night for it, it would be tonight against the Vancouver Canucks who have quietly won back to back games in tough venues. Brassard's 1.79 points per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 was actually fourth best on the team behind Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel and Jake Guentzel. Naturally, and justifiably, ownership will be shaded toward the sizzling second line of Malkin and Kessel, but Pittsburgh's top line could be overlooked especially with Crosby yet to score a goal.

The top two plays at center are easily Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, but if one is looking for differentiation and some significant salary savings, look to Derick Brassard who is riding a three game point streak. While Brassard is not part of the team's top power play unit, he centers the team's second unit which should have more than their fair share of opportunities tonight against a Montreal team which has allowed the most power play goals against (24) in the second half of the season. Montreal sports the National Hockey League's worst penalty kill percentage (68.8%) since the All-Star Break. Look for Brassard to fly under the radar.

If you're looking for an under the radar line stack tonight, consider the third line of Pittsburgh which features Phil Kessel, Conor Sheary, and newly acquired Derick Brassard. With 10 points in as many games, Kessel should have no problems improving upon his success on his incredible season against the league's worst defensive team in the Islanders, who have allowed the most scoring chances among over their past 25 home games. Also sharing time on the league's top power play, expect Kessel to be very active on the man advantage tonight against an Islanders penalty kill that ranks dead last in the NHL this season.

If you're looking for an under the radar line stack tonight, consider the third line of Pittsburgh which features Phil Kessel, Dominik Simon, and newly acquired Derick Brassard. With a whopping 44 points in 33 home games, Kessel should have no problems improving upon his success on home ice this season against a Calgary Flames team that lacks the depth to slow down Pittsburgh's three lined scoring attack. Further improving this line's outlook tonight is the fact that home ice advantage will allow head coach Mike Sullivan to get Kessel and his new third line matched up against one of the weaker defensive lines of Calgary, setting the stage for a monster performance in a game that should play at a rapid pace, with plenty of shots exchanged between both teams.

If you're looking for an under the radar line stack tonight, consider the third line of Pittsburgh which features Phil Kessel, Conor Sheary, and newly acquired Derick Brassard. With a whopping 42 points in 31 home games, Kessel should have no problems creating scoring chances against an overrated Devils team that has surrendered the second most shot attempts and the second most scoring chances among road teams on tonight's slate. Further improving this line's outlook tonight is the fact that home ice advantage will allow head coach Mike Sullivan to get Kessel and his new third line matched up against one of the weaker defensive lines of New Jersey, setting the stage for a monster performance in a game Pittsburgh should dominate from start to finish.

Reunited on Ottawa's top scoring line, Derick Brassard, Mike Hoffman, and Mark Stone finally give us an opportunity to target the Senators for the first time this season. They draw a fantastic matchup against a struggling Pittsburgh team that allows the second most scoring chances among the 12 road teams on tonight's slate. Also sharing time on Ottawa's top power play unit, I expect this trio to be very busy on the man advantage against a Pittsburgh team that has taken the most penalties this season and ranks 25th in penalty kill percentage. With home ice advantage at their disposal, look for head coach Guy Boucher to get his top line matched up against Sidney Crosby in what should amount to several quality scoring chances and high event hockey exchanged in a game with significant goal potential.

Guy Boucher can never seem to grow comfortable with his forward lines, but for the time being, it looks like Derick Brassard will be given a chance as the top-line center alongside Mark Stone and Bobby Ryan. Brassard has been terrific out of the gates, picking up three goals and three assists over the first six games. His numbers last season were somewhat disappointing, but at least some of the blame can be aimed at his career low 7.2% shooting percentage. Tonight, he's not only just too cheap across the industry, but a terrific matchup awaits him as the New Jersey Devils may be off to a surprising start, but their 3.06 xGA/60 is the worst mark in all of the NHL.