Signs of Derick Brassard’s departure from Pittsburgh have been teased for the past couple months. As of this afternoon, general manager Jim Rutherford finally made it official, shipping out the same coveted 3C he acquired in a blockbuster trade last year with Riley Sheahan, a second round draft pick, and two fourth round draft picks in 2019 to the Florida Panthers in exchange for centers Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann.
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Brassard, for whatever reason, never seemed to jell as the Penguins’ third line center.