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Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward comes out of retirement, signs new contract
Former Penguins forward Derick Brassard has come out of retirement and signed a new contract overseas with Geneve-Servette in Switzerland.
HC Genève-Servette has officially signed veteran forward Derick Brassard to a contract through the end of the season, bringing the former Pittsburgh Penguins player out of retirement.
What caused Derick Brassard to step away from hockey
Derick Brassard stepped away from hockey in 2023 after dealing with an ankle injury, but following a full recovery, he decided to resume his career.
After reviewing his health and experience, Genève-Servette moved forward with the signing, which the club confirmed this week.
Interest in Brassard surfaced last week in both Swiss and North American media, though the deal had not yet been announced by the club at that time. That led to some early reports being pulled back.
Why there was such a delay between the signing and the announcement
In Switzerland, it is common for contracts to be signed well before they are officially announced, which explains the delay between the initial reports and the confirmation.
A native of Gatineau, Quebec, Brassard was selected sixth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft after a strong junior career with the QMJHL's Drummondville Voltigeurs.
He went on to play 16 seasons in the NHL, appearing in more than 1,100 regular-season games.
Aside from the Penguins, Brassard also played for the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, New York Islanders, Arizona Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, and Ottawa Senators.
Over his NHL career, he recorded more than 600 points and added 118 playoff games. He was also part of Canada's gold-medal team at the 2016 World Championship.
The signing gives Genève-Servette a proven, experienced forward as the season continues.
Previously on HockeyUnplugged
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 16 | 72 ANSWERS Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward comes out of retirement, signs new contract Will Derick Brassard have success overseas? | ||
| Yes | 33 | 45.8 % |
| No | 39 | 54.2 % |
| List of polls | ||