Which one do you keep?
Both have looked mostly poor during the 2-11-1 start for the Blue Jackets. Mike breaks down what the next step might be after acquiring Mark Letestu from Pittsburgh.
Both Derick Brassard and Antoine Vermette carry some value. Both can be good players. But just as in the Jake Voracek for Jeff Carter trade, you have to give to get.
Brassard is only 24 years-old, while Vermette, 29, is supposed to be in the prime of his career. Both players are essentially the same size and are billed as playmakers more than scorers. Vermette is far more valuable in the face-off circle, and has routinely been one of the top face-off men in the league. Brassard, though, has a much higher ceiling and was showing glimpses of greatness in the 2008-09 season that was ended prematurely due to injury.
Vermette enjoyed some success in Ottawa, reaching the Stanley Cup finals as a part of the team that lost to the Anaheim Ducks. He is also one of the team’s alternate captains.
Current season stats aside, because no one on this roster looks good on paper aside from Vinny Prospal, which of the two would you consider more valuable to the team?
Or better yet, which would have a better return on the trade market?
Do you keep both, in hopes that one day you can actually roll three scoring lines, and have Vermette or Brassard center the third line? You also have to ask, do you already have that second line center in Ryan Johansen? That potentially makes keeping both Vermette and Brassard even more redundant.
These are all questions Scott Howson has to be asking himself. He better make the right decision, because it might be his last chance.
What do you do with Brassard and Vermette?
| Trade Brassard | 81 |
| Trade Vermette | 65 |
| Trade both | 58 |
| Keep both | 21 |