Flyers trade Justin Braun to the New York Rangers for a 2023 third-round pick; Derick Brassard to the Edmonton Oilers for a fourth-rounder
Braun, 35 and Brassard, 34, will both be unrestricted free agents at seasons end and weren't likely to be part of the team's long-term plans.
After spending the last three seasons of his 12-year NHL career with the Flyers, defenseman Justin Braun was traded Monday to the New York Rangers in exchange for a third-round pick in 2023. The Flyers are not responsible for any of Braun’s remaining salary in the deal.
Braun, 35, was in the final year of his two-year, $3.6 million contract with the Flyers and is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. His expiring contract, his steady play as a right-shot defenseman, and the Flyers’ poor record this season made him a trade candidate for general manager Chuck Fletcher to flip to a Stanley Cup contender.
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During his NHL career, which included nine years with the San Jose Sharks, Braun made it to the Stanley Cup Final in 2016 but has yet to win it. Now, he’ll have an opportunity to earn his first title with the Rangers alongside talented players like Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox, and Chris Kreider.
“He just shows up, night after night, and just lays it on the line,” Flyers interim coach Mike Yeo said of Braun. “One of the biggest, best competitors that I’ve ever coached as far as doesn’t care what the situation is, he goes out and plays the same way. Blocks shots, takes hits, understands he’s not really going to get the glory for it.”
In his three seasons with the Flyers, Braun played 176 games, registered 9 goals, 32 assists, was plus-1, and averaged 18 minutes, 36 seconds of ice time. This season, Braun shouldered a much heavier workload compared to seasons past in Philadelphia with defenseman Ryan Ellis (lower-body injury) out of the lineup for most of the year.
Braun spent 50 games on the top defensive pairing in Ellis’ place, primarily alongside Ivan Provorov. In 61 games this season, Braun posted 5 goals, 11 assists, was plus-3, and averaged 20:02 of ice time.
The Flyers acquired Braun from the Sharks on June 18, 2019 in exchange for a 2019 second-round pick and a 2020 third-round pick.
The decision to move Braun comes a week-and-a-half after the Flyers began to shore up the future of the right side of their defense by signing Rasmus Ristolainen to a five-year, $25.5 million contract extension. On Saturday, the Flyers shipped longtime captain Claude Giroux to the Florida Panthers as part of a package that brought forward Owen Tippett, a first-round pick in 2024, and a third-round pick in 2023.
Brassard traded to Oilers
Shortly before the 3 p.m. trade deadline, the Flyers traded forward Derick Brassard to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a 2023 fourth-round pick. The Flyers will be responsible for 50% of Brassard’s remaining salary.
Brassard, 34, signed a one-year deal with the Flyers worth $825,000 and will become an unrestricted free agent this season. The Oilers will be his 10th team in his 15-year NHL career.
On Nov. 23 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Brassard sustained a hip injury and was in and out of the lineup over the course of the ensuing months. However, Brassard has played the last 10 games and has been a fixture in the Flyers’ top six at center.
In 31 games with the Flyers, Brassard registered six goals and 10 assists and was a regular contributor on the power play. Like Braun and Giroux, Brassard is on the hunt for his first Stanley Cup.