Fantasy Impact: The Colorado Avalanche have acquired center Derick Brassard from the Florida Panthers for a third-round pick in 2020. 

The Avalanche get: a centerman who tallied 59 points three seasons ago, and 61 points four seasons ago. Brassard was then traded from the Rangers to the Senators where he struggled to find his niche. Upon being moved to Pittsburgh he scored at a 52-point pace (last season). This year has been a struggle and his current pace is for 31 points. He's only 31 years old. Is he washed up? Or is he still looking for the right fit? Back in his prime of three to five years ago, he didn't need a fit. He made his own fit. So at the very best, he's a player who needs linemate help to perform. Still, he went to the one team besides Dallas who desperately needs secondary scoring. If he can't make it work there, then we have an answer to our question.

The Panthers get: a draft pick. In all, they landed Riley Sheahan, a second, a third and two fourths for Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann. That's actually not too bad.

Fantasy Players Impacted: It's hard to assign the impact on the Panthers when we're talking about the loss of a player who played 10 games for your club. Brassard was given a fair shake for the first five games there, averaging nearly 18 minutes of ice time and two or three minutes on the power play. He had three points in those games. After that, he was shuffled further down the lineup and his ice time dipped to 13 minutes and the second PP unit. In those games, he managed just one point and was minus-6. As he showed in Pittsburgh, Brassard just can't put up anything on a depth line. It's top-six or bust for this guy. 

Which means he should be second-line center to start, which either moves Carl Soderberg to the wing (or Brassard to the wing) or Soderberg plays on the third line. 

On the power play, the Avs have been going with a four-forward unit with Nathan MacKinnon – Gabriel Landeskog – Mikko Rantanen – JT Compher along with Tyson Barrie. To start, they will probably slot Brassard there in place of Compher. If he falters (say five games, as with the Panthers), then they switch back. The good news for Brassard is that the Avs are heating up again (17 goals, last three games), so everyone getting points around him should help him get a few.

Getting back to Florida, during Brassard's 10 games there, rookie Henrik Borgstrom saw a three or four-minute decline in his ice time and was even a healthy scratch once. So that ends and he's back up to normal.

Fantasy players this helps, in order:

1. Brassard

2. Borgstrom

Fantasy players this hurts, in order:

1. Soderberg

2. Compher

This trade is being discussed right now in the forum here – add your two cents!