Matt Brassard traded to Niagara IceDogs

A Canucks prospect is on the move in the OHL.

Vancouver’s 2017 seventh-round (188th overall) draft pick Matt Brassard has been traded from the Oshawa Generals alongside Jack Studnicka (Boston Bruins) to the Niagara IceDogs in exchange for Lleyton Moore and draft selections.

The defenseman Brassard was having another strong season with the Generals, putting up eight goals and 27 points in 35 games prior to the trade. He was coming off his best offensive OHL season to date, recording a career-high 16 goals and 51 points in 67 regular-season contests in 2017-18.

It’s another case of the rich getting richer. The IceDogs already have one of the best offenses in the league, led by Jason Robertson, and are now adding another top offensive player and a high-calibre blueliner.

Here’s what IceDogs’ General Manager Joey Burke had to say in the team’s press release about acquiring the two players:

“This is a huge day for us in Niagara. In Jack and Matt we are adding the exact two players we targeted as perfect fits for our roster. The skill set they will add to an already deep group could not be more exciting, and I can’t wait to watch how well they fit in with our guys. ” said Burke.”In Jack, we are adding the most complete player in the OHL. He is a guy who does absolutely everything at an elite level – be it with, or away from the puck, he is an every situation player, and a guy who I genuinely believe you can win a championship with. He is a player who will excel when the grind of playoff hockey kicks in, and off the ice is as high character as they come. With Matt, we add a premier defenseman in the league and immediately address our biggest need. A complete right shot defenseman who can not only defend with the best of them, but is one of the more impressive offensive defenders out there, as well as being a hard working character guy who wants to win.”

Brassard should make an immediate impact for Niagara. The 20-year-old 6’3″, 201 lbs blueliner is an impressive puck-mover and solid two-way rearguard. Not only can he be relied on defensively, but his 114 points (37 goals, 77 assists) in 192 career OHL games split between the Barrie Colts and Generals showcase his offensive capabilities and overall potential.