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New York Rangers: The Fan Favorite Curse Lives On

By Jonathan Marrero

Apr 18, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers center Derick Brassard (16) is congratulated by right wing Mats Zuccarello (36) after scoring a third period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during game 2 of the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1 at Madison Square Garden. The Penguins defeated the Rangers 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers center Derick Brassard (16) is congratulated by right wing Mats Zuccarello (36) after scoring a third period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during game 2 of the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1 at Madison Square Garden. The Penguins defeated the Rangers 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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For the second summer in a row the New York Rangers find themselves shipping out a fan favorite. While the trades may help, it leaves many fans hurting inside.

As a New York Rangers fan, I have come to the realization that everything that happens with the team will most likely need to have a silver lining to it. Similar to a college student looking at their bank account for the first time all semester, fans of the New York Rangers have been dealing with plenty of hardship.

We all are guilty of it, we tell ourselves the things that we want to believe, and we ignore the things that we don’t. Well here it is, Derick Brassard has been traded away and the fan favorite center man will no longer bring fans out of their seats by letting go of a slap shot point blank while on a breakaway.

Ryan Callahan traded 2014, Carl Hagelin traded in 2015 and now Brassard traded in 2016. Three straight years a player that many fans loved have been traded away. It seems as if being a Ranger fan is just constant heartbreak.

In all seriousness, this trade hurts because Brassard has been a part of the New York Rangers for four seasons now and the team saw him become a passionate, hard working playoff performer who was an important piece to the recent success.

Brassard, who was acquired in the Marian Gaborik trade back in April 2013, wasted no time in proving that he would shine on the big stage. In his first experience in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Brassard averaged a point per game. As a whole, he tallied 44 points in 59 playoff games while wearing the blue sweater.

This article is not at all about going into the trade and defending it. As a matter of fact, there is a great article already up talking about this trade. It was a smart trade that makes the team younger and saves money that’s it.

What this article is about, is the  realization of what comes with being a New York Rangers fan. I still remember the feeling of hearing that Ryan Callahan (who still is my favorite player) was traded and my heart broke. The same thing happened here. Fan favorites are not safe by any means on the Rangers.

I’m constantly asked by friends, family etc.  “Who is your favorite player on the Rangers?”, I’ve come to wait a second before answering this question, it’s Jesper Fast by the way for those that care. Having a favorite player brings about this feeling of sadness when/if they ever depart.

To the players it’s just business, to the coaches it’s just business and to the front office, it is just business. For a fan, it’s more than business. When a player is so liked by the fan base that their jersey is showcased all around the arena by spectators it’s more than just business to them.

This trade really does help the team, this could be a set up for plenty of moves heading forward, like re-signing Chris Kreider, and it could help the team for the future. It just is interesting to see well-liked players being traded in consecutive years.

It is sad to see Brassard go, as a fan, I really did think he was such a smart offensive player with an unbelievable ability to dish the puck.

Like here:

(Yes that is Ryan Clowe in the video)

Or here:

Or his breakaway blocker side slap-shot:

I think the worst part of losing a player like Brassard is that he had such great chemistry with another fan favorite Mats Zuccarello. I don’t see Zucc being affected too much by losing his buddy.

Having said that is there any chance he did not pull an Andy Bernard and play acoustic guitar while singing Sara Mclachlan to Brassard before he left.

Next: Chris Kreider's Arbitration Date Scheduled

Goodbye Brassard, we can add you to the list of another favorite who fans will always remember and appreciate.

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