FHN Today: Derick Brassard signs with the Philadelphia Flyers

Derick Brassard, who briefly played with the Florida Panthers, will be reunited with Keith Yandle in the City of Brotherly Love after signing a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.

Brassard, 33, played in 10 games with the Panthers in 2019 after coming over from the Penguins in the Nick Bjugstad/Jared McCann trade.

Florida then sent him to Colorado at the trade deadline — while the Panthers were in Denver preparing for their game against the Avs.

All told, Brassard has played 905 NHL games over a 14-season career for eight teams.

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Brassard spent last season with Arizona, scoring eight goals with 20 points in 53 games.

Per Philadelphia Hockey Now, Brassard will be in the mix for the Flyers’ bottom-six center roles.

He joins Nate Thompson as a veteran free agent signing this offseason. They’ll compete for a roster spot with Morgan Frost, Tanner Laczynski, and others.

FLORIDA PANTHERS LINKS

Carter Verhaeghe did not get his day with the Stanley Cup after being part of the Tampa Bay Lightning 2020 championship team — so he finally got it on Tuesday.

Verhaeghe seemed to have some fun with the silver chalice.

Carter Verhaeghe surprised the @Toronto_Fire with a visit of #stanleycup. In turn they surprised him with a ride in the ladder. @TBLightning @nhl@HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/bllT8KcWWS

— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) August 25, 2021

— If you’re getting ready for a fantasy hockey draft, you’re probably looking at some Florida Panthers.

NHL.com recently listed the top 250 overall fantasy players for the 2021-22 season and seven Florida players (including Jonathan Huberdeau, Sasha Barkov and Aaron Ekblad) are part of the top 100. (Florida Panthers)

— David Dwork’s Chirping the Cats offers part two of a three-part series of favorite Florida Panthers memories.

Guests on this episode include former Panthers goalie Scott Clemmensen, Channel 10 reporter Ian Margol, Panthers television host Jessica Blaylock, New Found Glory bass player Ian Grushka and Panthers television voice Steve Goldstein — as well as myself. (Chirping the Cats)

— In case you missed my feature on Brandon Montour’s desire to be part of a winning team — and, thereby wanting to re-sign with the Panthers — here you go: (FHN)

— Ranking the 25 expansion teams since 1988. The Heat rank pretty high. (Yahoo)

AROUND THE NHL

A medical examiner completed an autopsy of Jimmy Hayes, but the state pathologist was not able to identify what caused the death of the Dorchester native and former Bruins player, an official said Wednesday.

Visitation for Hayes, a former NHL forward who played two seasons with the Panthers, will be Sunday at Florian Hall in Dorchester, Mass., starting at 1 p.m. 

Hayes, 31, was found dead at his home in Milton on Monday morning. (Boston Globe)

Speaking on a Boston radio show, Rask joked he may play under the league minimum of $750,000 — if free Bud Lights were part of his new deal. (BHN)

— The Oilers are the latest team which will require proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for fans 12 and over at games this season. (TSN)

— More tributes to Hayes come in from his friends and teammates. (BHN)

— Veteran forward Valtteri Filppula has signed to play the 2021-22 season with Servette Geneva of the Swiss League. (DHN)

— The San Jose Barracudas will have a new home in 2022 — and it looks pretty sweet. (SJHN)

— Looking at how Ron Hextall has been running the Penguins as compared to former GM Jim Rutherford. (PHN)