The center, who turns 34 on Sept. 22, was an unrestricted free agent. He scored 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) in 53 games with the Arizona Coyotes last season and was first on the Coyotes in face-off winning percentage (52.6 percent; minimum 15 face-offs).
He played under Flyers coach Alain Vigneault for three seasons with the New York Rangers from 2013-16.
"I talked to 'AV' a couple days ago," Brassard said Thursday. "I think it was pretty clear that conversation we had, me personally, I wanted to join the Flyers and I think him as the coach wanting me to jump in with the group here. I feel like with everything they've done this summer, adding like five or six players, I think it's going to give the team a good chance to succeed and have a really good regular season."
The Flyers added forwards Cam Atkinson, Nate Thompson and Brassard; defensemen
Keith Yandle
, Rasmus Ristolainen and Ryan Ellis, and goalie
Martin Jones
this offseason. Forwards Jakub Voracek (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Nolan Patrick (Nashville Predators), and defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere (Coyotes), Philippe Myers (Predators) and Robert Hagg (Buffalo Sabres) were traded, with Patrick later being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Selected by the Blue Jackets with the No. 6 pick of the 2006 NHL Draft, Brassard has scored 503 points (194 goals, 309 assists) in 905 regular-season games with the Blue Jackets, Rangers, Ottawa Senators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, New York Islanders and Coyotes. He has scored 68 points (25 goals, 43 assists) in 117 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"We felt it was important to look at our depth and add to our depth," Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher said, "and anytime you can acquire a player like Derick, who has over 900 games of experience in the league and still has a good skill set, and we could acquire him at the [NHL salary] cap number that we did, that just seemed to make a lot of sense to lock him up. ... AV is comfortable with Derick at center, comfortable with him on the wing. He's a guy that can win face-offs, can move up and down your roster. Has played probably more power play than penalty kill during his career but is a smart enough player that he can play in any situation."
Philadelphia (23-25-8) finished sixth in the eight-team MassMutual East Division last season and did not qualify for the playoffs.
"I'm turning 34 in September and I'm just all-in to have a good season and hopefully have a chance to win the Stanley Cup at the end of the day," said Brassard, who has not won the Cup in his 14 NHL seasons. "I'm not saying that we're going to win it, but I think we have a pretty good shot with the roster that we have right now. I feel like with the season that the Flyers had last year, missing the playoffs, I feel like guys are going to be hungry this year and with all the new guys coming in and bringing some good energy, I think we're going to have a good season, and I'm excited to come into Philly."
NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman contributed to this report
