At the next day's practice, Brassard had returned to center, skating between Patric Hornqvist and Dominik Simon.
Skate back to the middle, Brass. For now.
Bouncing between center and wing could be Brassard's lot this season. Top-line wing means more minutes. Third-line center means further solidifying the Penguins' strongest position.
Brassard has played almost exclusively center during his 12-season NHL career.
Coach Mike Sullivan was satisfied with Brassard's stint at wing:
"Brass has played really well. That line [Brassard, Crosby and Jake Guentzel] has had some quality chances.
"Brass can play that give-and-go game down low. When Sid is at his very best, I think he's the best player in the game underneath the hash marks. Underneath the hash marks, he might be the best player that's ever played. Sid tends to thrive with players that are good in those areas."
Brassard was happy with his stint on Crosby's line.
"I like it a lot, playing with those two guys," Brassard said.
"As a line, we have to play on the move and play to each other's styles. Obviously, we want Sid to get the puck in those areas [down low]. Me and Jake, we have to find some space and a lot of times, let Sid play that one-on-one game and try to find those sweet spots for some scoring chances."
But when Brassard plays center, he often functions as his line's fulcrum.
It's a debate waged by Sullivan and his coaching staff.
"Are we better if we put Brass back in the middle?" Sullivan mused. "There are pros and cons to both.
"There's no downside to that [Brassard-Crosby-Guentzel] combination. Brass is a very good player, and that line has generated a fair amount of scoring chances. They haven't finished, but they've had some good chances."
Brassard had one goal in the Penguins' first five games this season. The 6-foot-1, 202-pound native of Hull, Quebec had three goals and five assists in 14 games after joining the Penguins via a trade with Ottawa last Feb. 23.
Brassard is a center today. But his versatility means nothing is written in stone.
"Do we know Brass is a center by trade, that it's his instinct and nature? Yes, we do," Sullivan said before the season. "But he's also a really good player and a versatile player, and we want to make sure we maximize this roster.
"In one instance, we love the strength that we have down the middle. But [Brassard at wing] is an option that's on the table, and we're not going to take it off."
"I'm open for anything," Brassard said. "We have a lot of good centers, which is really good to have on a team, a lot of depth. Whatever's going to help the team, I'm going to do whatever."
Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).
