Islanders Sign Derick Brassard

Free agent forward Derick Brassard is heading back to the East Coast.

New reports have it that Brassard has signed a one-year deal with the New York Islanders. He spent the end of last season with the Colorado Avalanche and his new deal is worth $1.2MM, so it's a low deal for both him and the Islanders.

The 31-year-old will attempt to get his career back on track after having not lived up to expectations at his last three spots. After becoming a reliable offensive powerhouse for the Columbus Blue Jackets, the New York Rangers, and the Ottawa Senators, Brassard was with the Pittsburgh Penguins and struggled to find his way despite having many opportunities in a talent-rich lineup. He then ended up being traded to the Florida Panthers and then to Colorado last season. With Colorado, he was limited to the fourth line duties in the playoffs and then was not given an offer when his contract expired.

This is very low-risk for both him and the Islanders, which will give him the opportunity to prove himself. He still has elite level talent when given a bigger opportunity and in Pro Hockey Rumors's Top UFAs this offseason, he came in at #25, which means he has value but his production hasn't reflected that of late.

Are the Islanders making a big bet? Not exactly, but they need some sort of veteran presence if they have any chance to make it farther in the playoffs than last year. We'll see if he can bring back that offensive firepower that he had when he was still in his youth.

Minnesota Wild Hire Bill Guerin As GM

The Minnesota Wild have finally found their next general manager.

Michael Russo of The Athletic reported earlier today that the team has hired Penguins assistant GM Bill Guerin. The Wild recently fired Paul Fenton from that position after just 14 months on the job.

For the Penguins, this marks the second assistant GM that has left them to take over their own team. Back in 2017, Jason Botterill was hired away by the Buffalo Sabres to be their GM. Guerin eventually filled that role when Botterill left and was most notable for taking over as GM of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL and was responsible for the development of the players as they made their way up to Pittsburgh.

While Guerin does not have any experience being a full-time GM on the team, there was a lot of confidence that he was on the path towards running his own franchise and he'll take over a Minnesota team that has gone through turmoil in the last 14 months under Fenton.

With Guerin taking the task in Minnesota, he'll have to rescue this team and try to bring it back to prominence. Despite the cracks, the team still has some young talent and veteran talent but have been on shaky ground, going between rebuilding and contending. It has not been a great direction for either.

One of the players that Fenton signed before being fired was Mats Zuccarello to a five-year, $30MM deal. This deal comes with a bit of risk that found its way outside of the playoff race come the end of the last season.

What is more interesting about this hire is that it comes last than a few weeks before training camp is scheduled to open. It is unclear whether or not head coach Bruce Boudreau and the rest of his staff will be around long-term, but my guess is that he will stick around towards the final year of his contract and then Guerin will most likely pick his own guy. Tom Kurvers, who was the interim GM, is most likely to stay in some capacity, though it will not be in some GM role.

There are now three names that I know of that have left the Penguins in the last couple of years that have had mixed success so far. There's Botterill, who left for the Sabres, but has yet to lead them to the playoffs. Then there's Rick Tocchet, who left the Penguins to become head coach of the Arizona Coyotes and have yet to make the playoffs there. Now there's Guerin, who is inheriting a team with a lot of dysfunction in its front office.

It's a smart move for the Wild, because I believe it's time for a guy like Guerin to finally have his own team to run. He's obviously had a lot of success in Pittsburgh, both as a player and then as an executive, so it's clear the Wild need somebody with that role. I believe he will be able to turn around his front office and turn it back into a world-class organization. However, it will take time so I don't expect the Wild to make the playoffs for at least 2-3 seasons. If they can make it in two, that would be great. However, I still see a lot of rebuilding that needs to be done, and I believe Guerin is the guy that can do that and do it well.

The Wild picked the right guy to lead this bunch out of the abyss they're in. As I said, though, it will take a while to bring it back to prominence. At least Guerin knows he has a long road ahead of him with this Minnesota team.

Clippers Hire Tyronn Lue as Top Assistant

Tyronn Lue is no longer out of the job. The Los Angeles Clippers have come to his rescue.

Yesterday, the Clippers and Tyronn Lue agreed on a deal that will make him the lead assistant to coach Doc Rivers. There were recent reports beforehand that that team was closing a deal on Lue, but it wasn't until yesterday when Shams Charania of The Athletic finally confirmed the news.

Lue was the frontrunner to take over as Lakers head coach months ago, but contract talks between the sides fell apart, and the club went on to hire Frank Vogel to replace departing head coach Luke Walton, who took over in Sacramento.

Lue has previously been on Doc Rivers' staff, serving as an assistant on both the Celtics and Clippers before joining the Cavaliers and winning a title as head coach.

Back in May, many reports came out that the Pelicans and Rockets were interested in hiring Lue an assistant and that he turned down multiple offers from many NBA teams since being fired by the Cavaliers last fall.

As a head coach in the NBA, Lue has a record of 128-83 as a head coach, with all of his experience coming with LeBron James. It was clear that LeBron was the reason why Lue did so well as a head coach. Now, it looks like he wanted to either be a head coach again in this league or be a top assistant that made a lot of money. Being just an assistant was not going to cut it for him.

Now, Lue will get that chance with the Clippers back under Rivers and will be up against difference circumstances when the two Los Angeles teams compete against each other in the Western Conference.

Carlos Correa To the IL

Looks like the Houston Astros will be without their shortstop for a little while.

Brian McTaggart of MLB.com is reporting that Astros shortstop Carlos Correa is likely heading to the 10-day injured list after exiting Monday's game with back discomfort. The decision will not be official til later tonight, but manager AJ Hinch and the Astros organization was not optimistic that he would be able to avoid a stint on the IL.

Hinch indicated that Correa's injury is not likely to be a very serious time, but it may take several days to heal fully. This is actually the time that the Astros always want to have a full bench, so missing Correa will be tough.

While the IL stint isn't expected to take long, there are more serious concerns about Correa's health beyond this stint. Last season, he dealt with a back injury that cost him six weeks and bothered him in the postseason. This latest injury is the second time the 24-year-old has had to spend time on the IL this season, after a fractured rib forced him out for two months this summer.

With Correa and shortstop Aledmys Diaz both on the IL, shortstop duties will probably fall on Jack Mayfield or Myles Straw. Straw is currently in the minors but is a candidate to replace the ailing Correa at that position, either temporary or for the future. Nevertheless, any option is a downgrade at that position, since Correa has posted a .914 OPS this season.

Correa, a former first overall selection, has had his availability cut due to injuries and it will now be his third season in which he will not play 110 games, considered important for a shortstop of his caliber.

Steven Duggar Will Not Need Surgery

San Francisco Giants fans can breathe a little bit easier with some bit of good news today regarding outfielder Steven Duggar.

Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News is reporting that Duggar, who has been out with a shoulder issue for weeks, will not need surgery on it and is expected to rehab. The rehab will take between 4-6 weeks.

Duggar has already been ruled out for the remainder of the season and it looks like he'll be out the postseason, too, assuming the Giants don't get far in the playoffs if they get there. However, Crowley reports that the Giants expect him to be ready for the start of spring training.