BOSTON - Derick Brassard checks in at No. 4 on the Central Scouting Report. Brassard missed the cut to enter last year’s draft by one week. No doubt he will be looking forward to the June 24 NHL Entry Draft in Vancouver when he finally has the opportunity to participate.

The Hull, Quebec native spent the last two full seasons with Drummondville of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Brassard became a dominant force at the center position after he tallied 40 more points this season than last season. Brassard recorded 44 goals and 72 assists for 116 points.

“He had a great year in Drummondville,” said Scott Bradley, Bruins Director of Amateur Scouting. “I have seen him play six or seven times and he played really well when I watched.”

At 6’0”, 174-pounds, Brassard will need to get stronger before he is ready to make the leap into the NHL. Many scouts around the league have a high regard for his soft hands and quick release. Those two attributes make the sniper a shoe-in for the top 10 in this summer’s draft.

“He’s a skilled playmaking center that clutched up for his team many times this year,” added Bradley. “He carried them into the playoffs.

"He’s jumped into that top five position on many team's scouting reports and I think it’s warranted.”

The agile pivot is steadily increasing his stock and could certainly be a surprise pick in the top five on Saturday. His strong hockey sense, speed, quick release, and soft hands will make him tough for any team to pass up. Many scouts around the league say he has the makings to become a 40-goal scorer.

Central Scouting Report: Is a very good skater with speed and mobility who is strong on his feet with good acceleration ... changes direction quickly in tight quarters and can carry the puck end-to-end ... playing at very high skill level he is a great playmaker that can score as well ... sees the ice and reads the play smartly with very good decision making in all areas of the ice ... can beat defenders one-on-one and has very accurate wrist and slap shots ... plays center and the point on power-plays ... can strip the puck away with his quick and aggressive forecheck ... works very hard killing penalties where he is a always a threat to score ... he just loves to play hockey and competes every game, making many good plays deep in his own end to help get puck out when his defensemen get in trouble ... while he is not a physical player, he takes the body when necessary and shows good anticipation to break up plays ... is quick to loose pucks – does not hesitate to take the puck directly through traffic to the net ... Drummondville ‘s second pick in the 2003-04 QMJHL draft, 18th overall ... selected to play in 2006 Top Prospects Game in Ottawa ... selected to the Quebec All-Star team for Canada- Russia Challenge – member of Canada’s 2004-05 Under 18 team ... a member of Team Quebec in the 2004 Under-17 world hockey challenge.

Personal Profile: Nickname is Brass ... favorite NHL team is the Montreal Canadiens ... favorite player is Tampa Bay’s Brad Richards ... says his parents and his coaches have had the most influence on his hockey career to this point ... patterns his style of play after Richards for being a smart player, a tough competitor and having good speed ... outside of sports, he most admires his dad because “he showed me the right way in my life” ... most memorable hockey game played was vs. Team USA in the final game at the Under-18 tournament ... most memorable hockey game watched was the final between Canada and USA at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics because Team Canada won ... favorites are: MTV (TV show), Maurice Richard (movie), Jessica Alba (actress), and Coldplay (musical group) ... if he had the chance to have dinner with any three people they would be: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Raymond Bourque because “they are all legends and Hall of Fame members.”