D Erik Brannstrom (2017, 15th, VGK - Traded to OTT)

[derriko]

If Makar went #4 being 5'11 there's no doubt Brännström goes top 5. He's like 2 months from being a whole year younger than Makar.

That's what I believe too. If Brannstrom was the same height or bigger than Makar or Heiskanen, I think he's on their level and could've gone before one or both.

 

[ManUtdTobbe]

Why? You think that the best FW in the draft was Pettersson, and now you think that Brännström was the best D in this years draft. This has nothing to do with that theyre swedish.......right......? (I think i know the answer, even if you wont say it)

I do think that, and no, it has nothing to do with the fact that they're Swedish. It has everything to do with their play last season, i watch more CHL then i do SHL/Allsvenskan.

Also, not like i just came around on Brännström, i've been saying he's the best D-man in this draft for a while now, ever since the U18 Five Nations in February, it's well documented.

 

[HanSolo]

Reading through these comments and I can't help but be pleased. I thought he was the standout of the Golden Knights prospect development camp by a pretty significant margin.

 

[Luddowich]

Reading through these comments and I can't help but be pleased. I thought he was the standout of the Golden Knights prospect development camp by a pretty significant margin.

I think everyone's who's watched him expected him to stand out in a big way at the Vegas camp against younger kids. Question will remain if he can translates that against bigger stronger, more physical men.

 

[HanSolo]

I think everyone's who's watched him expected him to stand out in a big way at the Vegas camp against younger kids. Question will remain if he can translates that against bigger stronger, more physical men.

There were still some older prospects there like Alex Tuch, Tomas Hyka, Reid Duke, etc.

But yeah he in theory should have dominated. But by comparison I don't feel Cody Glass stood out much. Nick Suzuki was productive but he didn't dazzle as much as I would've liked. The thing is I know what to expect from prospect camps and I feel I know enough of what I ought to look for in the guys I consider to be standouts.

What I noted was that Brannstrom has excellent vision and IQ in the defensive zone, using positioning well to make up for his lack of size. I thought his hustle was consistent and he was constantly hounding the puck. He reminded me of the Vatanen/Krug type but with better defensive awareness and anticipation. The only part of his game that I felt was weak was when the puck would stay in his defensive zone for too long it felt like that's when he struggled to get it out. Maybe he struggles with disrupting set plays.

In any case it will be interesting to see how his game translates. Vegas can afford to take their time with him.

 

[derriko]

Not to derail the thread, but everything I've read about Suzuki is that he's the cerebral type. Think more Colin White / Bo Horvat as to the Gaudreau / Marner (stylistic comparison only lol)

 

[93LEAFS]

Not to derail the thread, but everything I've read about Suzuki is that he's the cerebral type. Think more Colin White / Bo Horvat as to the Gaudreau / Marner (stylistic comparison only lol)

He's not really like any of those guys. Logan Couture is probably what you are hoping for if he reaches near the top of his potential. Horvat is a very strong on the puck, Colin White isn't quite that but he's a much stronger player than Suzuki. Suzuki's question is can his smarts and hands overcome his lack of ability to create space by skating or strength.

Either way, Brannstrom has looked good. The main focus of his needs to be getting bigger, and refining his game when trapped in his own end. He has good transition defense, but I'm not a fan of his reads when defending the cycle.

 

[Breakers]

That Pass

 

[TheLeastOfTheBunch]

Mighty impressive player

 

[VoidCreature]

Okay, so that pass was nuts. What a pick by Vegas.

 

[NarcoPolo]

That Pass

That was disgusting

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

looks like I linked the same tweet twice, my bad

 

[Soundgarden]

Great vision.

 

[Smeagoal]

Wow!

LV picked a good one here. Hopefully he will be on their opening day roster.

 

[PG Canuck]

Damn. What a ****ing pass.

 

[Rob Brown]

Wow!

LV picked a good one here. Hopefully he will be on their opening day roster.

Is there a chance?

Also love how he's wearing his Vegas gloves.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Wow!

LV picked a good one here. Hopefully he will be on their opening day roster.

It would be nuts if they get Dahlin next year as well. Brannstrom is turning heads in the WJSS. Vegas should not rush him imo.

 

[93LEAFS]

Wow!

LV picked a good one here. Hopefully he will be on their opening day roster.

That would be an absolutely terrible idea. For a bunch of reasons. Firstly, in general, playing 18-year-old defenders in the NHL rarely works out. Secondly, playing players in their D+1 on expansion teams rarely works well. Finally, he would be the smallest defender in the NHL playing at his current size.

I personally believe that playing young defenders in the NHL in their D+1 tends to stifle their offensive development. They tend to play an overly safe game to get ice-time and never take that next step. Better to play at a lower level and be in an environment where they can use their offensive creativity in an environment where mistakes don't automatically lead to a benching. Leave him in the SHL another year, then bring him over next year for the AHL with a chance of making the NHL mid-year.

 

[PG Canuck]

Playing him in the NHL next year would be incredibly dumb.

 

[LeProspector]

I've been hammering the Karlsson comparisons on Brannstrom for months now. I think he'll be the best player in this class once he hits UFA. I would have taken him #1 overall, as I do believe he's the closest thing to Karlsson since Karlsson. I think he will take the same development path as Karl, play in the SHL his year then come over seas in the 18-19 season where I'd say he is ready. Finally people are noticing what I've seen for months now. Vegas has a good one here.

 

[Circulartheory]

That would be an absolutely terrible idea. For a bunch of reasons. Firstly, in general, playing 18-year-old defenders in the NHL rarely works out. Secondly, playing players in their D+1 on expansion teams rarely works well. Finally, he would be the smallest defender in the NHL playing at his current size.

I personally believe that playing young defenders in the NHL in their D+1 tends to stifle their offensive development. They tend to play an overly safe game to get ice-time and never take that next step. Better to play at a lower level and be in an environment where they can use their offensive creativity in an environment where mistakes don't automatically lead to a benching. Leave him in the SHL another year, then bring him over next year for the AHL with a chance of making the NHL mid-year.

I disagree with the generalization of this but I do agree its more often than not the case. You have to treat prospects on a case-by-case basis but there are trends to be aware of.

But Brannstrom is a special case because he did play a few times 20 minutes in the SHL, which is crazy and you rarely get in non-top 5 draft picks.

That said, I agree he should go back to the SHL and play another year. But I do not think there are ZERO good reasons from him to see him in the NHL this season. That are some, just some better and safer reasons to develop him slowly in the SHL.

 

[Zaddy]

I think AHL would be a good option for him next year. But SHL is a good option too.

 

[Battle Lin]

reminds me of ellis with better skating

 

[MardyBum]

Should definitely play in the SHL next year, then come over and either NHL or AHL depending how he performs. One of the youngest players in the draft.

I just pray there never leaks info that the Jets would have taken him at 13 so I don't start flipping tables for trading down.

 

[93LEAFS]

I disagree with the generalization of this but I do agree its more often than not the case. You have to treat prospects on a case-by-case basis but there are trends to be aware of.

But Brannstrom is a special case because he did play a few times 20 minutes in the SHL, which is crazy and you rarely get in non-top 5 draft picks.

That said, I agree he should go back to the SHL and play another year. But I do not think there are ZERO good reasons from him to see him in the NHL this season. That are some, just some better and safer reasons to develop him slowly in the SHL.

Since 1990, I don't think a single player who defender who played in the NHL at 18 has lived up to expectations offensively. The best player is Brent Burns (who only played 36 games and was sent to the WJC and also spent time on the wing if I remember correctly). The other defender who spent a full season was Hamrlik who I don't think ever reached his anything resembling his offensive ceiling. The other guys were Bogosian, Kyle McLaren, Trevordovsky, Sbisa, and Aki Berg. The jury is still out on Ekblad and Hanafin, as they could be the exception. For whatever reason, the same doesn't appear to happen to 19-year-olds in their D+1 like Pronger, Doughty, Hedman, etc. But it is still a fairly mixed bag.

As for players playing their D+1 in the NHL on an expansion team, it seems the guys who waited a year to come out faired much better. It is basically Kariya, Yashin, Legwand, Klesla vs Gaborik, Hamrlik, R. Niedermayer, Stefan, and Falloon.

I'd say unless you are talking about guys who are physical beats that you should probably avoid taking the gamble. Yes, each case is individual, but it would be foolish to ignore history. Brannstrom may have played 20 minutes a game occasionally, but he still averaged the ice-time of a specialist in a league that allows 7 defenders to be played at one (12 minutes a game).