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

[Jacob]

Maybe he just reminds him of Timonen and is not suggesting he will be as good in every aspect of his game...

People take player comparisons too literally.

I see some Timonen in Brannstrom's game. That doesn't mean they're identical, or will have identical careers.

 

[JAS 39 Gripen]

I don't know what kind of question that is. Firstly, Timonen was a 10th round pick who didn't debut until age 24. Usually when people make a projectable comparison it's to a player as they are/were in the NHL, not as they were at 18. Maybe he was that good defensively at a young age and was severely underrated as a player; can't say I watched Finnish junior and pro hockey in the early 90s, but it sure wouldn't be a surprise.

I like him a ton and would call Brännström good right now defensively, and I project him as being good. Not sure what's wrong with that. It's awfully hard to be good on the back end in your own end, let alone at 5'9"-ish. But he does a heck of a job, and at worst it shouldn't be a detriment to his top flight offensive skills, and at best could even be a plus going forward. Considering his immense offensive talent and size, the assessment should be whether he is good enough defensively to be a good well rounded NHL player......I think he certainly has that potential. Build from there. He's got the intellect and the compete, but if the expectation being set is elite type defensive play......well, ****. There's not many prospects I throw that label around with.

I simply said I don't see the Timonen comparison in his play style, even offensively. Don't know what the issue is or what more I can say.

You litterary said that Timmonen was elite defensively and that Brännstöm's only good. We were wondering if you thought that Timmonen was elite already as an 18 year old

 

[LastWordArmy]

Number 30 on our draft board.

http://lastwordonhockey.com/2017/04/29/erik-brannstrom-scouting-report-2017-nhl-draft-30/

 

[WilliamNylander]

Would he go top 10 if he was a little taller?

 

[bottomofthefoodchain]

Would he go top 10 if he was a little taller?

Possibly.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

He seems to be moving up the Draft boards .... The 15-31 rankings are all over the place so could go anywhere in there.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Would he go top 10 if he was a little taller?

He might already go top 10.

If he was a few inches taller, he might be the first pick in the draft.

 

[WilliamNylander]

He might already go top 10.

If he was a few inches taller, he might be the first pick in the draft.

He deserves more hype. Especially being one of the youngest prospects in the draft, his ceiling/potential seems to be very high.

I think a smart team is going to reach on him in the late teens, don't see him getting past 20.

 

[Frk It]

He might already go top 10.

If he was a few inches taller, he might be the first pick in the draft.

I'd like to know his true height. If he's 5'9" I have a hard time seeing him going ~30 spots higher than Girard, with his record setting season in the Q. Although I do know he's one of the youngest in this draft.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

He deserves more hype. Especially being one of the youngest prospects in the draft, his ceiling/potential seems to be very high.

I think a smart team is going to reach on him in the late teens, don't see him getting past 20.

I'm hoping we take him. A swing for the fences pick.

 

[IPreferPi]

Would he go top 10 if he was a little taller?

Isn't Brannstrom one of the youngest players in this draft? Probably has some growth left in him.

 

[Hockeyisl1fe]

Isn't Brannstrom one of the youngest players in this draft? Probably has some growth left in him.

His brother and father are both under 6' tall too... not encouraging. He is listed as 5'10, but he looks smaller than that.

 

[BigRangy]

Yes, count me in as someone who doesn't think hes quite 5'10". He looks very small out there.

One concern I have with Brannstrom is that he doesn't seem to have any gamebreaking factor to his game. He's very good all around but I don't see the elite potential that some are seeing. To be a successful small guy you need to be able to be more than just steady and solid imo.

 

[bossram]

Yes, count me in as someone who doesn't think hes quite 5'10". He looks very small out there.

One concern I have with Brannstrom is that he doesn't seem to have any gamebreaking factor to his game. He's very good all around but I don't see the elite potential that some are seeing. To be a successful small guy you need to be able to be more than just steady and solid imo.

Umm...whaaa?

He absolutely has gamebreaking ability. His U18 performance was phenomenal as demonstrated.

The offensive toolkit is sickening. Incredibly fluid (and quick) skater, great hands and can get shots through. Can make stretch passes and carry the puck. No question he has crazy upside. The risk is size + defensive ability.

All in all, I think he's way too low on most consensus lists. He is one of the youngest players in the draft, he's basically one of the best SuperElit defensemen in history and in rarefied air in terms of U18 SHL defenseman. And he won't turn 18 until September. So I think he still has growth there. Gamebreaking ability? Absolutely.

 

[VictorLustig]

Yes, count me in as someone who doesn't think hes quite 5'10". He looks very small out there.

One concern I have with Brannstrom is that he doesn't seem to have any gamebreaking factor to his game. He's very good all around but I don't see the elite potential that some are seeing. To be a successful small guy you need to be able to be more than just steady and solid imo.

Agree with this. Would not be surprised to see him picked in the mid rounds because of that actually, there just isn't much poise or game breaking ability in his game.

 

[PittsburghHustlers]

Umm...whaaa?

He absolutely has gamebreaking ability. His U18 performance was phenomenal as demonstrated.

The offensive toolkit is sickening. Incredibly fluid (and quick) skater, great hands and can get shots through. Can make stretch passes and carry the puck. No question he has crazy upside. The risk is size + defensive ability.

All in all, I think he's way too low on most consensus lists. He is one of the youngest players in the draft, he's basically one of the best SuperElit defensemen in history and in rarefied air in terms of U18 SHL defenseman. And he won't turn 18 until September. So I think he still has growth there. Gamebreaking ability? Absolutely.

Agreed. If it's something Brännström have, it's game breaking ability.

 

[VictorLustig]

Umm...whaaa?

He absolutely has gamebreaking ability. His U18 performance was phenomenal as demonstrated.

The offensive toolkit is sickening. Incredibly fluid (and quick) skater, great hands and can get shots through. Can make stretch passes and carry the puck. No question he has crazy upside. The risk is size + defensive ability.

All in all, I think he's way too low on most consensus lists. He is one of the youngest players in the draft, he's basically one of the best SuperElit defensemen in history and in rarefied air in terms of U18 SHL defenseman. And he won't turn 18 until September. So I think he still has growth there. Gamebreaking ability? Absolutely.

Playing against 17 year olds on a wide rink fits his game better than anyone else. All that time and space he's getting will make a player him look better than everyone. I think it will translate very poorly to the NHL though, he's never going to carry the puck that much at higher levels. Biggest issue I have with Brännström though is he only has one gear in his game, he can't change the pace of the game by slowing it down like all the best players do. Everything is just about speeding it up with quick passes or rushes up the ice, lacks a bit creativity.

This along with the size issues makes me think he's going to be picked much later than most people think. He's similar in a lot of ways to the Swedish Sebastian Aho who's been passed over the last few years.

 

[ProspectsFanatic]

How does he compare to Samuel Girard?

I am very doubtful Brannstrom could end up in the top15 or so, undersize defenseman usually fall in the draft.

 

[Lays]

Would he go top 10 if he was a little taller?

Easily

 

[Frk It]

Playing against 17 year olds on a wide rink fits his game better than anyone else. All that time and space he's getting will make a player him look better than everyone. I think it will translate very poorly to the NHL though, he's never going to carry the puck that much at higher levels. Biggest issue I have with Brännström though is he only has one gear in his game, he can't change the pace of the game by slowing it down like all the best players do. Everything is just about speeding it up with quick passes or rushes up the ice, lacks a bit creativity.

This along with the size issues makes me think he's going to be picked much later than most people think. He's similar in a lot of ways to the Swedish Sebastian Aho who's been passed over the last few years.

Kind of my thoughts as well, and was not surprised he was not included in Mckenzie's top 15 list.

I think even with his very impressive U18's he won't be cracking the top 10 or 15, even in this weaker draft class.

 

[Aceboogie]

I really want Brannstrom. I think of all the 10-30th ranked prospects he has the best shot at developing into an all star. Not quite Karlsson but maybe a Shattenkirk level player

I think hed be a great fit in Edmonton because of a couple reasons. 1) Theyd have the time available to send him back to SHL for 2 years and maybe even a 3rd year in AHL. Given amount of young D they have on their roster they need to focus on devleoping, Brannstrom could take his time 2) Hes small but the Oilers top 4 could have some big boys in it (Klefbom, Larsson, Nurse). Could really help hide any size issues. 3) Oilers need a puck mover and have all the other defensive pieces, hed be the last puzzle peice if he turns out. Plus they already have 2 other Swedish D to help him out

 

[Zaddy]

Playing against 17 year olds on a wide rink fits his game better than anyone else. All that time and space he's getting will make a player him look better than everyone. I think it will translate very poorly to the NHL though, he's never going to carry the puck that much at higher levels. Biggest issue I have with Brännström though is he only has one gear in his game, he can't change the pace of the game by slowing it down like all the best players do. Everything is just about speeding it up with quick passes or rushes up the ice, lacks a bit creativity.

This along with the size issues makes me think he's going to be picked much later than most people think. He's similar in a lot of ways to the Swedish Sebastian Aho who's been passed over the last few years.

There's some truth to all this, but I think at some point you have to look at Brännström's resume and just give him some credit for it. The guy has been amazing the entire season, at least in almost every one of my viewings and this is both in SuperElit, U18 games as well as U20 games on an international level (dating back to september up until the recent U18 worlds). What more could he possibly have done to improve his stock, really? The poise, confidence and the fact that he just makes so very few mistakes for a player with his playstyle is really impressive. There's not 30 players in this draft better than him. I can't say if he'll be a star or not, but I'd be surprised if he doesn't turn into an NHLer in some shape or form.

 

[Randy Randerson]

admittedly I know very little about him, this thread reads a lot like Cale Makar's - huge ceiling, concerns over size and defense. Does anyone see it as strange that Makar is ranked ahead of Brannstrom given that Makar plays in a second tier junior league and Brannstrom plays against men?

 

[bossram]

Playing against 17 year olds on a wide rink fits his game better than anyone else. All that time and space he's getting will make a player him look better than everyone. I think it will translate very poorly to the NHL though, he's never going to carry the puck that much at higher levels. Biggest issue I have with Brännström though is he only has one gear in his game, he can't change the pace of the game by slowing it down like all the best players do. Everything is just about speeding it up with quick passes or rushes up the ice, lacks a bit creativity.

This along with the size issues makes me think he's going to be picked much later than most people think. He's similar in a lot of ways to the Swedish Sebastian Aho who's been passed over the last few years.

Unlike Aho though (who I still think clearly deserved to be drafted), Brannstrom is one of the best U18 SHL defenseman in history. And he's still 17.

I'd rather gamble on whether someone's extremely dynamic skillset will "translate" to the NHL than guys with clearly lower upside. And players who can cut it in a men's league at age 17 are usually much more likely to make it to the NHL anyway.

 

[hradekbr]

admittedly I know very little about him, this thread reads a lot like Cale Makar's - huge ceiling, concerns over size and defense. Does anyone see it as strange that Makar is ranked ahead of Brannstrom given that Makar plays in a second tier junior league and Brannstrom plays against men?

Makar is two inches taller and a better skater. I like Makar's upside a bit more and think he has slightly better overall tools. I'm still a huge Brannstrom fan though and think if he can put on a bit more size/bulk he has potential to be a very good 3-4D that can quarterback any PP in the NHL.