Player Discussion Erik Brännström |5'10, 181lbs | Left Handed Defenceman

[Alex1234]

When has marketing ever really linked with the reality of ‘now’ though, in any industry. Marketing is all about upselling the illusion.

We never used to try and match up marketing and GM speak with what we see on the ice in exact terms before in here, ever. Then again we’ve been a pretty good team for a couple decades while virtually everyone else has hit rock bottom at least once.

This new behaviour of hanging off every word from the GM, and commercials, looks like a way to try and bash the team from an oblique angle (as though we need new angles! Lol), and has very little real world value, beyond providing some folks with some evidently much needed venting avenues.

I don’t think marketing for a tanking last place team is an easy job at the best of times, but when you throw in a jaded, cynical, and sensitive fan base, you have to knock it out of the park or it’s going to be used against you.

This team has a tiny staff, so whomever is in charge of that ‘department’ is not likely at the top of their game. To be fair to whomever, they likely lack the time, and workplace satisfaction for anyone to expect more from a regular Joe/Joan.

I’d like to see them take a similar approach to the on ice play when talent is low; dump and chase. Marketing right now should be low key, and stick to simple stuff that can’t be used to further mock the organization.

We should endeavour to quietly go about our business of sucking and rebuilding.

Nobody is at the top of their game in this organisation ainec

 

[Gil Gunderson]

We really should have picked up Sbisa off waivers and send Brannstrom down.

 

[Sweatred]

Brann is starting to buzz around - skating looks good. His 3rd period is the most aggressive I’ve seen him.

 

[TheDebater]

I like him, I feel as if sending him down will not help his development. He has the hockey IQ and the athletic ability to survive in the NHL, all he is really missing is a little more confidence and some experience; and the only way to get those is to just let him freakin play and make mistakes.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

I’m not sure what to make of him. Like what are his strengths? Although our team is so f***ing bad that he just doesn’t have a chance to show his strengths and he’s playing with probably the worst D in the team. Has to work on his speed he is not the best skater

 

[God Says No]

I’m not sure what to make of him. Like what are his strengths? Although our team is so ****ing bad that he just doesn’t have a chance to show his strengths and he’s playing with probably the worst D in the team. Has to work on his speed he is not the best skater

Yeah, I'm underwhelmed by him. He doesn't seem to have any plus tools. Maybe passing, but that's a stretch. I'm hoping he develops some, but he's not looking like a top pairing D. More like topping out as a second pairing.

 

[Johnny Hanson]

I’m not sure what to make of him. Like what are his strengths? Although our team is so ****ing bad that he just doesn’t have a chance to show his strengths and he’s playing with probably the worst D in the team. Has to work on his speed he is not the best skater

I wonder if that may be why Vegas thought he was expendable

 

[Sensinitis]

People have really bad evaluations of Brann in here.

 

[Tuna99]

Lots has been said about his skating but in open ice when he’s jumping into the rush he looks fast enough to me. He does take it slow on the breakouts and the game is to fast for him to read right now and he’s not playing freely and at higher speed so that’s why he may look slow, but his skating looks fine to me.

 

[JD1]

Yeah, I'm underwhelmed by him. He doesn't seem to have any plus tools. Maybe passing, but that's a stretch. I'm hoping he develops some, but he's not looking like a top pairing D. More like topping out as a second pairing.

There really only a handful of D chosen in the 2017 and 2018 drafts that are playing in the league. I think it's a little early for the internet world to be calling out his ceiling

 

[God Says No]

There really only a handful of D chosen in the 2017 and 2018 drafts that are playing in the league. I think it's a little early for the internet world to be calling out his ceiling

Never too early.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

I’m not sure what to make of him. Like what are his strengths? Although our team is so ****ing bad that he just doesn’t have a chance to show his strengths and he’s playing with probably the worst D in the team. Has to work on his speed he is not the best skater

I think his biggest strength, is not having any real weaknesses. He isn't super elite in any area, but he isn't bad anywhere, either. It would be nice if he was bigger, but that's about it.

Pretty much screams second pairing guy to me.

 

[Icelevel]

People have really bad evaluations of Brann in here.

He looks like a potential bust now. If not an impact player then could be beat out by a couple guys and then useless. Could see that happening now whereas before was sold on the sure thing offensive dynamo fed to us.
Will wait and see. The size could be an issue.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

He looks like a potential bust now. If not an impact player then could be beat out by a couple guys and then useless. Could see that happening now whereas before was sold on the sure thing offensive dynamo fed to us.
Will wait and see. The size could be an issue.

Wut lol

 

[IamJust0ne]

He looks like a potential bust now. If not an impact player then could be beat out by a couple guys and then useless. Could see that happening now whereas before was sold on the sure thing offensive dynamo fed to us.
Will wait and see. The size could be an issue.

Nice copy pasta

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Hainsey sheltering Brannstrom is like Ceci sheltering Lajoie.

Wolanin injury and "the proudest day" pushed Brannstrom into the NHL a little early.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

What should we be expecting from Brannstrom at this point?

Will he continue to improve his game and effectiveness in the NHL? Will he need to go down to Belleville to work on his more complete game? If so when?

Lajoie is playing a lot and working on his speed/puck retrieval which got exposed last year. When do you think we see him again in Ottawa?

 

[toxic poster]

i think it's near impossible to properly evaluate brannstroms future success in the league given our roster this season.

Hainsey isn't the partner for him, first off. Brannstrom works best with a partner who can also move the puck effectively (that would Jaros or Demelo in our current roster dynamic). Hainsey's first instinct is to get the puck out, at all costs. Brannstrom doesn't play well off puck in that scenario because there's far too many unknowns once the puck has left 81's stick.

Brannstrom is better suited to having a partner that can help him move the puck up the ice with control, so that he can jump into the play and add another option in transition. That's not to say he's a bad player off-puck, but given our current forward group, we can't reliably enter the OZ with possession which significantly hinders his ability to be effective. It feels like he has to be extra cautious to account for this.

After typing this out, it feels like this reads as though he is most well suited as complementary piece & not the main guy when he's on the ice. However I feel like with a more talented squad surrounding him he will gain the confidence and awareness to be "the guy" when he hops over the boards.

I really like his fundamentals though, all-in-all. I think he reads the game well and anticipates pressured areas on puck retrievals effectively.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

He should be in Belleville.

Send him down before he's ruined.

 

[GCK]

He should be in Belleville.

Send him down before he's ruined.

I am not sure about Belleville. I think he is learning more here. If he was in and out of the lineup or playing 12 minutes a night then maybe send him down but from all accounts he still has a positive attitude and is not losing his confidence so he’s probably best served staying put.

 

[BonkTastic]

If he was in and out of the lineup or playing 12 minutes a night then maybe send him down

For the sake of the argument, here's his TOI in his last 6 games:

14:15
07:59
13:40
13:44
13:22
11:57

 

[Micklebot]

For the sake of the argument, here's his TOI in his last 6 games:

14:15
07:59
13:40
13:44
13:22
11:57

That SJ game seems to be a real outlier; was he injured or something? He only got something like 4 shifts in the second half of the game.

Anyways, I think we are playing him the absolute minimum needed to justify keeping him up, I'd be fine sending him down and letting him try and dominate in Belleville as well as get time on both special teams. Goloubef can fill in up here.

 

[GCK]

For the sake of the argument, here's his TOI in his last 6 games:

14:15
07:59
13:40
13:44
13:22
11:57

That looks about right for a kid learning the ropes. I would sit him every now and then as well.

 

[Ice-Tray]

I have to agree that Hainsey is not good. I was going he’s be a solid vet, but he has been our worst defender, and is not a great partner for EB on the ice. Man I wish there was a Gonchar out there again.

It would be nice to pair EB with the type of player that he’s going to be, so that he can also be mentored a bit by a skilled player.

Ah well, I really like the flashes this kid shows, and he’s pretty solid as a defender which bodes well as he gains experience and confidence.

 

[LeProspector]

I love this kid more than anyone else on these boards however I believe he should be sent down to play 20+ minutes a night and run the PP down in Belleville. He’s shown flashes however I believe he’s only up with the big team because of politics. I think he would be with Belleville by now if he didn’t get traded for Mark Stone.