Agreed. The fact that everyone thinks Sanderson will step in the NHL as a rookie D-Man and dominate terrifies me
I don't think anyone thinks Sanderson is going to dominate in his rookie season, we didn't expect that from Stutzle so I don't see why we would expect that from Sanderson. What is most likely to transpire is that he will be eased into the team with controlled minutes & controlled situations. Most likely he will start on the bottom pairing & as he gets more comfortable he will start to move up in the lineup.
Brannstrom afterall has shown that he can't play in the top 4 & basically spends most of the time on the bottom pairing. And given how many experts think Sanderson is going to at some point be an impact player like they think Stutzle some day will be an impact player will allow him the time he needs to get to that point. It won't happen over night, but it will likely happen, Sanderson is just so talented, he's a great skater, high hockey IQ, great passer & can control the tempo of games himself.
The only issue I see with out D going forward is we don't have the type of guys that can clear the net when a player like Tkachuck sets himself up there.
Well, we could have those type of guys coming in Kleven who could leave school this yr & we could also see Roger at some point turning pro, both are big tough stay at home defencemen who bring size & play with an edge. I see both as future blueliners on a 3rd pairing on this team, but it could take a few yrs.
Giving up on Brann means we traded Stone for a 2nd. That would mean somebody is terrible at thier job and shouldn't be allowed to do it anymore. That leads to other things that shall not be mentioned. I think Brann might be a convergence of many issues with this team. I feel kinda bad for the kid. He's 22?, on a garbage team and everything he does is analyzed to death. He hasn't even played a full season yet. Giving up on Brann means giving up on many things.
Whatever they get for Brannstrom should they trade him would be added to the 2nd they got from Vegas, so it's not just a 2nd for Stone. IMO they got what they could for Stone who wanted to go to a cup contender. What else could they have done?
Brannstrom has the unfortunate circumstance to be playing for a team that has one elite LD in Chabot & another potential elite LD coming in Sanderson, both of which will eventually be in the top 4. Holden LD has another yr here & should likely take that 3rd LD spot & if Heatherington is re-signed could be a depth LD or even Aspirot LD. If Kleven LD decides to leave school after this yr he could also be in the mix although I expect him to start in Belleville.
On the right side, like it or not double Z, Zaitsev & Zub will likely take two of the three RD spots. Brannstrom, JBD, Thomson & maybe Guennette will fight for the final spot & there is always the possibility that management could bring in another exerienced defenceman who they will need to beat out as well. There is also the possibility that Ottawa drafts a RD which could also play into the mix next season.
