Traded Erik Brännström - D - Part III

[Alf Silfversson]

He played a great game tonight. We're seeing more na dmore good to very good games from him.

I'm still blown away by people's willingness to label a 22 year old as a finished product.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Why did that first assist get taken away? Certainly looked like he touched it.

That's the sort of luck he has had points wise.

Mete was brutal...whoever said Brann should sit for him missed badly.

Brann is on a whole other level than mete. Not even comparable

 

[Burrowsaurus]

One good game don't mean $hit. However since Chabot injury we have had a really good look at him playing 1st line minute's for people to form opinions. Mine is he needs a a lot of work still.

To play on a first pair…. Yeah. Definitely.

 

[RAFI BOMB]

Guess this thread will be quiet for a few days until his next bad game then

Opinions on him will likely be the same. Brannstrom has some positive traits and can have good moments and good games but the hype surrounding him doesn't seem warranted. His play and his attributes don't suggest top pairing upside, they don't even suggest elite top four upside. It is still a big question mark as to whether he can eventually become a legitimate top four d man, let alone an elite one. He is looking more like a depth utility puck moving d man and possibly a power play specialist. Even then, his play isn't suggesting elite power play specialist upside either.

A big challenge for him will be carving out a niche in the NHL. He will need to figure out a role that his attributes and skills allow him to thrive at, and then he needs to become that thing fully so that teams around the league value what he brings to the table and find it difficult to find other players who can play that role as well as him. That is a reality for almost every NHL player and the ones that figure that out get job security and longevity of their career, those that don't get tossed around from team to team until after a short period of time they are out of the NHL.

 

[OD99]

He is unique in that he doesn't have the physical tools most associated with 2nd pairing D yet if he settled in to that role next seaaon while Sanderson cut his teeth I bet he would do great.

If he was moved to 3rd pair I think his skills would show just as well.

This guy has gone from a scratch to carrying Josh Brown/Z to getting minutes with Chabot to our #1D and he is doing fine. The team D is bad but for all his minutes and the chatter here you would think he was getting caved in but it is the opposite.

Yes he loses some board battles and turns the puck over (like all our D) but the puck is in our zone far less where he is on the ice.

 

[Sweatred]

Brann was flying. I don't think we've seen him skate that fast and combined with his quick accurate puck movement he lead an offensive surge we haven't seen from this group. He had the forwards attacking at full speed. He was the "best player on the ice" good last night. Let's see if he can keep it going.

 

[JD1]

Brann is on a whole other level than mete. Not even comparable

Where are all the Mete fans that posted in the GDTs last fall?

 

[JD1]

Opinions on him will likely be the same. Brannstrom has some positive traits and can have good moments and good games but the hype surrounding him doesn't seem warranted. His play and his attributes don't suggest top pairing upside, they don't even suggest elite top four upside. It is still a big question mark as to whether he can eventually become a legitimate top four d man, let alone an elite one. He is looking more like a depth utility puck moving d man and possibly a power play specialist. Even then, his play isn't suggesting elite power play specialist upside either.

A big challenge for him will be carving out a niche in the NHL. He will need to figure out a role that his attributes and skills allow him to thrive at, and then he needs to become that thing fully so that teams around the league value what he brings to the table and find it difficult to find other players who can play that role as well as him. That is a reality for almost every NHL player and the ones that figure that out get job security and longevity of their career, those that don't get tossed around from team to team until after a short period of time they are out of the NHL.

I was watching the Winnipeg feed last night so anyone watching the Ottawa feed might not have seen this

In the first period, they put up a stat that the Sens have been 29% on the PP since March 5. And they popped a couple of PP goals last night so that number went up. Chabot's been out since March 5 so Brannstrom has been QBing PP one for the majority of this PP surge.

Curious on your thoughts on that? A 22 year old QBing a PP in the NHL at 30% for almost 20 games

 

[JD1]

He is unique in that he doesn't have the physical tools most associated with 2nd pairing D yet if he settled in to that role next seaaon while Sanderson cut his teeth I bet he would do great.

If he was moved to 3rd pair I think his skills would show just as well.

This guy has gone from a scratch to carrying Josh Brown/Z to getting minutes with Chabot to our #1D and he is doing fine. The team D is bad but for all his minutes and the chatter here you would think he was getting caved in but it is the opposite.

Yes he loses some board battles and turns the puck over (like all our D) but the puck is in our zone far less where he is on the ice.

Was he a scratch? I honestly don't remember. I recall he lost the contract battle coming out of camp, came up, broke his hand.

 

[bert]

yes a lot will hinge on how Brannstrom physically develops but why are we capping Brann? He is still only 22 and can get stronger. Same age as Brady.

I would be shocked if either are at their peak physical strength.

Small players have way shorter development curves you've missed my point completely. Brady and Brannstrom are opposites in this regard. Kleven has a much longer development curve than Brannstrom. There are countless examples of bigger players taking longer. Small players tend to hit their peak faster because they rely on their speed.

 

[bert]

I was watching the Winnipeg feed last night so anyone watching the Ottawa feed might not have seen this

In the first period, they put up a stat that the Sens have been 29% on the PP since March 5. And they popped a couple of PP goals last night so that number went up. Chabot's been out since March 5 so Brannstrom has been QBing PP one for the majority of this PP surge.

Curious on your thoughts on that? A 22 year old QBing a PP in the NHL at 30% for almost 20 games

Pretty obvious watching the game last night that's Stutzle drives the bus on the pp. There was no movement two games he was out. Norris is the Trigger man and has been on a heater. This is not happening because Brannstrom has been a revelation. He needs to be a shooting threat up there.

 

[SlapJack]

One good game don't mean $hit. However since Chabot injury we have had a really good look at him playing 1st line minute's for people to form opinions. Mine is he needs a a lot of work still.

One game can show what is possible. You're right, he does need work - just like all defenders his age. But it seems like there's a contingent that thinks he's not good enough to be an NHLer so when he plays well, it doesn't fit the narrative. There were essays written about how bad he is between the Rangers and Jets game.

 

[BankStreetParade]

I was watching the Winnipeg feed last night so anyone watching the Ottawa feed might not have seen this

In the first period, they put up a stat that the Sens have been 29% on the PP since March 5. And they popped a couple of PP goals last night so that number went up. Chabot's been out since March 5 so Brannstrom has been QBing PP one for the majority of this PP surge.

Curious on your thoughts on that? A 22 year old QBing a PP in the NHL at 30% for almost 20 games

Josh Norris.

 

[GCK]

That was one of the best games I’ve seen Brannstrom play. Still don’t see a place for him next year with Chabot, Sanderson and Holden on the left side.

 

[JD1]

Josh Norris.

You guys are funny.

There's always a trigger man on a PP and what the team is trying to do to score. We're trying to feed Norris from the top of the umbrella or have Stuetzle work some magic off the half wall

But someone is working the point on the umbrella and distributing the puck. And in what's probably our best sustained stretch in a decade, that someone is Brannstrom

And a shout out to @Sweatred on another nice play from White on the PP.

 

[Big Muddy]

Opinions on him will likely be the same. Brannstrom has some positive traits and can have good moments and good games but the hype surrounding him doesn't seem warranted. His play and his attributes don't suggest top pairing upside, they don't even suggest elite top four upside. It is still a big question mark as to whether he can eventually become a legitimate top four d man, let alone an elite one. He is looking more like a depth utility puck moving d man and possibly a power play specialist. Even then, his play isn't suggesting elite power play specialist upside either.

You guys are funny.

There's always a trigger man on a PP and what the team is trying to do to score. We're trying to feed Norris from the top of the umbrella or have Stuetzle work some magic off the half wall

But someone is working the point on the umbrella and distributing the puck. And in what's probably our best sustained stretch in a decade, that someone is Brannstrom

And a shout out to @Sweatred on another nice play from White on the PP.

Brannstrom has been playing pretty well for a bit now. He's had big shoes to fill with Chabot out.

Not sure what all the fuss is about, or why there's talk about him not being a NHL player. He's not a stud and will likely not live up to expectation because he was the return from the Stone trade, but nevertheless he's an NHL defenseman with some warts. You could say that (has warts) about a lot of the defensemen in the NHL.

 

[GCK]

Brannstrom has been playing pretty well for a bit now. He's had to big shoes to fill with Chabot out.

Not sure what all the fuss is about, or why there's talk about him not being a NHL player. He's not a stud and will likely not live up to expectation because he was the return from the Stone trade, but nevertheless he's an NHL defenseman with some warts. You could say that (has warts) about a lot of the defensemen in the NHL.

It’s more the fact there is no room for him as soon as next year. Chabot and Sanderson will be our top 4 LDs and Holden will mentor Thomson on the 3rd pair IMO. Holden and Sanderson will likely be the LD PK options.

 

[Big Muddy]

It’s more the fact there is no room for him as soon as next year. Chabot and Sanderson will be our top 4 LDs and Holden will mentor Thomson on the 3rd pair IMO. Holden and Sanderson will likely be the LD PK options.

Well ya, but a team typically needs 8 defenseman through the year. BTW, I'm not opposed to moving him and realize that you have to slot defenders accordingly, but defenders like Zaitsev, Mete and J Brown have been hopping over the boards and getting ice time for us this year, so there's that. We've only made one addition in Hamonic. Everything is relative I suppose.

 

[Benttheknee]

I was watching the Winnipeg feed last night so anyone watching the Ottawa feed might not have seen this

In the first period, they put up a stat that the Sens have been 29% on the PP since March 5. And they popped a couple of PP goals last night so that number went up. Chabot's been out since March 5 so Brannstrom has been QBing PP one for the majority of this PP surge.

Curious on your thoughts on that? A 22 year old QBing a PP in the NHL at 30% for almost 20 games

Perhaps. but having Norris was a bigger add IMO.

 

[bert]

You guys are funny.

There's always a trigger man on a PP and what the team is trying to do to score. We're trying to feed Norris from the top of the umbrella or have Stuetzle work some magic off the half wall

But someone is working the point on the umbrella and distributing the puck. And in what's probably our best sustained stretch in a decade, that someone is Brannstrom

And a shout out to @Sweatred on another nice play from White on the PP.

Ottawa hasn't had a trigger man like this since Heatley. It's not hard to pass the puck it's hard to shoot and score. So no there always isn't a trigger man. The pp was stagnant and useless when Stutzle was out. Brannstrom is not the reason. Pretty obvious who is making the plays out there especially after we had a direct sample size with and without Timmy.

@GCK is right when everyone is healthy Brannstrom won't be in the lineup. I think with injuries he will get playing time. However rightly or wrongly DJ Smith has shown his preferences he won't be playing. I'd rather have him in over Zaitsev but we all know that isn't happening.

Ideally the sens pick up a top 4 RD next year in the offeason but I am not expecting it. unfortunately this is how I expect the season to start.

Chabot Zub
Sanderson Hamonic
Holden Zaitsev
Barnnstrom Thomson

What I'd prefer with realistic expectations

Chabot Zub
Sanderson Hamonic
Holden Thomson
Brannstrom Zaitsev

What I'd love to see, this is an NHL playoff defense with actual depth.

Chabot Manson
Sanderson Zub
Holden Thomson
Brannstrom Hamonic

 

[Zorf]

Brann once again looked great on the PP. I do wish the Sens would give him more PP time, even with Chabot back. Would be an easy way to limit Chabot's minutes without hurting the team.


I do wonder if why he looks so good on the PP is because he has extra time and space? We all know he's not the fastest skater out there, but if he could get a little extra jump in his speed, he might be able to create more time and space for himself when playing 5 on 5. I think working on his foot speed would solve a ton of his problems, especially in the defensive zone.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Brann once again looked great on the PP. I do wish the Sens would give him more PP time, even with Chabot back. Would be an easy way to limit Chabot's minutes without hurting the team.


I do wonder if why he looks so good on the PP is because he has extra time and space? We all know he's not the fastest skater out there, but if he could get a little extra jump in his speed, he might be able to create more time and space for himself when playing 5 on 5. I think working on his foot speed would solve a ton of his problems, especially in the defensive zone.

He looks good on the opposing teams blueline all the time. He constantly makes the first guy miss he will save broken plays.

Once it comes to the decisive shot or pass though it’s sort of anti climactic

 

[HSF]

Brannstrom is putting up points and not getting badly hit anymore

What will we complain about next ?

Almost as if you play a player with solid potential they can get better

 

[HSF]

It’s more the fact there is no room for him as soon as next year. Chabot and Sanderson will be our top 4 LDs and Holden will mentor Thomson on the 3rd pair IMO. Holden and Sanderson will likely be the LD PK options.

No room on one of the worst defenses in the league ? Ya ok

The blue line is crowded cause we keep adding bottom pairing defensemen. Get rid of mdz and zaitsev

 

[HSF]

There is no room for Brannstrom in the top 6 next year. I think it’s clear our top 6 will be

Chabot - Zub
Sanderson- Hamonic
Holden - Thomson

Del Zotto will be 7th D with JBD as the first RD call up.

Zaitsev and Brannstrom will be moved in the offseason.

Hamonic is the Zaitsev replacement.

The best D we’ve had in a long time

If this is our defense next season I would say that we have plenty of space for brannnstrom