Traded Erik Brännström - D - Part III

[Sens of Anarchy]

I'm struggling with lalimes Martin's take there, the turnover had nothing to do with physicality or lack there of, Brannstrom just played it really poorly.

Puck hung up on the boards on him, he left space between the boards allowing the F1 to get inside position on him, he actually recovered well, winning the puck battle with the F1 and chipping it behind the net before F2 arrived, but he put it too far for Guinette to get who had coasted in ostensibly to provide support. Because Guinette wasn't there to provide the outlet option for Brannstrom, the puck went to the far side where F3 collected the puck.

But let's blame it on on Brannstrom being too small...

I am not echoing their takes.. just saying he was taking some criticism. Like on here some takes are just fan takes on what they see good and bad

 

[robsenz]

I'm struggling with lalimes Martin's take there, the turnover had nothing to do with physicality or lack there of, Brannstrom just played it really poorly.

Puck hung up on the boards on him, he left space between the boards allowing the F1 to get inside position on him, he actually recovered well, winning the puck battle with the F1 and chipping it behind the net before F2 arrived, but he put it too far for Guinette to get who had coasted in ostensibly to provide support. Because Guinette wasn't there to provide the outlet option for Brannstrom, the puck went to the far side where F3 collected the puck.

But let's blame it on on Brannstrom being too small...

"Thanks for the Breakdown" - Sens of Anarchy

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

I'm struggling with lalimes Martin's take there, the turnover had nothing to do with physicality or lack there of, Brannstrom just played it really poorly.

Puck hung up on the boards on him, he left space between the boards allowing the F1 to get inside position on him, he actually recovered well, winning the puck battle with the F1 and chipping it behind the net before F2 arrived, but he put it too far for Guinette to get who had coasted in ostensibly to provide support. Because Guinette wasn't there to provide the outlet option for Brannstrom, the puck went to the far side where F3 collected the puck.

But let's blame it on on Brannstrom being too small...

Very good structural analysis, but I think you are taking physicality off the table a bit too much.

While everything you've said was accurate, a bigger/stronger player has a safety net when they play things poorly like Brannstrom did. I am not even talking a behemoth... guys like JBD and Thomson are short for DMen but still have size & strength on Brannstrom (or, at least, will have strength on him).

No one is saying Brannstrom is too small to succeed in the NHL, because there have been DMen his size and slightly larger who have had tons of success at the NHL. It is the combination of mediocre decision making, mediocre skating (not for an NHL, necessarily, but certainly for one of his size), and being small and weak that combine to make him a difficult player to be fully comfortable with.

So while I think you are right, I also think his physicality will always come into play because it forces him to rely on other facets of his game that are just OK.

 

[Micklebot]

So while I think you are right, I also think his physicality will always come into play because it forces him to rely on other facets of his game that are just OK.

I'm not suggesting his size won't present it's challenges, it will, I just don't see this particular play to be a great example of it, particularly given he actually won the only puck battle in the sequence, and the reason there even was a puck battle was more a matter of skill when he temporarily lost control of the puck along the boards.

I guess him going down easy at the end of the play is a reasonable example, but the focus seemed to be around the initial turnover which to me was far more about Guinette's read removing him as an outlet option, and Brannstrom putting it to where Guinette had been previously instead of where he was.

 

[Xspyrit]

I'm struggling with lalimes Martin's take there, the turnover had nothing to do with physicality or lack there of, Brannstrom just played it really poorly.

Puck hung up on the boards on him, he left space between the boards allowing the F1 to get inside position on him, he actually recovered well, winning the puck battle with the F1 and chipping it behind the net before F2 arrived, but he put it too far for Guinette to get who had coasted in ostensibly to provide support. Because Guinette wasn't there to provide the outlet option for Brannstrom, the puck went to the far side where F3 collected the puck.

But let's blame it on on Brannstrom being too small...

Not everyone has played the game enough to understand all its nuances. Like you said, Brannstrom lost a step giving inside position but was able to recover and chip the puck at the right place but the Sens players were all rushing towards the same area like chickens with their heads cut, so no breakout options. Maybe the Sens LWer should have seen it coming and cover the boards but didn't so the Jets regained possession.

The only thing Brannstrom did wrong here was a skating technicality. Nothing to do with anything else.

 

[ottawah]

The more I see of Brannstrom the more I think Chris Wideman.

 

[SlapJack]

The puck came off his stick when he tried to handle it and that put him in danger. Happens to everyone and he did recover.

There's a tendency to be laser focused on certain players because of size and/or experience, and every mistake gets magnified. I thought Jake Sanderson did a lot of good things in his first game and yeah, there were a few mistakes. But the mistakes were highlighted in red and apparently cause for concern. Chabot totally coughed up the puck in the slot on one of his first touches, was absolutely brutal. The response to that? "Rust"

I find a lot of the gotcha clips showing Brannstrom's deficiencies are pretty weak examples where he lost a 50/50 battle. Would be nice to see a full game breakdown of defensive plays good or bad. You can't judge players on their highlights (or lowlights)

 

[Cosmix]

I watched the Senators-Jets game the other night and was often surprised by the takes of the announcers. It seemed that they always tried to say something good about a player even though the player committed an obvious error. One example was when a Jet player tripped a Senator coming out from behind the Senator goal. They applauded the Jet player for his hustle without mentioning that he tripped the Senator player in the Senators D zone.

 

[Bileur]

I'm struggling with lalimes Martin's take there, the turnover had nothing to do with physicality or lack there of, Brannstrom just played it really poorly.

Puck hung up on the boards on him, he left space between the boards allowing the F1 to get inside position on him, he actually recovered well, winning the puck battle with the F1 and chipping it behind the net before F2 arrived, but he put it too far for Guinette to get who had coasted in ostensibly to provide support. Because Guinette wasn't there to provide the outlet option for Brannstrom, the puck went to the far side where F3 collected the puck.

But let's blame it on on Brannstrom being too small...

It’s still not clear to me why they didn’t call icing there.

 

[Ice-Tray]

Brannstrom is competing with Holden for the 3LD spot. I’d be happy if he forces his way in. His performance last night was okay, I was hoping he would stand out in a good way but at least he wasn't bad.

I disagree. I think Bran is competing with Lassi and JBD.

We won’t put Bran out with Lassi or JBD and the top 4 is set.

So unless we see bran and Zaitsev, it’s Holden and a rookie/Bran.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Brannstrom taking it on the chin a little after last night's game

Not top 4 material. End of story.

 

[Bileur]

Brannstrom taking it on the chin a little after last night's game

He also got some positive, if a little tongue in cheek reviews:

 

[Micklebot]

Not top 4 material. End of story.

Sure, we got Chabot and Sanderson for that though.

 

[SensFan1010]

Brannstrom taking it on the chin a little after last night's game

That first clip is ridiculous. He made a very soft play initially, but when he was taken down in the corner at the end he won the battle and advanced the puck?? I dont see the problem with him taking the hit to make the play?

 

[aragorn]

I wonder if Arz is asking for Brannstrom in return for Chychrun as one of the pieces in any deal? They both play LD & can play the other side, seems like a decent replacement if you also include a 1st & maybe something else. My guess is NO.

 

[DylanSensFan]

That first clip is ridiculous. He made a very soft play initially, but when he was taken down in the corner at the end he won the battle and advanced the puck?? I dont see the problem with him taking the hit to make the play?

He didn't have a lot of support on that first play. If he had a defender there with him, it wouldn't have been a giveaway. It was a pretty solid stick play, from my perspective. He needs someone on the boards waiting for a pass. It isn't always about pretty plays, but simple ones. Nobody was there blocking the lane and the Jets player walked right in and took the pass.

That first clip is ridiculous. He made a very soft play initially, but when he was taken down in the corner at the end he won the battle and advanced the puck?? I dont see the problem with him taking the hit to make the play?

I'm a big fan of Thomson, but he was definitely not in good position on that play.

 

[Bileur]

He didn't have a lot of support on that first play. If he had a defender there with him, it wouldn't have been a giveaway. It was a pretty solid stick play, from my perspective. He needs someone on the boards waiting for a pass. It isn't always about pretty plays, but simple ones. Nobody was there blocking the lane and the Jets player walked right in and took the pass.


I'm a big fan of Thomson, but he was definitely not in good position on that play.

That was Guenette.

 

[DylanSensFan]

That was Guenette.

Whoops. I thought Thomson was wearing 50, my bad.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

I'm struggling with lalimes Martin's take there, the turnover had nothing to do with physicality or lack there of, Brannstrom just played it really poorly.

Puck hung up on the boards on him, he left space between the boards allowing the F1 to get inside position on him, he actually recovered well, winning the puck battle with the F1 and chipping it behind the net before F2 arrived, but he put it too far for Guinette to get who had coasted in ostensibly to provide support. Because Guinette wasn't there to provide the outlet option for Brannstrom, the puck went to the far side where F3 collected the puck.

But let's blame it on on Brannstrom being too small...

Whether or not it's because of his size or not is irrelevant in my opinion. These plays are far too regular for Brannstrom, and I actually don't think he's very good with the puck in his own end. I don't think he processes the game fast enough and I don't think his decision making is very good.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

Sure, we got Chabot and Sanderson for that though.

I think Sanderson is at least year away from becoming an impact player and we all hoped Brannstrom could level up but so far, not so good.

At this time we have two top 4 d.

 

[Ice-Tray]

Sanderson is an impact player right now in the defensive end. It’s his offensive game that will grow most. He will also become more effective all around the bigger he gets.

He’s already one of the fittest players in the team (3rd).

 

[DylanSensFan]

I think Sanderson is at least year away from becoming an impact player and we all hoped Brannstrom could level up but so far, not so good.

At this time we have two top 4 d.

I think a few games in the pre-season make it difficult to judge what exactly we've got. I would have expected Giroux-Stu-Cat line to score bundles in the pre-season, but they still need to find chemistry. I am going to take a wait and see approach this season.

 

[Do Make Say Think]

I think a few games in the pre-season make it difficult to judge what exactly we've got. I would have expected Giroux-Stu-Cat line to score bundles in the pre-season, but they still need to find chemistry. I am going to take a wait and see approach this season.

More than fair.

I'm just not seeing what I want to see out of Brannstrom to make me think he could be a dependable top 4.

And it isn't for lack of effort or skill, I like how he plays. He is just too easy to overpower and puts himself in precarious positions.

Maybe I should be more forgiving: I don't think Brannstrom can be a dependable top 4 dman for us because our D is so weak. If our D, as a group, were better he could be a better fit, especially since he looks so good on the PP.

Right now he's a better Chris Wideman which isn't what we need.

 

[Senator Stanley]

More than fair.

I'm just not seeing what I want to see out of Brannstrom to make me think he could be a dependable top 4.

And it isn't for lack of effort or skill, I like how he plays. He is just too easy to overpower and puts himself in precarious positions.

Maybe I should be more forgiving: I don't think Brannstrom can be a dependable top 4 dman for us because our D is so weak. If our D, as a group, were better he could be a better fit, especially since he looks so good on the PP.

I'm not looking at him as a top 4 guy at this point. We all know it'll be Chabot-Sanderson on the left-side for the foreseeable future. But not being in the top 4 doesn't mean Brannstrom can't be a useful player as a 3rd pair/2nd PP guy who has the ability to slide up the lineup if Chabot/Sanderson get hurt.

 

[HSF]

looks like Brannstrom is headed to waivers atleast as long as DJ is here. He just doesn't like small defensemen.