Traded Erik Brännström - D - Part III

[Erik Alfredsson]

In theory, you're playing Brannstrom because he can move the puck, which is part of playing defense.

But we're talking 3rd pair on a weak blueline, here. You have to pick your poison. Obviously this is not the choice their facing this season, but philosophically, do they prefer a puck-mover like Brannstrom or a physical presence like a Josh Brown? I think we know DJ's answer. Personally, I've seen enough "physical presence" 3rd pairing guys. I'm happy to try the alternative.

I don't think Brannstrom can move the puck well at all. he gives away the puck or makes a bad pass quite a lot for a guy who supposedly moves the puck well.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I don't think Brannstrom can move the puck well at all. he gives away the puck or makes a bad pass quite a lot for a guy who supposedly moves the puck well.

He is good with time and space and is unable to create time and space for himself .. He is just not quick enough nor deceptive enough at his size he needs those tools in his toolbox to be effective. He has a lot of supporters and people that are quick to defend him.. I hope he can make them happy.

On DJ not liking Brannstrom due to his size.... IMO if Quinn Hughes was here .. he's be an automatic in the lineup. Its not about size. Its about what you can do at that size.

 

[Ice-Tray]

I agree that it's not going to happen and Zub will be paired with Chabot, but that argument where Zub can't play with Sanderson because of a language barrier is a bit ridiculous.

I mean, I agree with you in theory, but It’s really not ridiculous if you listened to DJ talk about the plan set of for Sanderson in conversation with his dad.

Zub is a great defender so it’s not like they couldn’t make it work, but the language barrier is absolutely a big deal when it comes to communicating on the ice with a young player who wants/needs constant chatter. Zub also isn’t a guy who will step in a fight someone taking advantage of the rookie.

Sure it could work, but it’s not ideal given the context. Add in the other side where Chabot and Zub play well together and should continue to grow as a pair and it makes even less sense to do it.

That’s my two cents anyways.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

He is good with time and space and is unable to create time and space for himself .. He is just not quick enough nor deceptive enough at his size he needs those tools in his toolbox to be effective. He has a lot of supporters and people that are quick to defend him.. I hope he can make them happy.

On DJ not liking Brannstrom due to his size.... IMO if Quinn Hughes was here .. he's be an automatic in the lineup. Its not about size. Its about what you can do at that size.

He's not quick or deceptive, but I also just don't think he processes the game fast enough in his own end. He gets buried by forecheckers every shift, and that's not just because he's a below average skater, but also because I don't really think he anticipates the play well enough, and can't process it fast enough to react properly. When the pace is slowed down and as you said, he has time and space, is where he shines, because he has good creativity. But when the game has a fast pace, he can't keep up.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Not sure what Thomson or JBD are doing for people to be clamoring for them over Brann so badly.


Only one of these 3 players has played in a top 4 NHL role and succeeded.

 

[Ice-Tray]

Not sure what Thomson or JBD are doing for people to be clamoring for them over Brann so badly.


Only one of these 3 players has played in a top 4 NHL role and succeeded.

You’re right, Tompson did look pretty good playing with Chabot.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

You’re right, Tompson did look pretty good playing with Chabot.

True he did But it was such a small sample size.

I like Thomson over JBD and perhaps even over Brann but Brann has performed twice now for extended periods of time that Chabot went down.

Injuries will happen because they always do. And we'd be a injury to Chabot or Sanderson away from being one of the worst puck moving teams in the league again.

It blows my mind people are putting no value in depth especially after seeing Brann elevate his game for two straight seasons.

 

[Ice-Tray]

True he did But it was such a small sample size.

I like Thomson over JBD and perhaps even over Brann but Brann has performed twice now for extended periods of time that Chabot went down.

Injuries will happen because they always do. And we'd be a injury to Chabot or Sanderson away from being one of the worst puck moving teams in the league again.

It blows my mind people are putting no value in depth especially after seeing Brann elevate his game for two straight seasons.

I think all these kids will play, lots. I also think that Bran has the inside track to play with Holden on the third pairing.

Lassi and JBD are able to go to Belleville and play top pairing minutes and be first call ups for injuries. As you said, we’ll have lots in the back end I’m sure.

 

[bicboi64]

I'd have Brann on the 3rd pairing over the otehr 5 defenders who are guaranteed spots (Chabot, Hamonic, Zub, Sanderson and Holden). In no world do i trust Zaitsev over him, and JBD, Thomson, etc... will be later season call up due to injuries.

 

[HSF]

Not sure what Thomson or JBD are doing for people to be clamoring for them over Brann so badly.


Only one of these 3 players has played in a top 4 NHL role and succeeded.

DJ does not like small defensemen

Bran is doomed even though he is better than JBD and Thomson. Its literally the only reason guys like Zaitsev and Brown played so much under DJ

 

[OD99]

I get it if people aren't high on Brann but if the pitchforks are out over 2 preseason games then I think we need to tone it down.

Yes we want him to play well but let's see him get his legs under him and play with the big club again, with NHL players and structure.

His fancy stats were good last season and despite the fact he can be outmatched physically it would still seem we are better with him on the ice.

He isn't ever going to be a good enough piece for Stone but he is an NHL defender.

 

[Ice-Tray]

DJ does not like small defensemen

Bran is doomed even though he is better than JBD and Thomson. Its literally the only reason guys like Zaitsev and Brown played so much under DJ

He’s played a ton, DJ used him to replace Chabot when he went down.

DJ not liking small D is fan fiction.

Branstrom may be doomed, but it’s only because he struggles to play D, not because our staff is holding him back, or against him.

Some folks have a hard time accepting that the horse the are backing just isn’t what they hoped.

I get it if people aren't high on Brann but if the pitchforks are out over 2 preseason games then I think we need to tone it down.

Yes we want him to play well but let's see him get his legs under him and play with the big club again, with NHL players and structure.

His fancy stats were good last season and despite the fact he can be outmatched physically it would still seem we are better with him on the ice.

He isn't ever going to be a good enough piece for Stone but he is an NHL defender.

Sure, he’ll start with Holden on the bottom pair most likely.

Hopefully he can continue to develop.

 

[Nac Mac Feegle]

There isn't a coach in the league that "likes" small defensemen. What coaches like, is speed, skill, muscle and the willingness (and smarts) to use it.

Brann is a specialist. Powerplay or bust, for him. But, he can fill in for injuries. He did fill in well last year for Chabot (but also we have to note the team was out of the playoff race by then and playing loose 'n easy.).


It's a shame he can't play another year in Belleville to try and get a bit more strength and a lot more speed/agility to his game. Although to be honest, I'm not sure what he's been working on the last few years...I haven't noticed any big gains in those areas since we got him. Maybe is isn't capable of getting noticeably better, and what you see is what you get at this point?

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

Thomson looks good with Chabot, meanwhile Branny gets paired with Zaitsev. Even Chabot looked like shit with Zaitsev. The stretch Brannstrom played with Holden, he looked like an NHL dman but he keeps getting put into a situation where failure is basically expected.

 

[Bileur]

There isn't a coach in the league that "likes" small defensemen. What coaches like, is speed, skill, muscle and the willingness (and smarts) to use it.

Brann is a specialist. Powerplay or bust, for him. But, he can fill in for injuries. He did fill in well last year for Chabot (but also we have to note the team was out of the playoff race by then and playing loose 'n easy.).


It's a shame he can't play another year in Belleville to try and get a bit more strength and a lot more speed/agility to his game. Although to be honest, I'm not sure what he's been working on the last few years...I haven't noticed any big gains in those areas since we got him. Maybe is isn't capable of getting noticeably better, and what you see is what you get at this point?

I think he looks quite a bit stronger in battles and pinning guys but unfortunately not more explosive in his first three steps.

 

[Samsquanch]

He still never shoots, at the end of the game he could have put a few pucks to the net but is alwasy dishing it out to the wingers, Drives me nuts.

This x9001

If he was the same player but with a booming shot and the guts to use it, his career would have been night and day different as of now.

He's got all the offensive instincts but just no confidence to be the trigger man we need back there.

This team has lacked a heavy shot from the blueline for far too long. EK even included to some extent.

 

[JD1]

DJ does not like small defensemen

Bran is doomed even though he is better than JBD and Thomson. Its literally the only reason guys like Zaitsev and Brown played so much under DJ

This post makes zero sense. Like none.

Two years ago, Brannstrom was improving but not quite there. He played more minutes than Brown though, by quite a margin . Zaitsev was our top RD in minutes that year, it was also Zub's rookie season. Last year, Brannstrom was hurt out of the gate with the broken hand. When he returned he played more minutes than either Zaitsev or Brown. With more options available to him, DJ cut back Zaitsev's minutes a lot

Do you remember the whole controversy over playing LD versus RD with Brannstrom? Zaitsev and Brown are both RD. Brannstrom an LD.

That's just one of the most uninformed posts I've read in a while

 

[HSF]

This post makes zero sense. Like none.

Two years ago, Brannstrom was improving but not quite there. He played more minutes than Brown though, by quite a margin . Zaitsev was our top RD in minutes that year, it was also Zub's rookie season. Last year, Brannstrom was hurt out of the gate with the broken hand. When he returned he played more minutes than either Zaitsev or Brown. With more options available to him, DJ cut back Zaitsev's minutes a lot

Do you remember the whole controversy over playing LD versus RD with Brannstrom? Zaitsev and Brown are both RD. Brannstrom an LD.

That's just one of the most uninformed posts I've read in a while

Brannstrom was sent down so we can run MDZ, Brown and Zaitsev trololol

 

[Golden_Jet]

Brannstrom was sent down so we can run MDZ, Brown and Zaitsev trololol

Zaitsev was waived to play Brann also.

 

[Larionov]

One issue I notice with Brannstrom time and again - his shot wouldn't break a pane of glass. As others have said, if this guy had a cannon from the point we would be having a much different conversation on him.

I see him getting moved either at the deadline or at the draft - it's hard to see where he fits here long term...

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Zaitsev was waived to play Brann also.

freudian slip

 

[bert]

We have plenty of defencemen in the org who IMO would be a better fit than Brannstrom on the 3rd pair. He may not even be able to replace Zaitsev on that 3rd pair. If they can't re-sign DeBrincat we may be able to use him to acquire a top 2 RD. We don't have to do anything we have plenty of assets to assess where we are as a team & where we need to improve & if someone would take Brannstrom in a package than great, he gets another opportunity on another team. We are only selling assets to improve the team, that's what asset managament is all about, improving the team where you can when you can. But they also don't have to do anything yet.

Oh he's way better than Zaitsev Aragorn. I think it's easier to play Branny at home when they have last change and Sanderson establishes himself. Ultimately there will be injuries and the team will need Branntsrom. However I don't think he starts in the top 6 at this point unless they move him or Holden to RD.

 

[aragorn]

Oh he's way better than Zaitsev Aragorn. I think it's easier to play Branny at home when they have last change and Sanderson establishes himself. Ultimately there will be injuries and the team will need Branntsrom. However I don't think he starts in the top 6 at this point unless they move him or Holden to RD.

If Brannstrom doesn't start in the top 6, who does? Do you think they won't play Zaitsev at all? I think we all agree that the top 5 defencemen are Chabot, Zub, Sanderson, Hamonic & Holden, that leaves one spot, who takes it?

 

[Ice-Tray]

Oh he's way better than Zaitsev Aragorn. I think it's easier to play Branny at home when they have last change and Sanderson establishes himself. Ultimately there will be injuries and the team will need Branntsrom. However I don't think he starts in the top 6 at this point unless they move him or Holden to RD.

Holden will play RD. There were interviews at camp where both Holden and DJ both mentioned that he could easily play RD and was solid there.

Bran will play with Holden, Zaitsev will be 7th D until traded. That’s my opinion.

Even if the the two RD graduate, we still need to hold on to Bran as we are poised to lose both Hamonic and Holden next season unless one is extended.

Unless we finally bring in another D.

 

[bert]

If Brannstrom doesn't start in the top 6, who does? Do you think they won't play Zaitsev at all? I think we all agree that the top 5 defencemen are Chabot, Zub, Sanderson, Hamonic & Holden, that leaves one spot, who takes it?

JBD is currently paired with Holden.

Id be fine with a number of combination as long as they dont include Zaitsev.

Chabot Hamonic
Sanderson Zub
Brannstrom Holden

Chabot Zub
Sanderson Hamonic
Holden JBD

Chabot Thomson/JBD
Sanderson Zub
Holden Hamonic

Etc