Player Discussion Erik Brännström - D - Part III

[L'Aveuglette]

No but seriously I'm happy for him. This fanbase has a hard-on for big players, and despite Branny mostly playing well in his time here and being the perfect third pairing LD who could move up and be a serviceable top-4 temporarily, he was never going to do enough for you size queens.

It'll be fun to follow his career in a market that appreciates what he is. I have no doubt he'll have a long career in the NHL.

 

[The Expert]

This fanbase has a hard-on for big players

What kind of fantasy land do you live in? That statement couldn't be further from the truth, sadly.

 

[Wondercarrot]

Such a nice player in almost every way and if he was 6’ (or maybe even a legit 5,10) he’d be long enough to play as a really really good 2nd pairing 2 way guy.

He’s not quite fast enough to get quick separation (but when he gets a little room he’s great in transition).
He battles and gets good position defensively but the reality is that over the course of a game playing 2nd pairing minutes he will get overwhelmed.
Then factor in Sanderson Chabot Kleven down the left side…

Personally I’d be happy to keep him at $1 million and have him as our fantastic utility option anywhere in the lineup - someone’s always hurt he’d play most nights.
but we have Macewen and hamonic. as the extras locked in.

Have they said they won’t re sign him at all?
I would sort of assume they just dont want to pay him $2 million, at $1 million I’d sign him

 

[GCK]

No doubt Branny is too small as a D but what a fantastic person and competitor.

If you could put Branny’s heart and will into other players

Kastelic would be a 3rd line centre

Chabot would be a top 15 D

Chychrun would be a Norris candidate

Batherson would be a top 10 winger.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I never implied he was.

My question was about "the right decision for both parties" So I get the Sens made a decision not to qualify him.. So you are saying they made the right decisions for both parties.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

My question was about "the right decision for both parties" So I get the Sens made a decision not to qualify him.. So you are saying they made the right decisions for both parties.

Well, that's only my opinion, but yes, I do. I think it's time to move on if he thinks he can carve out more than a 6/7 spare part career, which I assume he wants. If he stays, he'll be paid more appropriately for the role, and more importantly, potentially be movable which it seems is not possible at his QO rate.

He's losing income and a guaranteed contract, so I can see why it's bad for him too and why you'd press me on that comment, but it's that point where I think a divorce is in both parties' best interest, even if he's needed as a placeholder for a bit longer. Personally, if you're asking, I don't mind him as a 6/7, but with Hamonic in the role of 7 that we hope only plays in emergency situations, it makes Brann a full time top 6. I don't want that and would prefer he's more of an option to balance out a different style of defender on any given night.

If he can't even get a league min contract somewhere looking to see what he is and ends up in Europe, then I'll take all that back lol.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

One thing I'll appreciate from the short king is the frequency of huge hits that he takes and gets up from.

 

[Cosmix]

I have not seen any team announcement about Brannstrom and Kelly. Anyone seen something official?

 

[Joeyjoejoe]

nevermind

 

[Ouroboros]

His inability to hold down a role on either special teams unit is probably what did him in.

People say he needs to go somewhere that he can play on the powerplay, but he probably won't get that opportunity anywhere. Over the last 3 seasons a total of 342 players have logged 200+ minutes on the powerplay. Brannstrom ranks 337th among that group in points. His underlying numbers on the PK are atrocious as well.

So what is he? A guy who gets decent shot metric results in some of the lowest leverage minutes in the league. We need somebody that can fill a role.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I here the EIHL is thinking of adding another team and Branny has been house hunting

 

[Cosmix]

I here the EIHL is thinking of adding another team and Branny has been house hunting
View attachment 890180

Attractive place! How much?

 

[L'Aveuglette]

What kind of fantasy land do you live in? That statement couldn't be further from the truth, sadly.

If you think there isn't a size bias in Ottawa I'd like to know which dimension you live in yourself.

His inability to hold down a role on either special teams unit is probably what did him in.

People say he needs to go somewhere that he can play on the powerplay, but he probably won't get that opportunity anywhere. Over the last 3 seasons a total of 342 players have logged 200+ minutes on the powerplay. Brannstrom ranks 337th among that group in points. His underlying numbers on the PK are atrocious as well.

So what is he? A guy who gets decent shot metric results in some of the lowest leverage minutes in the league. We need somebody that can fill a role.

He's a third pairing D. What exactly do you expect from that position? There aren't all that many better players in that slot in the league but in Ottawa I guess we expect our #5-6 dmen to be stellar, even on a bad team.

 

[Pierre from Orleans]

I here the EIHL is thinking of adding another team and Branny has been house hunting
View attachment 890180

I heard he got casted for Honey I shrunk the kids the remake. No CGI is expected for this version

 

[ACLEVERNAME]

I propose we open a new "Part IV" thread as a final good bye. He would have wanted it this way

 

[Senscore]

I'll miss you Rick Bergstrom

 

[Butchy Dakkar]

If you think there isn't a size bias in Ottawa I'd like to know which dimension you live in yourself.



He's a third pairing D. What exactly do you expect from that position? There aren't all that many better players in that slot in the league but in Ottawa I guess we expect our #5-6 dmen to be stellar, even on a bad team.

Awesome avatar

 

[Icelevel]

This means we get stone back right?

 

[The Expert]

If you think there isn't a size bias in Ottawa I'd like to know which dimension you live in yourself.

I'm well aware of the bias this fanbase has towards smaller, skilled players. Maybe this post will help you understand:

Prospect Info: - 2024 39th OA: Gabriel Eliasson (LHD)

Gabriel Eliasson D -- shoots L Born Sep 9 2006 [17 yrs. ago] Height 6.06 -- Weight 192[198 cm/87 kg]

forums.hfboards.com

Branny was a fan favourite here compared to bigger defenseman like Gudbranson or Josh Brown, so I'm genuinely so confused by your size queen comment.

 

[SquidNasty]

It'll be fun to follow his career in a market that appreciates what he is. I have no doubt he'll have a long career in the NHL.

He’s going to clear waivers next year and end up in the minors, he’s just not good.

 

[PoutineSp00nZ]

If you think there isn't a size bias in Ottawa I'd like to know which dimension you live in yourself.



He's a third pairing D. What exactly do you expect from that position? There aren't all that many better players in that slot in the league but in Ottawa I guess we expect our #5-6 dmen to be stellar, even on a bad team.

Skill and determination might trump size in some situations, but all other things being equal, bigger is always better.

No matter what fans of the branstroms of the world, or someone's wife might say.

 

[Larionov]

We are now into day two of free agency and no one has touched him. You saw it in the draft - there is a strong swing back to big boys. There were a lot of smaller, very skilled CHL players who went undrafted...

 

[HSF]

We are now into day two of free agency and no one has touched him. You saw it in the draft - there is a strong swing back to big boys. There were a lot of smaller, very skilled CHL players who went undrafted...

teams will pick up these guys at cheap contracts

 

[CallSaul]

We are now into day two of free agency and no one has touched him. You saw it in the draft - there is a strong swing back to big boys. There were a lot of smaller, very skilled CHL players who went undrafted...

Ray Ferraro said it on Overdrive last week, and he's a guy who, you'd think, would defend smaller guys since he himself was one. He basically said that if you're small, you better be an all-word elite talent putting up numbers. Because you can't be average and small.

 

[Agent Zub]

Ray Ferraro said it on Overdrive last week, and he's a guy who, you'd think, would defend smaller guys since he himself was one. He basically said that if you're small, you better be an all-word elite talent putting up numbers. Because you can't be average and small.

which is funny because Brannstrom was better for us than like 90 percent of the bigger 3rd pair d we've had over the the last 10-15 years.

including Hamonic and JBD.