Player Discussion Erik Brännström - D - Part III

[Agent Zub]

Kleven, JBD, Hamonic on the bottom pairs is going to be rough. They should and better bring someone in because you can't bet on that trio.

I mean there's a good chance that Kleven will be worse defensively and more exposed this season than Brannstrom even if Kleven has 5 inches on him and can clear the crease.

JBD is marginal, barely an NHLer, hopefully he improves. And Hamonic should never play a game in the NHL again.

Also imagine if Chabot, Sanderson or Zub get injured and we have to rely on one of these guys to step up.

Lol.

 

[Micklebot]

Dude this team can't win past the October because of its core players. Like let's work towards that so that we even have a shot to win "when it counts".

And yet you want to go back to the same player that was here when we couldn't win past October?

He wasn't good enough to play ahead of Chabot or Sanderson, he isn't the type of partner either guy need, he isn't good on special teams, and keeping him in the lineup prevents us from getting a PK specialist in his place.

He isn't a terrible player but keeping him results in a poorly constructed roster. It was time for both sides to move on, he was alright at what he did, but what he did wasn't what this team needed anymore.

 

[Agent Zub]

And yet you want to go back to the same player that was here when we couldn't win past October?

He wasn't good enough to play ahead of Chabot or Sanderson, he isn't the type of partner either guy need, he isn't good on special teams, and keeping him in the lineup prevents us from getting a PK specialist in his place.

He isn't a terrible player but keeping him results in a poorly constructed roster. It was time for both sides to move on, he was alright at what he did, but what he did wasn't what this team needed anymore.

We can't win because our core big money players have been choking.

That's what needs to be fixed more than most. But you can't trade them so Joseph and Brannstrom are the casualties in the name of change. Whatever I'm fine with it.

We need the change. But if we go into this season with a downgrade on Brannstrom playing regular minutes or having to play in the top 4.

It will hurt us. Hopefully it is made up by the change.

 

[aragorn]

I thought they would move out Kubalik, Kachouk, Kelly, Brannstrom, Joseph & Chychrun after the season & they are all gone. Never thought they could move Korpisalo, but that turned out in Ottawa's favour & surprised they moved Kastelic but he is easily replaced. Surprised with some of the acquisitions, but not disappointed & willing to give them a chance.

 

[GCK]

Management must not like the letter K. Thank god Brady has a T in front of Kachuk

 

[bicboi64]

God I hope Kleven can actually make the roster and not face the same level of criticism that fans give Brannstrom.

3LD is an easy position to fill relative to others, but we may have taken having a solid 3LD that can step up when CHabot or Sandy are out for granted.

 

[GCK]

God I hope Kleven can actually make the roster and not face the same level of criticism that fans give Brannstrom.

3LD is an easy position to fill relative to others, but we may have taken having a solid 3LD that can step up when CHabot or Sandy are out for granted.

2M was just too much. Stupid Dorion

 

[bicboi64]

2M was just too much. Stupid Dorion

a nice 3 year deal at $1.2-6 million aav would've been perfect, friggin Dorion

 

[Hale The Villain]

A safe unspectacular D that can play both sides is exactly what we are missing right now.

Wish we found a way to re-sign Brannstrom, but I imagine he wasn't likely to re-sign after we refused to qualify him at 2M.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

God I hope Kleven can actually make the roster and not face the same level of criticism that fans give Brannstrom.

3LD is an easy position to fill relative to others, but we may have taken having a solid 3LD that can step up when CHabot or Sandy are out for granted.

Staios sure seems to think so.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

A safe unspectacular D that can play both sides is exactly what we are missing right now.

Wish we found a way to re-sign Brannstrom, but I imagine he wasn't likely to re-sign after we refused to qualify him at 2M.

I would have asked him to sign a 2-3 year deal at $1.3-$1.5M before we had to qualify him. Not sure he would have taken it and not 100% the club didn't do that, but I suspect that management just wanted to move on.

Too bad I think he would be useful for a team that looks like it's going to trot out 2 of Kleven, Hamonic and JBD every night. Our third pairing could be a mess this year and we'll be back to playing our top D (Sanderson instead of Chabot now) more than 25 mins a night.

 

[bert]

Dude this team can't win past the October because of its core players. Like let's work towards that so that we even have a shot to win "when it counts".

//

I feel like Brannstrom has become a boogyman for some, like he was one of the reasons we were losing.

Like he was the reason we were bad defensively or soft or easy to play against.

Which is obviously not true. I mean If only the rest of the team had Brannstroms ability to raise his game, his mentality and drive to win.

This run of losing is ALL on the core. Not a bottom pair d who drove possession.

If you don't build a culture of playing the right way they never will. You are suggesting they don't. Which is inexplicable if you want to be taken seriously.

Brannstrom was a reason they were easy to play against. Correct.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I would have asked him to sign a 2-3 year deal at $1.3-$1.5M before we had to qualify him. Not sure he would have taken it and not 100% the club didn't do that, but I suspect that management just wanted to move on.

Too bad I think he would be useful for a team that looks like it's going to trot out 2 of Kleven, Hamonic and JBD every night. Our third pairing could be a mess this year and we'll be back to playing our top D (Sanderson instead of Chabot now) more than 25 mins a night.

Count me out on that. If they'd signed Brannstrom to something like a 3 year 1.5 mill AAV deal, I'd have been pretty unhappy about it.

 

[Micklebot]

We can't win because our core big money players have been choking.

That's what needs to be fixed more than most. But you can't trade them so Joseph and Brannstrom are the casualties in the name of change. Whatever I'm fine with it.

We need the change. But if we go into this season with a downgrade on Brannstrom playing regular minutes or having to play in the top 4.

It will hurt us. Hopefully it is made up by the change.

We can't win because we had shit goaltending, and a poorly constructed team that lacked the right fits for the lineup.

Having Brannstrom as a primary penalty killer was about as obvious a sign as it gets that the roster lacked appropriate pieces for very important roles.

Adding Jensen and Kleven to the roster will mean a PK that can actually clear the crease. That alone is well worth moving on from Brannstrom.


Sometimes you need to pick the guy that best fits the role that you have to fill, not the best player that has no role available for his skillset.

 

[aragorn]

Those that have played competitive sports with coaching & cuts know what it takes to win a job & know coaches demand players be responsible defensively. People talk about coaching with structure, but I doubt they know exactly what that means & what is expected. It seems they are really stressing competitve drive & the will to fight for every inch & that takes big strong skilled guys.

You can see it at development camp now the way they are coaching these prospects with how they want them to play in future & the drills are set up specifically to fight for space. The guys that aren't doing so well at camp or hardly noticeable are the smaller players who don't excel in this format. It's all about increasing their compete level & winning puck battles all over the ice. It's about being very hard to play against, attack & transition quickly & seems like exactly what they wanted to change with this group. Should be interesting how their main camp goes & who gets an invite.

 

[bicboi64]

We can't win because we had shit goaltending, and a poorly constructed team that lacked the right fits for the lineup.

Having Brannstrom as a primary penalty killer was about as obvious a sign as it gets that the roster lacked appropriate pieces for very important roles.

Adding Jensen and Kleven to the roster will mean a PK that can actually clear the crease. That alone is well worth moving on from Brannstrom.


Sometimes you need to pick the guy that best fits the role that you have to fill, not the best player that has no role available for his skillset.

Although I agree with the overall sentiment of your point, it doesn't make sense to include Kleven as a reason our PK will improve. The dude played 9 games last season and it's not like he's a highly touted guy like Sandy, Greig, etc... that can be relied on to break out. We don't know how he'll perform yet relative to Brannstrom. We currently had a 3rd pairing with no consistently serviceable D. Brannstrom is better than JBD and Hamonic. We're banking on Jensen and rookies/sophomores to step up for our PK.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Although I agree with the overall sentiment of your point, it doesn't make sense to include Kleven as a reason our PK will improve. The dude played 9 games last season and it's not like he's a highly touted guy like Sandy, Greig, etc... that can be relied on to break out. We don't know how he'll perform yet relative to Brannstrom. We currently had a 3rd pairing with no consistently serviceable D. Brannstrom is better than JBD and Hamonic. We're banking on Jensen and rookies/sophomores to step up for our PK.

It is at least in his wheel house of skills and body type unlike Brannstrom.

 

[jhutter]

God I hope Kleven can actually make the roster and not face the same level of criticism that fans give Brannstrom.

3LD is an easy position to fill relative to others, but we may have taken having a solid 3LD that can step up when CHabot or Sandy are out for granted.

The criticism was counteracted by the cult-like support he got by others.

 

[Hale The Villain]

We can't win because we had shit goaltending, and a poorly constructed team that lacked the right fits for the lineup.

Having Brannstrom as a primary penalty killer was about as obvious a sign as it gets that the roster lacked appropriate pieces for very important roles.

Adding Jensen and Kleven to the roster will mean a PK that can actually clear the crease. That alone is well worth moving on from Brannstrom.


Sometimes you need to pick the guy that best fits the role that you have to fill, not the best player that has no role available for his skillset.

Hamonic can clear a crease, doesn't mean he should play. There's more to the game than that.

In a 3rd pairing role Brannstrom can typically provide mistake free hockey and help advance the puck up ice.

No he won't be a great asset on the PK, nor will he create a ton of scoring chances, but he's solid.

He's not a defenseman you want penciled into a spot come the playoffs, but we're not at that stage yet.

Can't afford to get picky. Hope is that we can contend for a spot. Brannstrom would have helped with that.

 

[Ice-Tray]

Of course, it will be such a joy to watch one of Hamonic and JBD play all season instead!

Another smart move.

Meanwhile, the Avs who have no idea what they're doing signed Kelly and Brannstrom for cheap. And we have Hamonic and Gregor instead

Ok dude

 

[Burrowsaurus]

And yet you want to go back to the same player that was here when we couldn't win past October?

He wasn't good enough to play ahead of Chabot or Sanderson, he isn't the type of partner either guy need, he isn't good on special teams, and keeping him in the lineup prevents us from getting a PK specialist in his place.

He isn't a terrible player but keeping him results in a poorly constructed roster. It was time for both sides to move on, he was alright at what he did, but what he did wasn't what this team needed anymore.

He did always play well when someone in the top 4 went down tho. Thats really the only concern I have

 

[Ice-Tray]

He did always play well when someone in the top 4 went down tho. Thats really the only concern I have

And yet he couldn’t score, or help score, and we still couldn’t win.

We needed to change out the periphery guys to try and change the make up of the team, and we have done that. We have moved them all out.

 

[SpezDispenser]

Not sure why people have their panties in a bunch over a 6 dman. It's klevens spot. Let's spend a million on a veteran right hander.

 

[bert]

Hamonic can clear a crease, doesn't mean he should play. There's more to the game than that.

In a 3rd pairing role Brannstrom can typically provide mistake free hockey and help advance the puck up ice.

No he won't be a great asset on the PK, nor will he create a ton of scoring chances, but he's solid.

He's not a defenseman you want penciled into a spot come the playoffs, but we're not at that stage yet.

Can't afford to get picky. Hope is that we can contend for a spot. Brannstrom would have helped with that.

Well yes when a bottom pairing D man that you wont play in a playoff scenario demands 2.2 million you do get picky thats why he is gone.

This teams D core is already buttery soft and easy to play against. Letting Brannstrom walk at 2.2 million was the most obvious decision of all time. Anyone that didnt see that coming.... I dont know what to tell you. Especially when the replacement player makes less than half and is the type of player this team is missing in spades.

I think a right handed puck mover for depth would be a good add at this point. I think Schultz would be fantastic in that role, just dont know how much he wants.

 

[Cosmix]

A safe unspectacular D that can play both sides is exactly what we are missing right now.

Wish we found a way to re-sign Brannstrom, but I imagine he wasn't likely to re-sign after we refused to qualify him at 2M.

I suspect we MIGHT have offered him about $1M AAV for a year or two; he probably felt he could do better elsewhere. I am not hugely disappointed that he is gone; however, I am disappointed in what we have going forward at D. Jensen is not the answer.