News: Erik Brannstrom won't receive a QO from Senators

[StreetHawk]

Not a guy you want in your top 4, not a guy you want on your bottom pair.

He just has no role. Isn’t defensive, isn’t good offensively, isn’t physical or big, isn’t a great skater.

He’ll bounce around for another few years on short term deals.

With Branstrom and Boqvist, since they are on the smaller side, they need to produce offensively to remain on an NHL roster. Teams are only going to keep so many sub 6 football (lighter players), on their 23 man roster, typically only like 3-4 of them. They are no longer prospects, at 24/25 given the amount of pro games they have under their belt.

 

[Dog]

Utah?

 

[Lindys Lazy Eye]

Good option as a #7/8, or even a #6 that you phase out of the lineup as ypu approach the playoffs. He can bring a good amount of value so long as he is properly protected

Ottawa has probably offered a 1-2yr deal around 1-1.25m but I think Brannstrom will look for a fresh start

Devils could use someone like that. I don't care for the lack of size but he helps stabilize defense and provides really solid depth and we always could use that.

 

[ponder719]

Philly, get in on this.

 

[LeProspector]

Someone is going to get a hell of a steal here

 

[Dog]

Someone is going to get a hell of a steal here

I hope it's Utah he needs a new start.

 

[Brodeur]

Utah?

Sounds like Utah is aiming for a more proven guy (Montour). Not sure Brannstrom is worth it when they already have a tweener in Victor Soderstrom fighting for a spot.

I wish I could find the video, but I remember Brannstrom namedropping Fabian Zetterlund as a close friend. Don't know if the Sharks have a roster spot even after buying out Knyzhov and not qualifying Addison.

 

[Dog]

Sounds like Utah is aiming for a more proven guy (Montour). Not sure Brannstrom is worth it when they already have a tweener in Victor Soderstrom fighting for a spot.

I wish I could find the video, but I remember Brannstrom namedropping Fabian Zetterlund as a close friend. Don't know if the Sharks have a roster spot even after buying out Knyzhov and not qualifying Addison.

Actually the sharks be another great spot to get ice time. That would fit better probably!

 

[Aoko]

Hope Tampa gets in on him.

 

[CanadienShark]

I honestly thought he had star potential. I'm just dumb.

 

[Petes2424]

Perfect example of why teams are so scared of arbitration eligible players right now. There’s too many NHL contracts, that would lead to Brannstrom getting an award Ottawa doesn’t feel is fair, and it wouldn’t be.

Watch how every semi surprising name not qualified is arbitration eligible.

Doesn’t mean certain players won’t re-sign either.

 

[Sensmileletsgo]

I honestly thought he had star potential. I'm just dumb.

He did go 15 OA in the draft. A lot of people thought there was star potential there. He hasn’t been able to show it at the NHL level.

 

[Ouroboros]

Starting LD on the JFresh all-star team.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

I think he could do very well on another team.

 

[Extra Texture]

Pens please. Type of project we should be trying.

Absolutely. Bring him on, and let’s see if we’ve got any magic left in the “defenseman rehab” jar

 

[ACLEVERNAME]

Never understood the love affair a lot of Sens fans had with the guy. Isn't particularly great at any one thing, he's sort if just 'there.' Waste of a roster space in the NHL.

He is handsome as f*** though, I'll give him that. RIP Short King.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

I definitely saw some games last year where I thought he was pretty darn effective all around, he's certainly NHL caliber at worst. But I do think we are just in an era where teams really only covet smaller Dmen who are either high end offensively or the very rare ones who are completely nails defensively. Otherwise they want the bigger bodies on the backend.

Brannstrom can play though. Not sure if there's a team out there that has the opportunity but I could see him still breaking out a bit if given more PP time and the right offensive role. He's no liability defensively by any means either.

People don't like him because they expect someone his size to be a legit PP QB, but he's actually better defensively than he is offensively.

It feels like he gets the worst d partners, rotating all the time, he keeps switching from LD to RD, he's got no consistency. The one time he found a decent partner, they'd switch him off. DJ Smith was the worst thing to happen to him.

I think he's serviceable and he'll find a good fit somewhere.

 

[PlayersLtd]

Actually the sharks be another great spot to get ice time. That would fit better probably!

Nah, he needs to slot in with a good team to be effective. The worst thing for him (and the team) would be to go somewhere where he can't play to his strengths and be deployed effectively with an established partner.

If you're Brannstrom you should be making a 2 year discount deal with a team like Vancouver, Edmonton, Florida, Vegas, LA, Boston etc...

 

[ottawagm]

He's OK. Although Ottawa had a terrible D this year, the guy had to take shifts on LW when we couldn't call up a player.

I'd take him back around 1M, but there are going to be way better options in FA for the 2.5M+ he could have received in arbitration.

 

[SEALBound]

What side did he play for the most part?

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Absolutely. Bring him on, and let’s see if we’ve got any magic left in the “defenseman rehab” jar

That jar was emptied with Justin Schultz.

 

[NyQuil]

He’s a funny player.

Plays a cerebral style, smooth skater, decent hockey IQ, but for all of his gifts, is still offensively anemic and his lack of size can cost him in his own zone.

Finesse defenceman with no offensive contribution to speak of is a tough role to sell.

 

[KevinRedkey]

If he were the exact same player but 4 inches taller (and gains the attributes that go along with it, like strength) - he'd be a great 2nd pairing Dman.

I hope he find a good home. Ottawa was just never a good fit.

 

[biturbo19]

Every time i watched him, it seemed like he was making constant soft plays, leaving huge gaps, and mistakes like that. Really don't know what people see in him, beyond some prior hype and pedigree that has mostly worn off.