Player Discussion Erik Brannstrom

[AlainVigneaultsGum]

It's time for an official Brannstrom thread.

This guy has been such a pleasant surprise. Our already thin/topheavy D corps would be a f***ing dog's breakfast without him working out as well as he has so far.

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[VanJack]

It's time for an official Brannstrom thread.

This guy has been such a pleasant surprise. Our already thin/topheavy D corps would be a f***ing dog's breakfast without him working out as well as he has so far.

Not much doubt about it.....he's exceeded accounts received. Even the Canucks weren't over the moon when they acquired him.

It was more about dumping Poolman's contract and getting something back in return. And they immediately placed him on waivers, available to anybody around the NHL. Must a few teams now who are wondering why they pay pro scouting staffs.

But he's made the most of his chance......his skating, puck-handling and head-manning skills were totally AWOL once you got past Hughes and Hronek, so he fills a real void.

 

[Nuckles]

Diet off-brand Quinn Hughes is alright. He's probably a lock to remain on the team this season unless he's included in a trade for an upgrade.

 

[ProviesGhost]

Temu Hughes.

I enjoy watching him play.

 

[LordBacon]

Mom can we have Quinn Hughes?

We have hughes at home.

 

[Quinning]

It's like gaining an extra 1st rounder from the 2017-2019 era. A much needed young-ish defenceman who can contribute on a cheap contract.

I think the Avalanche are regretting letting him go so soon.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

our best stretch on the pp was before hughes got ejected and the second unit was branny + hronek on the points

glad tocchet/yogi finally got there

 

[Jyrki]

It's like gaining an extra 1st rounder from the 2017-2019 era. A much needed young-ish defenceman who can contribute on a cheap contract.

I think the Avalanche are regretting letting him go so soon.

Kinda crazy that Tanev, Forsling and Chatfield all slipped through Jimbo's fingers when they were stuck to his hands, meanwhile Chef Allvin nabbed Hronek, Soucy and Brannstrom from a position of weakness, plus the good run with Z. Not like he always hits (i.e. Desharnais/Forbort looking sus) but being able to make so many positive additions to the blueline while having serious cap + asset constraints has been very impressive.

Brann has shown so many signs of being a legit Top-4 D-man, I just hope he doesn't get rocked one day and that makes him scared of stepping up.

 

[VanJack]

Noticed a brief smattering of 'boos' in the early going when Brannstrom was handling the puck tonight. Sens fans still haven't forgiven him for being the center-piece of the Vegas trade for poplular captain Mark Stone.

But from what I can gather, he tried his best in Ottawa, but got benched or demoted every time he made a mistake. Watching this current Sens blueline, it's hard to figure how he couldn't have helped if they'd qualified him.

But obviously the Canucks are glad they didn't. And getting his services for just $900,000 is a serious salary cap bonus.

 

[RandV]

It's like gaining an extra 1st rounder from the 2017-2019 era. A much needed young-ish defenceman who can contribute on a cheap contract.

I think the Avalanche are regretting letting him go so soon.

I'd say the Avs get a pass here and aren't going to have any regrets. Cheap FA depth signing who stunk it up in camp, can't really blame them that they got a chance to drop him so they did. And they have a stronger blueline to begin with.

Sometimes players need to bounce around to a few teams before they figure it out, can't really blame the teams that were short stops along the way.

 

[F A N]

We've gotten returns from $900K-making Brannstrom so far which is what any teams looking to contend needs. I've always liked Brannstrom (granted I'm usually a sucker for former high draft picks) but I think the reality is that Brannstrom, like many undersized defenseman, was stuck playing more or less a 3rd pairing shutdown role. Teams tend not to value players like that. Whether it's Stecher or Bear before him, it doesn't matter the results unless it leads to good counting stats - if the role is that of a 3rd pairing defensemen teams tend to prefer bigger guys who at least have a reputation of being better defensively.

It will be awesome if Brannstrom can somehow turn into a top 4 Dman for us. He's provided us with a much needed puckmover on the backend outside of Hughes and Hronek.

 

[kanucks25]

Branny Boy Strommer !!!

 

[David71]

excellent pickup by chef alvin,. always needed another puck mover besides the double Hs.

 

[VanJack]

Has Tocchet almost accidentally stumbled on a second pairing that could actually work?

After Hughes was ejected, Tocchet paired Brannstrom with Myers, and the two seemed to form instant chemistry. Myers can usually win the puck battles; but his first pass and zone exits can be a total misadventure.

But if he can give the puck to Brannstrom with some time and space--he's effective at finding the open guy or skating the puck out himself.

It's strange, when they trying paring a puck-carrying d-man like Hughes with Myers, it was unmitigated disaster. But for some reason Myers and Brannstrom just seemed to mesh--at least for one game. But wouldn't surprise me if went back to that pairing in Boston.

 

[mriswith]

Tocchet's slowly starting to trust him more and more. He's been creeping up the ice time chart.

Started the month as the clear #6d and has since passed VD and the last couple games he passed Soucy as well.

 

[ChilliBilly]

the chef has been doing well. But at this time and place, is the Bransstrom deal the best move that Alvin has made? (in hind site, not at the time he made it).

 

[Another Empty Netter]

Whispers of top 4 ?? What?? Insane.

 

[David Bruce Banner]

Good to see him shaping up.
Our off-season seemed a bit heavy on immobile behemoths.
He gives our D more diversity, which outside of H&H, we sorely needed.

 

[ratbid]

Has Tocchet almost accidentally stumbled on a second pairing that could actually work?

After Hughes was ejected, Tocchet paired Brannstrom with Myers, and the two seemed to form instant chemistry. Myers can usually win the puck battles; but his first pass and zone exits can be a total misadventure.

But if he can give the puck to Brannstrom with some time and space--he's effective at finding the open guy or skating the puck out himself.

It's strange, when they trying paring a puck-carrying d-man like Hughes with Myers, it was unmitigated disaster. But for some reason Myers and Brannstrom just seemed to mesh--at least for one game. But wouldn't surprise me if went back to that pairing in Boston.

I swear Myers is the most enigmatic player in terms of who he works with. Just random chemistry with certain players, without any particular rhyme or reason to it. Top it off, the chemistry will look dynamite for a season or so and then magically disappear.

Obviously just one game, but if Brannstrom - Myers could be an effective pairing, this would be a massive win.

 

[tanti9]

Maybe it is time to think of maybe extending Brannstrom before he prices himself out of our range? I do not think I would be opposed to a 2 year at $1.5? I mean he could hold out for more on the open market but in Van, they have given him a chance and he seems to be resurrecting a career that a couple of months ago looked like he could be heading overseas.

 

[bossram]

Like I said when they acquired him, he is legitimately their third best defenseman right now. Tocc is reluctantly starting to up his usage, but unfortunately I think brass will be looking for a way to boot him from the lineup once they find a defensive upgrade.

But they'd be in a really bad spot if Allvin didn't luck into him.

 

[iceburg]

If he was right handed management would be talking him up like he would be in the top 6 for years to come.
They should really get over the righty/lefty thing and lock him in as a go to right side Dman.

In two years time after Soucy's contract is up.:

Hughes-Hronek
FA* - Willander
D-Petey**-Brannstrom
Myers

*Left handed D are much easier to come by and less expensive in free agency. Should be able to get a top 4 shutdown/PK guy for a reasonable cap hit.

**or whoever else steps up from within.

 

[Bleach Clean]

Like I said when they acquired him, he is legitimately their third best defenseman right now. Tocc is reluctantly starting to up his usage, but unfortunately I think brass will be looking for a way to boot him from the lineup once they find a defensive upgrade.

But they'd be in a really bad spot if Allvin didn't luck into him.

Curious, do you think management will boot him because they prefer the trees?

I wonder if there is some internal dialogue occurring now as a result of Brannstrom? That maybe size isn't as important on the back end if the player just isn't that good. That Foote's system doesn't fix all. Myers has been poor and Soucy has been lost. Desharnais needs a babysitter. Forbort has been supplanted. Juulsen has always been erratic. Then a cap dump short player skates onto the 2nd pairing..,

If there is, then there could be a ripple effect going all the way to the draft. Before, it was smart, skilled forwards and rangy dmen (with less pure skill). Let's see what they target this time.

 

[bossram]

Curious, do you think management will boot him because they prefer the trees?

I wonder if there is some internal dialogue occurring now as a result of Brannstrom? That maybe size isn't as important on the back end if the player just isn't that good. That Foote's system doesn't fix all. Myers has been poor and Soucy has been lost. Desharnais needs a babysitter. Forbort has been supplanted. Juulsen has always been erratic. Then a cap dump short player skates onto the 2nd pairing..,

If there is, then there could be a ripple effect going all the way to the draft. Before, it was smart, skilled forwards and rangy dmen (with less pure skill). Let's see what they target this time.

Yes. Straight up.

I have zero doubt brass is looking to punt Brannstrom from the lineup as soon as they find another sequoia they can plant on the blueline.

Tocc has been extremely reluctant to increase Brannstrom's minutes, despite it being glaringly obvious he is one of like three good defensemen on the team. It's taken him 20 games to realize Soucy-Myers isn't working. Only out of sheer desperation and lack of options has he finally started to bump up Brannstrom.

And Allvin never wanted him. He could have signed him easily in the offseason (he was one of the guys I wanted to target!). He was basically just a contract balancer in the Forbort deal and immediately sent to Abby. I don't think Allvin had any intention of him being anything more than like 9D/10D organizational depth. Again, only from sheer desperation and a glaringly obvious lack of alternatives was Brannstrom put in the lineup.

 

[F A N]

If there is, then there could be a ripple effect going all the way to the draft. Before, it was smart, skilled forwards and rangy dmen (with less pure skill). Let's see what they target this time.

It's not like management prefers big Dmen who can't skate. It's just harder to find big defensemen who can skate and defend well.

The rangy Dmen we drafted aren't Brannstrom types. We chose Willander over ASP. The Dmen we drafted tend to project into Dmen who can defend and or have the size to defend. Bruzustewicz (who we traded) measured just under 6'0" at the combine but he is stocky. Mynio is skinny but can fill out. Kudryavtsev is the shortest but he's decently strong. D-Petey has ample size and grew. This past year we drafted two Dmen who are both 6'2" or taller. Small sample size of course but in Pittsburgh there aren't that many Brannstrom types.