What do you think gudbrannson is doing FOR brannstrom? And what do you think he would do for Wolanin?
Clear the front of the net, stop some heavy cycles, communicate on where to be, help him feel more confident on the ice, gives him a guy he can reliably expect to be in the same spot every time for a pass when he’s under pressure (since he won’t or maybe can’t go running around all over the ice). He can also eat PK minutes and block shots to save energy for guys like Chabot and Brannstrom to use at ES or on the PP.
There’s value IMO in having a 6’5 220 physical specimen with 500 games NHL experience and a history of defending his teammates as a partner for a 5’9 180 rookie defenseman.
Is he perfect? No, of course not. If he were a rock defensively he’d be more than a bottom pair guy. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t contribute useful things.
Just because he doesn’t have the skating or passing or shooting skill to make some contributions himself doesn’t mean he can’t help create the conditions for Brannstrom do those things more effectively.