Confirmed Trade: [VAN/COL] Tucker Poolman (20% retained) and 2025 4th round pick for D Erik Brannstrom

[Bender]

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A cop-out is probably preferable rather than the endless, pointless player comparisons that people seem to enjoy.

I usually don't partake in that kind of thing. I remember pointlessly arguing with Habs fans about Paul Stastny being 'better' than Guillaume Latendresse during their rookie year...it's a massive waste of time.

So whatever 'stance' or 'opinion' you have or are trying to 'win' - you have. Bravo!

 

[Nucklehead Supreme]

delete

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

He's been a great find so far.

Canucks needing more puck moving ability in their bottom 4 has been a topic in this market since last season, Brannstrom's done a great job adding that element on the bottom pair.

Again only bottom pair, but given we got him thrown into a cap dump trade it feels like found money.

Sorta like DeSmith last year where you give up a draft pick to move money, then turns out the player coming back is actually a very useful piece.

 

[IComeInPeace]

Averaging just under 14 minutes a night and doing exactly what we needed (getting the puck back up ice quickly with possession)…

He’s not going to break out offensively though.

He is playing sheltered minutes but he’s doing very well in those minutes.

If this is as good as it ever gets with him, at a near league minimum salary, he’s still a nice addition.

Now, can he keep this up without needing to be sheltered so much?

Probably not based on his history…but, again, if this is all he can provide, for 900k he’s still a nice find.

…if he can keep up this level of play while playing harder minutes that would be a great find for the Canucks, and should get him a decent enough contract next year.

 

[Canucks LB]

I swear he’s getting better and better every single game, it’s been tough for him to have a bad period let alone a bad game right now.

He’s been all over the ice, 1g 1a as well

 

[David71]

he keeps getting better. coaches trusting him more each game. his puck moving ability was needed.

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Looks like a solid move the Nucks. However, the Avs had no need for a midget 3rd pairing PMD.

 

[Russian_fanatic]

Considering it was the same product as we saw for years in Ottawa... The rest of us know how dumb a number of you in this thread will look in a few weeks time.

It's been a couple weeks, when are we supposed to start looking dumb again? A couple more weeks?

The kid is staying in the line up. No one is saying he's a top pairing or even top 4 defenseman, but he has formed a very reliable bottom pairing. Kid is an NHL player.

 

[SpezDispenser]

Keep at it Branny. Everyone in Ottawa knew he could be a bottom pairing player, we just couldn't afford his QO

 

[tantalum]

He's getting better and starting to get more comfortable that he is being more aggressive on the offensive side of things. He will need to make sure that it doesn't come at the expense of the decent work he's doing on the defensive side of things.

He is still young enough to continue to improve with strong coaching. And with Foote and Gonchar he has two of the best to teach him. He seems to be listening to what they are telling him and he is gaining trust. I think we will start to see him getting regular second unit PP time in the near future.

 

[strattonius]

You really just have to watch for yourself sometimes because Brannstrom is nothing like people kept saying around here. Just ignorant takes projecting some regurgitated opinion about a player they've never seen play. I mean I relate to that because when we acquired him I laughed at the idea of Brannstrom playing a single minute for Rick Tocchet - I had a pre-conceived opinion about a player of never seen play.

He's an excellent bottom pairing puck mover. I think he was an extremely lucky find for Alvin but he's definitely ab NHL'er.

 

[Agent Zuuuub]

Keep at it Branny. Everyone in Ottawa knew he could be a bottom pairing player, we just couldn't afford his QO

lots of people in sens land thought he was an ahler, that he didn't do anything well, or that JBD and Hamonic were better.

but also not surprising to a lot of Senators fans who don't have a size fetish and value hockey sense.

i swear if Brannstrom was 6 ft but played the exact same way he would be seen as a core top 4 piece.

 

[DFAC]

He's been a great find for the Canucks - bring some much needed puck moving to the backend. Seems like he's getting more comfortable and slowly earning the trust of the coaching staff too (played almost 16 mins last game).

 

[SpezDispenser]

lots of people in sens land thought he was an ahler, that he didn't do anything well, or that JBD and Hamonic were better.

but also not surprising to a lot of Senators fans who don't have a size fetish and value hockey sense.

i swear if Brannstrom was 6 ft but played the exact same way he would be seen as a core top 4 piece.

Well, yeah, but he's a little dude. Also his offensive instincts were a step behind. And his shot was par or sub par. He was a useful bottom pairing guy though for sure and he'll excel where he is - especially at that excellent cap hit.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

The general consensus on the Ottawa forum was that the QO was the main issue, at least without knowing managements assessment of him. Branny being out of the organization was pretty easily tracked all of last season knowing that was looming.

 

[S E P H]

Avs regretting this trade big time. Not because Brannstrom is doing well on the Canucks. But because the Avs could have used this guy as a second line winger at this point.

I have no idea what you are talking about. This is absolute nonsense, Brannstrom was a joke in Colorado this year. Couldn't even outcompete Kylington for a spot and you want him to be a winger? Are you seriously joking fam? I lost IQ posts from this.

 

[krutovsdonut]

Looks like a solid move the Nucks. However, the Avs had no need for a midget 3rd pairing PMD.

avs fans say

 

[VanJack]

Maybe some of the Quinn Hughes magic is rubbing off on Brannstrom. He seems so much more assertive with the puck than when he first arrived.

There's no denying he has talent when the puck is on his stick. But seemed afraid to use it in case it led to defensive mistakes. But so far he's been a solid third-pairing guy at both ends of the ice.

 

[Altimus]

Ottawa needed to retool their back end. he was never the problem but he was an easy scapegoat. Enjoy his successes. I want him to do well, but he got outmuscled too much. I hope he plays more to his strengths then weaknesses.

 

[Coffee]

fun player to watch

 

[IComeInPeace]

After the game the other night, during the post game show they were saying that Brannstrom felt like he never got a legit chance in Colorado after they signed Oliver Kylington.

People were saying he looked horrible in pre-season/training camp but what Brannstrom said happened does make sense.

Brannstrom was signed by the Av’s July 2nd.

But then they also signed Kylington August 4th, before training camp even began.

There was no way they were going to keep (and play) both of them, along with Samuel Girard (5’10 and 170 pounds).

Sam Malinski (5’11” and 190 pounds) is also averaging just under 16 minutes per night.

Kylington by the way has only played 4 games on the season.
He was last announced as a healthy scratch on October 27th after seeing just 5 minutes of TOI in his last 2 games.

 

[Canucks LB]

Looks like a solid move the Nucks. However, the Avs had no need for a midget 3rd pairing PMD.

Sounds like the same thing people were saying about forsling

 

[Muffin]

He lost his job to Malinski more than Kylington. Right now the Avs have the perfect balance of OFD and DFD and also LHD/RHD that coaches love so much. There's just no room for Kylington or Brannstrom

Toews-Makar
Girard-Manson
De Hann-Malinski

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Sounds like the same thing people were saying about forsling

Not the same scenario and different players.

Brännström is a tiny PMD. The Avs already ice a small Dcore that can be pushed around a bit. The team needs a bigger defensive Dman with jam. Makar, Girard, Toews and Malinski is more than enough offensive pop from the blueline.

 

[Brookbank]

Another goal for Brannstrom. Goals in back to back games now.

Drew a penalty too