Waived: [VAN] D Erik Brannstrom waived by the Canucks (cleared)

[Zirakzigil]

Fine, twist my rubber arm. You can throw him in when Miller comes to the Pens.

 

[Brookbank]

 

[tyhee]

Weren't Canucks fans talking about how well he was doing not too long ago? What happened?

The issue is really with the way this year's defence was constructed. It was being shown up before Hronek got hurt, but with him having been out for some time now the Canuck defence has been:

Hughes-who has been incredible and, obviously, is exceptional in transition

With the rest of the defence there's a pattern, they seem to be big but not generally puck movers.

Myers is big, has great reach, munches minutes but is best when the team is playing disciplined defence and isn't as good when the team is making a lot of mistakes-which is something the Canucks have been doing quite a bit this season. He isn't consistently sound moving the puck out of his zone.

Soucy-is big and strong and in the past has been a capable defender, but even before this season moving the puck wasn't considered a strength.

Forbort-big and strong and not a puck mover.

Desharnais-big and strong but someone you really don't want to spend much time with the puck on his stick.

Juulsen-strong, aggressive, but someone you really don't want to spend much time with the puck on his stick.

So the Canucks' 3rd pair early in the season was Forbort-Desharnais, and they were getting caved in. It seemed neither one of them could move the puck out of their zone. The Canucks acquired Brannstrom, who isn't big, isn't strong, isn't particularly sound defensively but was capable of clearing the puck out of his zone. Canucks fans and media were pleased-both Forbort-Brannstrom and Brannstrom-Desharnais were doing better than Forbort-Desharnais.

It seemed that stylistically Brannstrom was considered to provide something missing on the Canucks' defence, while the people he played with provided something he was missing, and for some time his results seemed to be bearing that out, but it seems Tocchet decided that the offence and puck moving Brannstrom provided didn't make up for being small, relatively weak and not particularly sound defensively.

 

[Petes2424]

If they didn’t already have Quinn and Hronek, maybe they’re not doing this. They just can’t depend on 3 smaller dmen. You have to wonder if he does get claimed though.

His contract and “some” of his play this year, has to intrigue more than a few managers with injuries on their blue line, or pending trades in the near future. A team like Detroit, would still like more puck movement and Petry is out injured and Chiarot might be on his way out of town. Something like that might work for 2-3 weeks and then he either sticks or he’s back on waivers.

I think he may get claimed here.

 

[JoeSakic13]

Colorado should claim him for giggles

 

[Freaky Styley]

He was doing great at transitioning the puck and being a threat on the PP. Then suddenly he was just out and never came back in.

Some say his defensive game was terrible but it wasn't obvious from the eye test.

Tocchet only like dinosaurs on defense so dinosaurs he will get. Somebody pick this kid up. He deserves to play.


And yet, Myers, Juulson, Deshardais and Forbort's games are rife with defensive gaffs.

3/4 of those guys are right-handed and all are big enough to clear a crease and hold their own in the corners. Those things matter, particularly down the lineup.

 

[Cogburn]

Brannstrom was fine for us on the bottom pairing, but Tocchet seems to hate players that can move the puck competently.

Advanced stats aren't good, but I'd prefer him to Soucy, Desharnais and Juulsen.

I guess his greatest flaw is not being right handed.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

If Brannstrom was 2 inches taller and jacked, he would probably be a pretty solid bottom pairing D. But he still wouldn't be more than that, and he's not 2 inches taller and jacked (well, at least not relative to what is needed as a 5'9 D with no standout skills).

 

[TS Quint]

So appeal to authority on every single decision your NHL team makes? Screw your appeal to authority mumbo jumbo.

Tocchet prefers big d-men with PK utility. You're not going to convince me Noah Juulsen or Vincent Desharnais are better players than Brannstrom though - we have a coach with an obvious bias.

I don't even disagree with the fundamental idea that a bigger d-man with PK utility is probably more valuable. I just disagree with the fact that when you already have 5 of those on your roster that maybe a puck mover isn't such a bad idea.

Good coaches make mistakes and I personally feel like the misuse of Brannstrom over the last month+ is one of them. If Canuck fans can't debate this because of your appeal to authority nonsense there's really no point of a place like hf of existing.

Tocchet had the entire team over performing just last season and he's already dumber than the worst of Canuck fans 40 games into this year. Amazing. I'd definitely be going with Tocchet's opinion in any case.

 

[sting101]

Above average in the offensive zone
Average in the neutral zone
Poor in the defensive zone
* bad at boxing out
* bad at retrievals with pressure
* bad at passing under pressure
Poor in 1v1 battles
Doesn't PK well
Not a good PP option
Very good skater but just not skilled enough deceptive or composed enough to be a regular on a good team is what I saw.

Still thought he offered some offense and puck support in the opposition side of the ice vs some of the board smashers we have and probably should have got more runway but his last few games were really bad and he played like he was afraid

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

He's very limited defensively and struggles reading plays. Mostly, he can't kill penalties, which doesn't afford him the leash Denarhais and Juulsen get despite being awful on a given average. It also doesn't help Brannstrom can't play RD whatsoever.

iirc there were a few games where he was forced to play the right side and he looked fine there

 

[Boud]

For watching him for years in Ottawa, he’s a decent bottom pair or 7th D.

Decent skater. Can play both sides. Good at exiting his zone. Decent offensive instincts but doesn’t put up points. He’s better defensensively than you would expect for a small defensemen. He was asked to be almost like a shutdown Dman in Ottawa so he had no choice but to improve defensensively.

Issue is coaches don’t like small defensemen UNLESS they can control the play and their skating makes up for their lack of size. Brannstrom is not a dynamic skater, he’s a good skater. He’ll always have a tough time getting regular minutes. He’s not great at anything. He’s average at about everything but he’s good in transition.

I see him as a guy who should get an opportunity on a rebuilding team. Put him on a team with 0 expectations and give him a lot of opportunity. I could see it paying off. On a good team or even a middle of the pack team they won’t let him play.

 

[Reality Czech]

Still doing just as well when he plays... but not tall enough for tocchet or Foote.

Definitely an NHL player and would be an upgrade on many teams bottom pair/PP2, but defensively has some deficiencies and doesn't get the benefit of the doubt.

Probably clears because nhl gms are dumb as hell, but If he doesn't nbd and good for him to get nhl games somewhere.

Obviously NHL GMs are dumb, NHL coaches like Tocchet are dumb unlike all of the brilliant hockey minds that can be found on this website.

 

[JTmillerForA1stLOL]

Obviously NHL GMs are dumb, NHL coaches like Tocchet are dumb unlike all of the brilliant hockey minds that can be found on this website.

Thank you for the validation sir

 

[Oddbob]

People blaming the coach for him not being on the team, come on! He has played for at least 3 NHL coaches thus far and hasn't made it as a year to year regular yet. That likely means it his him, not the coaches.

 

[Three On Zero]

People blaming the coach for him not being on the team, come on! He has played for at least 3 NHL coaches thus far and hasn't made it as a year to year regular yet. That likely means it his him, not the coaches.

When he plays he arguably looks like Vancouver’s 4th best defenceman. He’s Better than all of Juulsen, Forbort and Desharnais.

 

[SirKillalot]

For watching him for years in Ottawa, he’s a decent bottom pair or 7th D.

Decent skater. Can play both sides. Good at exiting his zone. Decent offensive instincts but doesn’t put up points. He’s better defensensively than you would expect for a small defensemen. He was asked to be almost like a shutdown Dman in Ottawa so he had no choice but to improve defensensively.

Issue is coaches don’t like small defensemen UNLESS they can control the play and their skating makes up for their lack of size. Brannstrom is not a dynamic skater, he’s a good skater. He’ll always have a tough time getting regular minutes. He’s not great at anything. He’s average at about everything but he’s good in transition.

I see him as a guy who should get an opportunity on a rebuilding team. Put him on a team with 0 expectations and give him a lot of opportunity. I could see it paying off. On a good team or even a middle of the pack team they won’t let him play.

Or put him on a high powered offense like the Oilers where he is playing on lines that is expected to be a lot more on offense than defence. His type of player got its usage, but it need to be a selected correct fit, otherwise won't work as you mention.

In Vancouver or Colorado they don't need him in that role as they have Makar and Hughes. But in a team that doesn't have that player type, but need a type of player like that it could work.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

iirc there were a few games where he was forced to play the right side and he looked fine there

He swapped to the right side once and was dreadful the whole game. They never went back to it afterwards

 

[Siludin]

Tocchet is an awful coach.

Brannstrom has had plenty of quality coaches
Tocchet wants his defensemen to play a structured game unless they are proven Allstars.

 

[Korpse]

Or put him on a high powered offense like the Oilers where he is playing on lines that is expected to be a lot more on offense than defence. His type of player got its usage, but it need to be a selected correct fit, otherwise won't work as you mention.

In Vancouver or Colorado they don't need him in that role as they have Makar and Hughes. But in a team that doesn't have that player type, but need a type of player like that it could work.

I think their can be a spot for a player like Brannstrom in this league, he just hasn't found his niche. He gets labelled as a puck moving D or offensive D but he isn't efficient enough offensively or at moving the puck. If there is open ice in front of him he can take it but he isn't good at creating open ice and as soon as he walks over the blueline it's more than likely he takes a shot from the outside that is deflected out of play by the defender. He can hold onto the puck, he just hasn't shown the ability to make the next play. I don't think the team he plays on is going to change him being a fringe NHL D.

 

[BondraTime]

He's a #6/pressbox guy that doesn't have a role.

He's not physical
He's not good defensively
He's not good offensively
He doesn't play PP
He doesn't play PK

He doesn't serve a role, anywhere, other than sheltered minutes. That's not a player any coach wants to play and cater too.

Teams will pick him up, fans will say he's fantastic because he played well in 13 minutes of sheltered minutes, and there will be a revolt when a few weeks later the idiot coach doesn't play him.

 

[WarriorofTime]

415/431. That’s where Brannstrom ranks in terms of powerplay points per 60 for all skaters with a minimum of 250 powerplay minutes since he came into the league. Combine that with Bottom pair/no PK… that’s just a player without a real role. Yeah, analytics aren’t going to save you.

 

[KevinRedkey]

- Physical
- Is above average offensively and/or on PK
- Is above average defensively and/or on PP

Random big dudes can check off the first box even if they suck everywhere else.
Brannstrom can't check off any of those boxes, despite being better in other facets of the game and better 'overall'.

He ends up having no role and could very well become one of those guys that's great in the AHL or overseas as a result.

 

[GirardSpinorama]

Theres just too many of these skilled small dmen now and not enough pp1 spots for someone who doesnt even have an elite shot.

Hes basically turned into the dmen version of the AAAA forwards like TJ Tynan.

 

[Hookslide]

So appeal to authority on every single decision your NHL team makes? Screw your appeal to authority mumbo jumbo.

Tocchet prefers big d-men with PK utility. You're not going to convince me Noah Juulsen or Vincent Desharnais are better players than Brannstrom though - we have a coach with an obvious bias.

I don't even disagree with the fundamental idea that a bigger d-man with PK utility is probably more valuable. I just disagree with the fact that when you already have 5 of those on your roster that maybe a puck mover isn't such a bad idea.

Good coaches make mistakes and I personally feel like the misuse of Brannstrom over the last month+ is one of them. If Canuck fans can't debate this because of your appeal to authority nonsense there's really no point of a place like hf of existing.

Should look into who Tocchet is betting on.