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

[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.