Prospect Info: Tyler Kleven (D) at 44th Overall (Sens traded up)

[Ice-Tray]

The thing with Bran will likely come down to the fact that we want to play Kleven on the left on the third pairing. Bran can play on the right side, but we’ll probably prefer playing an RD instead of we can.

He is simply the odd man out here. Ideally we bring in two RD this off season and then JBD can cheaply occupy the 7th spot.

We really do want to get more difficult to play against on D, and like it or not Bran doesn’t bring that quality, and the other guys who also don’t bring that quality are better than he is at what they do bring, and/or are also likely to be moved.

Its just not a long term fit.

 

[DrEasy]

What does Brannstrom bring to this roster that we don’t already have?

Our team is sorely lacking in physicality, good penalty killers and guys that can clear the front of their net. At some point to add that dimension you have to remove some of what you have in excess.

Yes, that's why you remove Chychrun and replace him with a physical top 4 RD.

 

[bicboi64]

Not sure if the panthers are super fast or Kleven super slow, but he looked lot out there today.

 

[PlayOn]

Yes, that's why you remove Chychrun and replace him with a physical top 4 RD.

I don’t think one change moves the needle. Our defence is too easy to play against as a whole and Brannstrom is guilty of that.

I’m not sure Kleven is NHL ready but I sort of just lean towards him needing games to get used to the speed and skill at this level. He’s played 3 years in college post-draft, a year in Belleville and a handful of NHL games. At this point I think he gains the most from experience moreso than other areas of development so I’d like to see him on the roster next year.

 

[Icelevel]

I don’t think one change moves the needle. Our defence is too easy to play against as a whole and Brannstrom is guilty of that.

I’m not sure Kleven is NHL ready but I sort of just lean towards him needing games to get used to the speed and skill at this level. He’s played 3 years in college post-draft, a year in Belleville and a handful of NHL games. At this point I think he gains the most from experience moreso than other areas of development so I’d like to see him on the roster next year.

Yes you add Kleven and a top 4RHD AND possibly a replacement for brannstrom.

 

[coladin]

Good game

 

[Alf Silfversson]

Not sure if the panthers are super fast or Kleven super slow, but he looked lot out there today.

I thought he struggled more last night than he has lately but that's probably just the team laying an absolute egg.

 

[Micklebot]

I thought he struggled more last night than he has lately but that's probably just the team laying an absolute egg.

D always look like they are struggling when the forwards aren't picking up their guys or back checking hard. That's not to say Kleven didn't have his own struggles but it compounds the issues.

 

[stempniaksen]

Typically I like to over-marinate defencemen but I don't see how he's not on the opening night roster next season. If Brannstrom is on the way out I'd still like some competition for TK so he doesn't get complacent but he's proven he's more than capable of playing 3rd pairing minutes and this roster needs his size/snarl for the PK (and because the D core is quite soft in general).

 

[aragorn]

JBD has played most of the yr & IMO he has graduated & will likely be on the roster full time next yr. IMO Brannstrom & likely Chychrun will get moved out & Hamonic likely gets bought out or is the 7th D next season. I would sign Shattenkirk RD for one or two yrs & draft Yakemchuk RD to eventually take his place in the top 4 or maybe JBD becomes good enough to play with Sanderson full time until Yakemchuk who has top 4 potential passes him. Kleven as a rookie will make mistakes next yr, but he has the potential to improve & be a very good 3rd pairing D who can move up when needed.

Sanderson - Zub
Chabot - Shattenkirk/Yakemchuk
Kleven - JBD/Hamonic

 

[Micklebot]

Typically I like to over-marinate defencemen but I don't see how he's not on the opening night roster next season. If Brannstrom is on the way out I'd still like some competition for TK so he doesn't get complacent but he's proven he's more than capable of playing 3rd pairing minutes and this roster needs his size/snarl for the PK (and because the D core is quite soft in general).

He's 22, he did a lot of his marinatimg in College.

 

[stempniaksen]

He's 22, he did a lot of his marinatimg in College.

Three full seasons at NoDak definitely helped but in a perfect world I'd have hoped for more than 45 games in Belleville. I doubt he goes back now and I'm absolutely fine with it because he's ready.

I was a big proponent of getting Jake some games down there despite him coming in with the pedigree he did and he's proved he didn't need them so it could just be that I have an ultra conservative approach when it comes to developing defensemen.

 

[Micklebot]

Three full seasons at NoDak definitely helped but in a perfect world I'd have hoped for more than 45 games in Belleville. I doubt he goes back now and I'm absolutely fine with it because he's ready.

I was a big proponent of getting Jake some games down there despite him coming in with the pedigree he did and he's proved he didn't need them so it could just be that I have an ultra conservative approach when it comes to developing defensemen.

I don't think more time in Belleville would hurt Kleven, but I also think he's ready to learn at the NHL Level too, and can help the team while he does it.

 

[Bileur]

I can’t wait for him to start laying these regularly at the NHL level.

Hopefully a big summer in the gym will help.

 

[aragorn]

I can’t wait for him to start laying these regularly at the NHL level.

Hopefully a big summer in the gym will help.

This is exactly what the Ott Sens are missing from their back end too many soft players on D.