Player Discussion Erik Brännström |5'10, 181lbs | Left Handed Defenceman

[JD1]

He hasn't always played on the right side though. He's played a mix over his career and is comfortable playing either side, or at least that's how he characterized it earlier in the year when asked.

I think he mentioned he prefers the right side in the OZ, which sort of implies he prefers the left side in the DZ because otherwise he'd just say he prefers playing the right side.

Perhaps i am wrong but my understanding is he has played more right than left in his career.

It is a lot easier to move the puck in the o zone on your off wing. The only real problem it creates for a D is the puck that is rimmed around the boards which you essentially have to tip to yourself.

On D if you are on the offside, your stick is to the outside so it is easier for someone to cut in on you and its harder to get your stick in the lanes. But the moment you have the puck its easier to move imo.

Preference is a real thing. Especially if you are young and it is a confidence thing

 

[Burrowsaurus]

how pissed is topshelf with brannstrom liking his off side

 

[SensFan1010]

He hasn't always played on the right side though. He's played a mix over his career and is comfortable playing either side, or at least that's how he characterized it earlier in the year when asked.

I think he mentioned he prefers the right side in the OZ, which sort of implies he prefers the left side in the DZ because otherwise he'd just say he prefers playing the right side.

This is the same for every player if youve played hockey before you realise its because in the Dzone you can wrap the puck around the boards on your strong side, also in the Ozone your stick is against the boards on the strong side so its easier to keep the puck in the zone. However on your weak side you will have the advantage at shooting the puck on the net (one timers, shots from the point or even on a rush)

 

[Micklebot]

Perhaps i am wrong but my understanding is he has played more right than left in his career.

It is a lot easier to move the puck in the o zone on your off wing. The only real problem it creates for a D is the puck that is rimmed around the boards which you essentially have to tip to yourself.

On D if you are on the offside, your stick is to the outside so it is easier for someone to cut in on you and its harder to get your stick in the lanes. But the moment you have the puck its easier to move imo.

Preference is a real thing. Especially if you are young and it is a confidence thing

From what I understood, he mostly played Left at ES and right on the PP, but has done both at both strengths. I could be wrong, just the understanding I got from back when I looked into it. I don't watch a lot of AHL games and of those I do, Belleville is what I watch so I haven't seen much of his time before the trade.

That said, I agree with you on it being a preference thing and the advantages/disadvatages of playing your off side. I remember Methot talking about playing his offside and how you had to be able to skate to open up lanes because playing your offside the defense could close things down easier when you try to exit the zone or through the NZ.

In that vein, Brannstrom has good edgework, but might not have the explosiveness to open up those lanes? idk, from all accounts he didn't have issues the other nights.

 

[JD1]

From what I understood, he mostly played Left at ES and right on the PP, but has done both at both strengths. I could be wrong, just the understanding I got from back when I looked into it. I don't watch a lot of AHL games and of those I do, Belleville is what I watch so I haven't seen much of his time before the trade.

That said, I agree with you on it being a preference thing and the advantages/disadvatages of playing your off side. I remember Methot talking about playing his offside and how you had to be able to skate to open up lanes because playing your offside the defense could close things down easier when you try to exit the zone or through the NZ.

In that vein, Brannstrom has good edgework, but might not have the explosiveness to open up those lanes? idk, from all accounts he didn't have issues the other nights.

Idk, i found Brannstrom more capable than i thought he'd be defensively. And he'll get better. Offensively if he's used to being on his off side, then he's making two adjustments: one to the league and one to the side switch.

The kid just turned 20. He's got plenty of time to figure it all out and IMO he's already had quite a few "holy shit" plays where you see the offensive ability

 

[dumbdick]

So are we seeing "early EK" mistakes here? Or is it "early Rundblad" offensive flashes?

 

[Larionov]

So are we seeing "early EK" mistakes here? Or is it "early Rundblad" offensive flashes?

Good point - I can remember when the early consensus was that that Rundblad and EK were roughly equivalent prospects...

 

[Silencio]

Good point - I can remember when the early consensus was that that Rundblad and EK were roughly equivalent prospects...

Lol yeah, if I recall correctly that was based almost entirely on a hail Mary stretch pass Rundblad made to Greening to score against the Leafs.

 

[Micklebot]

Lol yeah, if I recall correctly that was based almost entirely on a hail Mary stretch pass Rundblad made to Greening to score against the Leafs.

I suspect his ridiculous 2010-11 season in the SHL had more to do with that than the single stretch pass.

50 pts in 55 games as a 19-20 year old Dman in the SHL is bonkers; it's the second best total by a Dman in that league ever, and the best by a player of that age by a country mile.

 

[Silencio]

I suspect his ridiculous 2010-11 season in the SHL had more to do with that than the single stretch pass.

50 pts in 55 games as a 19-20 year old Dman in the SHL is bonkers; it's the second best total by a Dman in that league ever, and the best by a player of that age by a country mile.

I forgot how insane his SHL totals were. It's a shame Rundblad was never really able to adapt to the smaller NHL ice surface.

 

[OD99]

Idk, i found Brannstrom more capable than i thought he'd be defensively. And he'll get better. Offensively if he's used to being on his off side, then he's making two adjustments: one to the league and one to the side switch.

The kid just turned 20. He's got plenty of time to figure it all out and IMO he's already had quite a few "holy ****" plays where you see the offensive ability

I agree with this - if the stress about his game was on the offensive side and moving to the right seems to have had a somewhat instant (throw in the BSens games) positive impact then I struggle with thinking he has to move back to the left.

So we think he will stay on the right until F'inRightsMellow is back? That could end up being enough time to show the wow factor we hope he has...I guess it could also give him the confidence needed to translate his play back to the left.

 

[JD1]

I agree with this - if the stress about his game was on the offensive side and moving to the right seems to have had a somewhat instant (throw in the BSens games) positive impact then I struggle with thinking he has to move back to the left.

So we think he will stay on the right until F'inRightsMellow is back? That could end up being enough time to show the wow factor we hope he has...I guess it could also give him the confidence needed to translate his play back to the left.

The skills simply may not translate to the other side of the ice

I'm certainly no pro but i have played the game for 50 years and i did play competitively growing up. I've always been able to do things on the off side offensively that i simply cannot do on the on side.

 

[Sweatred]

The skills simply may not translate to the other side of the ice

I'm certainly no pro but i have played the game for 50 years and i did play competitively growing up. I've always been able to do things on the off side offensively that i simply cannot do on the on side.

Was he sent down ?

 

[TheDebater]

Lol yeah, if I recall correctly that was based almost entirely on a hail Mary stretch pass Rundblad made to Greening to score against the Leafs.

That is literally the only memory I have of David Rundblad.

 

[Dingle]

per the Sens own site. He is 5'9". Making him more probably 5'8".
181 pounds would make him a butterball...so, say 170 lbs is more accurate.

as of today..32 game splayed...4 assists, 4 points total and a -9 +/-.

so a 5'8" , 170 lb defense-men who may not be a real offensive dynamo!!!!

Quinn Hughes is listed 5'10" and 170...is most likely 5'9" and 160. He has 28 points in 39 games..granted, he is at -6 only marginally better than Brannstrom.

If you are a smallish defense-men, you had better be a scoring machine. Because at 5'8", you sure are not going to be a shut down defense-men. You will be killed.

 

[FolignoQuantumLeap]

per the Sens own site. He is 5'9". Making him more probably 5'8".
181 pounds would make him a butterball...so, say 170 lbs is more accurate.

as of today..32 game splayed...4 assists, 4 points total and a -9 +/-.

so a 5'8" , 170 lb defense-men who may not be a real offensive dynamo!!!!

Quinn Hughes is listed 5'10" and 170...is most likely 5'9" and 160. He has 28 points in 39 games..granted, he is at -6 only marginally better than Brannstrom.

If you are a smallish defense-men, you had better be a scoring machine. Because at 5'8", you sure are not going to be a shut down defense-men. You will be killed.

I wouldn't worry too much about his size. He's built similarly to Josh Morrisey and Anton Stralman and neither of those guys are offensive dynamos but solid NHL dmen. Skating is way more important than being over 6ft in today's game and Brannstrom is a great skater. His point totals in the NHL will improve when he doesn't have potatoes as partners.

 

[GCK]

per the Sens own site. He is 5'9". Making him more probably 5'8".
181 pounds would make him a butterball...so, say 170 lbs is more accurate.

as of today..32 game splayed...4 assists, 4 points total and a -9 +/-.

so a 5'8" , 170 lb defense-men who may not be a real offensive dynamo!!!!

Quinn Hughes is listed 5'10" and 170...is most likely 5'9" and 160. He has 28 points in 39 games..granted, he is at -6 only marginally better than Brannstrom.

If you are a smallish defense-men, you had better be a scoring machine. Because at 5'8", you sure are not going to be a shut down defense-men. You will be killed.

His measurements from the 2017 combine were 5’9” and 170. The height and weight listed on the Sens site seem likely legit.

 

[Dingle]

His measurements from the 2017 combine were 5’9” and 170. The height and weight listed on the Sens site seem likely legit.

come on GCK.. even at 5'9" and 181 lbs..that hardly makes him a tank. I would be worried about a forward in that size. Yea, the game today is speed and skating...but a defenseman at that size. How does he pin some 6'2" 210 lb winger against the boards? Guys like this need to be power play specialists or used late in the game to try and get back into it if you are loosing..it still means skating and scoring!! and you pray that coaches don't start preying on him, by sending their bigger more robust guys to his side. If I am an NHL coach, I am sending my biggest goon after him..even if it means penalties..this way, by the third period the Sens are down to 5 defensmen of the kid's head is on a swivel and he makes one mistake after another. I hope FolignoQuantumleap is dead on accurate with his prediction. If not, this poor kid, could end up being canon fodder.

 

[tardigrade81]

I wouldn't worry too much about his size. He's built similarly to Josh Morrisey and Anton Stralman and neither of those guys are offensive dynamos but solid NHL dmen. Skating is way more important than being over 6ft in today's game and Brannstrom is a great skater. His point totals in the NHL will improve when he doesn't have potatoes as partners.

Well said. I could care less the size of a player as long as he is playing good.

 

[FormentonTheFuture]

Look at Hughes who is the softest d man in the league and is still putting up a pretty decent rookie year. Brannstrom is a lot more physical and built.

 

[Dingle]

Look at Hughes who is the softest d man in the league and is still putting up a pretty decent rookie year. Brannstrom is a lot more physical and built.

I am trying to understand your point....Brannstrom has 4 points, Hughes 28...

 

[FormentonTheFuture]

I am trying to understand your point....Brannstrom has 4 points, Hughes 28...

The point was his Size won’t be what holds him back from being a good player

 

[Dingle]

Well said. I could care less the size of a player as long as he is playing good.

I hope so...Smaller players can sometimes fade over a season (not my line, Pierre McGuires...take it as you wish). So if coaches start sending their bigger, more robust players at him...Hopefully his skating, speed and Offensive production punishes them. This far 4 points, Hughes 28 points. It would seem like Hughes is doing his bit..

Had this kid's offensive totals been anywhere near Hughes, there would be no issue...But 4 points, form a supposedly gifted, skater, puck handler!!!! yea, I am worried about him...

 

[Burrowsaurus]

The point was his Size won’t be what holds him back from being a good player

his size plus his meh agility and speed might tho.. hughes is like and elite elite elite skater

 

[Dingle]

The point was his Size won’t be what holds him back from being a good player

you are right..but should we not be concerned that two players, identical age..nearly identical body size (Although you say Brannstrom is more robust). Nearly identical NHL time. One has 4 points, one has 28. We would not be discussing this if the kid had 20 or so points..but 4... well behind Borowiecki. A guy you hardly consider to be an offensive producer. FolignoQuantumLeap had the best line regarding this: His point totals in the NHL will improve when he doesn't have potatoes as partners.

I hope so.