Player Discussion Erik Brännström - D - Part II

[Gil Gunderson]

He better get a call up after this

He’s too small. You need big bodies so they can give away the puck in front of our goalie.

 

[Mark Stones Spleen]

Mete served his purpose, he's no longer useful. For the love of god, get Brann playing with Holden in Ottawa. Hopefully then we can have at least the two D-pairings that aren't getting caved in all the time.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

Mete served his purpose, he's no longer useful. For the love of god, get Brann playing with Holden in Ottawa. Hopefully then we can have at least the two D-pairings that aren't getting caved in all the time.

Mete should be our 7th D and J. Brown should be our 8th. Simple as that. Their upside and salary say exactly that. And yet they were our second pair tonight.

 

[SensEnforcer]

Mete served his purpose, he's no longer useful. For the love of god, get Brann playing with Holden in Ottawa. Hopefully then we can have at least the two D-pairings that aren't getting caved in all the time.

Unfortunately he hasn't been playing good enough to get a call up.

 

[HSF]

Unfortunately he hasn't been playing good enough to get a call up.

he played 30 games in the nhl last year

he can play here

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Unfortunately he hasn't been playing good enough to get a call up.

He was better in the NHL last season and this preseason than half our d-corps. He’s probably checked-out waiting for a trade, and I don’t blame him. He’s not getting a leash under DJ Smith and he knows it.

 

[TheDebater]

Honestly this whole situation makes me wonder what the hell Dorion was thinking trading for Brannstrom knowing full well the type of team he wanted to build, or did he have no clue at the time and just took whatever he can get?

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Honestly this whole situation makes me wonder what the hell Dorion was thinking trading for Brannstrom knowing full well the type of team he wanted to build, or did he have no clue at the time and just took whatever he can get?

I'm pretty sure he was dangerously close to losing Stone for nothing or close to it, and then Vegas threw out Brannstrom and he jumped at it without doing his scouting.

Tbh, I've always been confused as to why the Sens acquired him. He's extremely small, slow, and doesn't seem particularly dynamic. Never understood why there was so much hype around him, or why Pierre was patting himself on the back for getting him back for Mark Stone of all players.

 

[Korpse]

Honestly this whole situation makes me wonder what the hell Dorion was thinking trading for Brannstrom knowing full well the type of team he wanted to build, or did he have no clue at the time and just took whatever he can get?

Maybe there’s room for a player like they expected him to be, but Brannstrom isn’t that player yet.

 

[DylanSensFan]

Unfortunately he hasn't been playing good enough to get a call up.

This thought process is insane to me. Have a look at Gustavsson's numbers in the AHL vs NHL. Gus is actually better in the NHL. Brannstrom already proved he can dominate the AHL. He should be playing in the NHL right now. My question is why the f*** Dorion got Mete off waivers, when we were trying to develop a similar size and style of defender. Brannstrom is better than Mete and will be.

 

[DylanSensFan]

Maybe there’s room for a player like they expected him to be, but Brannstrom isn’t that player yet.

Brannstrom is better than what we are currently playing in the NHL. He's better than Mete, better than Brown and at least he has the upside of being able to actually MOVE THE PUCK.

 

[DylanSensFan]

I'm pretty sure he was dangerously close to losing Stone for nothing or close to it, and then Vegas threw out Brannstrom and he jumped at it without doing his scouting.

Tbh, I've always been confused as to why the Sens acquired him. He's extremely small, slow, and doesn't seem particularly dynamic. Never understood why there was so much hype around him, or why Pierre was patting himself on the back for getting him back for Mark Stone of all players.

Am I watching a different player here? Are you expecting Karlsson? Brannstrom is plenty fast and slick with his skating. He's definitely in the mold of a puck mover. It is beyond me why he isn't in the NHL right now, aside from contract.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Am I watching a different player here? Are you expecting Karlsson? Brannstrom is plenty fast and slick with his skating. He's definitely in the mold of a puck mover. It is beyond me why he isn't in the NHL right now, aside from contract.

I don't think he's fast, especially for a defenseman, especially especially for a 5'9 defenseman.

I wasn't expecting Karlsson, but that's what he was touted as when they traded for him. Since he's been here, the expectations I had for him based on watching him play was bottom pairing dman who can run the PP. So I was really confused as to why everyone was hyping him up as some future star, or why Dorion even traded for a guy that doesn't really fit the identity of the team.

 

[DylanSensFan]

I don't think he's fast, especially for a defenseman, especially especially for a 5'9 defenseman.

I wasn't expecting Karlsson, but that's what he was touted as when they traded for him. Since he's been here, the expectations I had for him based on watching him play was bottom pairing dman who can run the PP. So I was really confused as to why everyone was hyping him up as some future star, or why Dorion even traded for a guy that doesn't really fit the identity of the team.

Our team isn't huge. Stu isn't massive. Tkatchuk and Paul are the only two players who are really tall. This team is about skill and Brannstrom is a skilled player. I really think you're selling him way short. He's better than Wideman and a lot of the other D we've had in our system. He can run a PP. He is a true PP quarterback. He can also clear our D zone with a pass or by skating it out. He is better than what we currently have on the NHL roster, aside from Chabot and Zub.

 

[Ouroboros]

Honestly this whole situation makes me wonder what the hell Dorion was thinking trading for Brannstrom knowing full well the type of team he wanted to build, or did he have no clue at the time and just took whatever he can get?

They thought he was an elite talent when they acquired him. Almost everybody did. Now - nearly three years down the road from that deal - it's clear that Brannstrom just isn't that calibre of player. He's more Sami Vatanen than Cale Makar.

Not to mention that DJ hadn't been hired at the time of the deal. There is no doubt that he's not a fit for the current coaching staff, but honestly - I'm not sure he's much of a fit anywhere at the NHL level. He's a PP specialist. Even at the AHL level that's what he is - look at the breakdown of his production at that level; ~60% on the PP and ~40% at EV. The problem with being a second-unit PP defenseman is that it's a niche that is kinda going by the wayside. Teams are running 4-forward PP units and they're shifting the usage heavily to the top unit, so the secondary role is just mop-up duty. You have to be added value at EV, not just in this shrinking role.

Guys of his stature that make it to the show usually have to drive offense at 5-on-5 to stay afloat and Brannstrom hasn't done that. He also has a slew of defensive issues - goes to his backhand when pressured, takes a ton of contact, struggles with pivoting to his right, hasn't figured out how to use his stick to win 50/50 battles. I don't love his sense/awareness either. He has a ton of work to do to become an NHL player.

Knowing what they know now, I'd guess the Sens probably just wish they'd have targeted Nic Hague instead. Can't win them all, I guess.

 

[bashbros32]

Honestly this whole situation makes me wonder what the hell Dorion was thinking trading for Brannstrom knowing full well the type of team he wanted to build, or did he have no clue at the time and just took whatever he can get?

Dorion acquired Brannstrom on February 25th 2019... the team was about to fire Guy Boucher and probably had no clue who they were replacing him with...

 

[bashbros32]

He's more Sami Vatanen than Cale Makar.

IF ERIK BRANNSTROM IS SAMI FRICKING VATANEN THEN WHY ARE WE PLAYING JOSH BROWN MICHAEL DEL ZOTTO, NIKITA ZAITSEV AND VIKTOR FREAKING METE OVER HIM!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH

 

[TheDebater]

Dorion acquired Brannstrom on February 25th 2019... the team was about to fire Guy Boucher and probably had no clue who they were replacing him with...

It is not just coaching. The G.M has the ability to make roster moves that would force a coach to use the players available.

If Dorion really wanted DJ to use Brannstrom, he would not have extended Mete and/or not have signed Del Zotto. We would have been left with Chabot, Zub, Holden, Josh Brown, Zaitsev and Brannstrom.

Dorion seems to have changed his tune on Brannstrom and it was obvious during his Tkachuk signing press conference when he was asked about the young D and he mentioned everyone but Brannstrom.

 

[DylanSensFan]

They thought he was an elite talent when they acquired him. Almost everybody did. Now - nearly three years down the road from that deal - it's clear that Brannstrom just isn't that calibre of player. He's more Sami Vatanen than Cale Makar.

Not to mention that DJ hadn't been hired at the time of the deal. There is no doubt that he's not a fit for the current coaching staff, but honestly - I'm not sure he's much of a fit anywhere at the NHL level. He's a PP specialist. Even at the AHL level that's what he is - look at the breakdown of his production at that level; ~60% on the PP and ~40% at EV. The problem with being a second-unit PP defenseman is that it's a niche that is kinda going by the wayside. Teams are running 4-forward PP units and they're shifting the usage heavily to the top unit, so the secondary role is just mop-up duty. You have to be added value at EV, not just in this shrinking role.

Guys of his stature that make it to the show usually have to drive offense at 5-on-5 to stay afloat and Brannstrom hasn't done that. He also has a slew of defensive issues - goes to his backhand when pressured, takes a ton of contact, struggles with pivoting to his right, hasn't figured out how to use his stick to win 50/50 battles. I don't love his sense/awareness either. He has a ton of work to do to become an NHL player.

Knowing what they know now, I'd guess the Sens probably just wish they'd have targeted Nic Hague instead. Can't win them all, I guess.

Now do Mete.

 

[bashbros32]

It is not just coaching. The G.M has the ability to make roster moves that would force a coach to use the players available.

If Dorion really wanted DJ to use Brannstrom, he would not have extended Mete and/or not have signed Del Zotto. We would have been left with Chabot, Zub, Holden, Josh Brown, Zaitsev and Brannstrom.

Dorion seems to have changed his tune on Brannstrom and it was obvious during his Tkachuk signing press conference when he was asked about the young D and he mentioned everyone but Brannstrom.

doesn't help when your coach is your assistant GM.

 

[DylanSensFan]

 

[bashbros32]

D.J. Smith is the Head Coach/Assistant G.M. of the Ottawa Senators...

you don't replace Erik Gudbranson, Braydon Coburn and Mike Reilly with Victor Mete, Josh Brown and Michael Del Zotto and expect better results... you just damn well don't... like what the actual...

 

[DylanSensFan]

 

[Sweatred]

23 year old Mete can play brutal hockey and try to develop in the NHL but 22 year old Branny can't? Get Branny in. ZERO chance Mete gets claimed on waivers.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

D.J. Smith is the Head Coach/Assistant G.M. of the Ottawa Senators...

you don't replace Erik Gudbranson, Braydon Coburn and Mike Reilly with Victor Mete, Josh Brown and Michael Del Zotto and expect better results... you just damn well don't... like what the actual...

Okay I would argue the results are better. Erik gudbrannson and braydon coburn on two separate pairs last year plus josh brown with coburn was easily the worst I have ever seen.