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TJ Brennan: What's his deal?

CalgaryLeaf*

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I wonder why TJ Brennan was never given a chance to play with the big club?

The guy is big (6'1" and 213),scored 25 goals and he averaged almost a point per game the last 2 years...As a defenseman he was tied for 3rd in the AHL in scoring with 72 points.

I know the Leafs have Jake & Morgan to play that role,but does Brennan totally suck defensively?...Is Franson a better player?

I think Brennan is now a UFA.
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Stephen

Stephen

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Feb 28, 2002
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Brennan is now a New York Islander.

Carlyle is a dinosaur. Nothing about him "makes sense."
 
SprDaVE

SprDaVE

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Sep 20, 2008
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Absolutely terrible defensively. Brennan had a tough time in the AHL defending. His skating isn't all that great.

He does have a bomb of a shot and good offensive skills.

As great as he was in the AHL, just like Kostka was a couple seasons ago, he would be a disaster in the NHL.

The Leafs have enough of Rielly, Gardiner and Franson has players that are not overly great defending... we don't need another one with mediocre overall abilities. Leafs have better quality defenders that can play at both ends of the ice next to our quality offensive defenders.
 
Purity*

Purity*

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Jan 29, 2010
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He's a left-handed Cody Franson


His defense is definitely suspect.
 

CalgaryLeaf*

Guest
SprDaVE said:
Absolutely terrible defensively. Brennan had a tough time in the AHL defending. His skating isn't all that great.

He does have a bomb of a shot and good offensive skills.

As great as he was in the AHL, just like Kostka was a couple seasons ago, he would be a disaster in the NHL.
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Was he a first pairing defenseman for the Marlies?..Obviously he must have been on the first PP.
 
SprDaVE

SprDaVE

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Sep 20, 2008
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CalgaryLeaf said:
Was he a first pairing defenseman for the Marlies?..Obviously he must have been on the first PP.
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He was.

Let me put it this way. The Marlies were one of the best defensive teams in the AHL last season. With that, Brennan finished with 72 points, 25 of those are goals... and he finished a MINUS 10.

I'm not one to look at +/- to judge a player defensively or even overall, but I've watched a lot of Marlies games this season and his -10 despite his point totals AND the Marlies team is just a good way to show where he excels and where he doesn't.

Brennan probably is a good depth defender right now. If you need an offensive defenceman to come in after injuries to your main PP guys, he'd probably provide you with solid secondary scoring but in my opinion, he's not a quality top 6 defender of a NHL team.
 
sommervr

sommervr

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Feb 25, 2013
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Wasn't great defensively. Even with all his points he was just an even player 5x5.

I still think he should move to wing because he is actually pretty good on the rush and on the forecheck. Sometimes he would dump it in and go chase it himself.

I hope he does well this year.
 
thewave

thewave

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Jun 17, 2011
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sommervr said:
Wasn't great defensively. Even with all his points he was just an even player 5x5.

I still think he should move to wing because he is actually pretty good on the rush and on the forecheck. Sometimes he would dump it in and go chase it himself.

I hope he does well this year.
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I wouldn't be surprised if 1-2% of players are miscast and never make it because that alone.
 

Ricky Bobby

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Aug 31, 2008
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SprDaVE said:
Absolutely terrible defensively. Brennan had a tough time in the AHL defending. His skating isn't all that great.

He does have a bomb of a shot and good offensive skills.

As great as he was in the AHL, just like Kostka was a couple seasons ago, he would be a disaster in the NHL.

The Leafs have enough of Rielly, Gardiner and Franson has players that are not overly great defending... we don't need another one with mediocre overall abilities. Leafs have better quality defenders that can play at both ends of the ice next to our quality offensive defenders.
Click to expand...

This + the Leafs blueline was very healthy last season.
 

Pholus

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May 23, 2014
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SprDaVE said:
He was.

Let me put it this way. The Marlies were one of the best defensive teams in the AHL last season. With that, Brennan finished with 72 points, 25 of those are goals... and he finished a MINUS 10.

I'm not one to look at +/- to judge a player defensively or even overall, but I've watched a lot of Marlies games this season and his -10 despite his point totals AND the Marlies team is just a good way to show where he excels and where he doesn't.

Brennan probably is a good depth defender right now. If you need an offensive defenceman to come in after injuries to your main PP guys, he'd probably provide you with solid secondary scoring but in my opinion, he's not a quality top 6 defender of a NHL team.
Click to expand...

Looking at his +/- compared to the rest of the Marlies, there were only 2 players who were lower, Brad Staubitz (-13) and Brad Ross (-14).
I agree with pretty much everything you said, but I do think he will makes the Islanders on the 3rd pairing, just because they really don't have much else in the way of pp guys.
 

number72

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Oct 9, 2011
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He signed to play with the NYI farm club. He is like Franson but worse defensively
 
TheGroceryStick

TheGroceryStick

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Jan 19, 2009
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He looks decent when he is given the puck and able to control the point.

On a NHL roster where he would be a 3rd pairing guy, he would look too ordinary.
 
Cor

Cor

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He would absolutely shredded in the NHL defensively. He struggles in the AHL.
 
Peasy

Peasy

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May 25, 2012
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Dude was brutal defensively, was a major minus even though he put up all those points. Was probably basically on for a goal against a game. Basically a PP point getting.

People are so easily influenced by point totals lol...
 
Tak7

Tak7

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Nov 1, 2009
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For those saying he was brutal defensively - did anyone actually watch him play for the Marlies last season?

I watched quite a few Marlies games last season, and while there were serious questions about his defensive game, he improved significantly over the course of the year and was no longer a liability.

He didn't get his chance because Nonis and Carlyle. Simple as. He will go elsewhere (Islanders), and turn that small deal into a bigger one by playing relatively decently in the NHL this season, and Carlyle and Nonis will once again look like fools for making a mistake judging talent.

I'm not saying he's anything special; but he's a serviceable NHL Dman who should have had at least a small look in last season - especially when Gleason, Franson, and Phaneuf forgot how to play in the NHL.
 

Joey Hoser

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Jan 8, 2008
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He'll get the opportunity to rack up a lot of points there on the PP in NY, but he's certainly not going to be a piece that brings them success.

A very poor man's Mike Greene.
 
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