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.
He did get better and he did deserve a look. Even if we did call him up Randy wouldn't have played him and we would have lost him to waivers.
Honestly though only Percy and Granberg (and liles) really showed NHL level defensive zone play. All the other D had way too many brainfarts and blown coverages.
I would say that at the end of the season Brennan was as good as any of the lower tier. Holzer improved as well.
For those asking, TJ Brennan wasn't re-signed because his defensive game is sub-par and his points are reflective of a Marlies team that build their PP around him. His stats are deceiving without knowing how he was used in the AHL.
That said, the top scoring dman in the AHL. Voted top dman in AHL. Top plus man on the Marlies....would have been nice to sign him for $600,000.00.