Earlier than the beginning of free company, it was clear that the Colorado Avalanche would wish to look to the secondary marketplace for good worth and reclamation initiatives. They’re adept at discovering expertise on this market, whether or not by way of free company or trades. Former Avalanche gamers, together with Valeri Nichushkin, Andre Burakovsky, Matt Nieto, Ryan Graves, Patrik Nemeth, Evan Rodrigues, and the not too long ago re-signed Jonathan Drouin, all skilled profession revivals with the Avalanche. This led these gamers to earn a lot bigger contracts within the offseason, both with an extension with the Avalanche or with a model new contract with one other workforce in free company.
Discovering worth out there is essential for a cap-strapped workforce just like the Avalanche, so signing former Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Brannstrom to a one-year contract price $900,000 was a notable transfer. With correct room to develop and a route to success just like the gamers beforehand said, he might be a large piece for the Avalanche going ahead because the blue line goes by way of vital adjustments as contracts expire in upcoming seasons. Discovering a participant like Brannstrom, a highly-touted blueliner, doesn’t all the time come, however it’ll take work to assist him discover his groove and unlock his greatest sport.
Who’s Erik Brannstrom?
At 5-foot-10 and 185 kilos, Brannstrom is a left-handed defenseman chosen by the Vegas Golden Knights within the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Taking part in in Sweden’s SHL, he began attracting consideration when he turned an everyday starter on the HV71 workforce in 2016-17, with qualities not often seen at that degree and so younger.
On the time, many scouts had him going as early as 15 within the first spherical to as late because the mid-second spherical. In 35 SHL video games through the 2016-17 season, he scored one aim and 5 assists for six factors. Nonetheless, in 26 video games within the J20 SuperElit, together with the playoffs, he scored 12 targets and 30 factors.
Brannstrom was chosen fifteenth general. Nonetheless, he was a part of the Mark Stone commerce that despatched him to the Senators. Since then, he has been unable to discover a safe spot within the lineup. Taking part in 266 video games, with seven targets and 62 assists for 69 factors, was deemed inadequate for the Senators to increase him a qualifying supply, thus touchdown him with the Avalanche.
What Can Brannstrom Carry to the Crew?
He could have a wonderful alternative to refine his sport and play for a devoted workforce. The Avalanche are searching for top-notch defensemen who’re wonderful at transitioning the puck from protection to offense. Nonetheless, Brannstrom could seem smaller on the ice attributable to his 5-foot-10 body, which is comparatively petite. Samuel Girard stays a key participant on the Avalanche protection, who can also be 5-foot-10, so if Brannstrom joins this group, the considerations about them being too small on sure defence pairings would possibly turn into an element. Offensively, he’s a wonderful playmaker with a high-end transition sport, who positive factors the zone at a excessive price. As a participant identified for his offensive abilities, he hasn’t scored a lot, with a career-high of 20 factors set final season.
Defensively, he’s proficient at retrieving pucks and shifting them rapidly. He’s additionally efficient at defending close to his blue line. Nonetheless, he lacks physicality and infrequently overpasses, resulting in a number of turnovers at each ends of the ice. He has solely performed greater than 70 video games twice, so he nonetheless has numerous room to develop, particularly in a greater scenario. The Senators restricted his enjoying time in opposition to robust opponents, however that is the function he’ll doubtless have with the Avalanche.
Associated: Colorado Avalanche Day 1 Free Company Grades & Evaluation
Final 12 months, Brannstrom was barely above common in his offensive play-driving, however his defensive suppression was excellent. He isn’t and can by no means be a bodily bruiser like Josh Manson and Calvin de Haan, however he’s a puck-moving predominant participant, and his versatility permits him to play on both aspect of the ice regardless of being left-handed. This implies the Avalanche can deploy him both on the left or proper aspect, which helps shift the traces if wanted or if somebody will get harm, and gained’t affect his sport as a lot as different defensemen.
Brannstrom’s Ice Time Will Be Earned Not Given
He’ll doubtless play on the appropriate aspect alongside de Haan on the reconstructed third pairing. Brannstrom might want to adapt rapidly, as Sam Malinski is keen to take over if Brannstrom struggles. Nonetheless, this is a superb alternative for each the Avalanche and Brannstrom.
He’ll profit from the steadiness of a corporation that is aware of what it’s doing, and the Avalanche will acquire a low-salaried participant who’s more likely to exceed expectations based mostly on his contract. He might want to present he could be an elite defender on this league who can take over video games with abilities that also have room to develop.
This shall be a difficult season for the Avs’ bottom-pairing defensemen as many had been signed, and loads of younger, promising blueliners within the system wish to make their method into the lineup. Malimski was already famous, however gamers like Sean Behrens, Saige Weinstein, and in the future Mikhail Gulyayev, who’re nonetheless a bit younger however might earn a spot sooner or later, might be prepared to indicate that they need to be getting that beginning spot over him. Brannstrom shall be 25 in September, and if all goes properly, this relationship might lengthen past only one 12 months.
