Most likely scenario for Erik Brannstrom is trade by Ottawa Senators

Article content

Maybe it was wildly over-optimistic, call the early evaluation crazy, but, not so long ago, Erik Brannstrom was talked about by some as being the “next Erik Karlsson.”

Let that sink in … the “next Erik Karlsson.”

The Ottawa Senators and their fans are still waiting.

Brannstrom, who will become a restricted free agent July 1 if he isn’t given a $2-million qualifying offer by the Senators by 5 p.m. on June 30, has likely played his last game in Ottawa.

Article content

There’s a strong possibility the Senators move on from Brannstrom, whose high offensive ceiling seems to be in the rear-view mirror, and look for a trade. Oddly enough, Brannstrom has shown more in his own end of the ice.

Let’s look back.

Expectations were high for Brannstrom, the main piece of the return when the Senators grudgingly traded one of their leaders, Mark Stone, and forward Tobias Lindberg to the Vegas Golden Knights in February of 2019, getting a second-round selection in the 2020 NHL Draft along with the promising young Swede.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

At that time, Senators general manager Pierre Dorion called Brannstrom “the best defence prospect in the game.”

“Best defence prospect?”

The “next Erik Karlsson?”

Similarities between Karlsson and Brannstrom? Well, they share the same first name and Swedish homeland. It ends there. Erik Brannstrom is just trying to be Erik Brannstrom. What you see is what you get.

It was always going to be unfair to hope he would show the same offensive dynamics as Karlsson.

In his fifth campaign with Ottawa, the 24-year-old Brannstrom had an NHL career-best of 20 points (three goals and 17 assists) this season.

Article content

He’s undersized (listed as 5-foot-10, 185 lbs), but is decent enough at handling the puck and moving it out of his own zone. Faced with a shortage of forwards, the Senators deployed Brannstrom as a winger for a couple of games. Funnily enough, he seemed to have more impact as a winger, where he was able to show some offensive flair.

At the time, he made it clear where he preferred to line up.

“I’d rather play D,” he told reporters.

It’s not like he’s physical, he had just 46 hits. But he’s not afraid to get in front of the puck — he had 111 blocked shots this season.

So what is he? Is he a fit with the Senators at the right price? Or, is it time to move on, give him an opportunity elsewhere?

Maybe he’s just a decent-enough third-pairing defenceman — and that’s all right. It’s just not what the Senators expected they’d get when they dealt Stone.

At the time of the trade from Vegas, Dorion, who was sacked by the Senators early this season, said: “My words and maybe my actions can’t begin to show how elated I am. Erik Brannstrom is simply a dynamic talent who will be a major component of our future. He was undoubtedly the best prospect available at the trade deadline and in addition to his talent, he is a natural-born leader.”

Article content

“He’s going to be dynamic — his vision, his lateral movement, his skating ability,” then-Belleville Senators head coach Troy Mann said after the trade. “Like any 19-year-old, there’s plenty of things he needs to work on. As he grows and matures and becomes stronger and turns into a man, he’s going to be a dynamic player.”

George McPhee, the general manager of Vegas at the time of the trade, said: “He’s a really good, young player. We’ve drafted well enough to be able to do a deal like this.”

A couple of years later, with Brannstrom trying to find his NHL footing, Mann told The Athletic’s Ian Mendes: “He’s dealt with some nagging injuries, but a couple of his injuries were due to his compete level and how hard he plays. He’s a smallish defenceman, so if you can’t box out and defend, there are other things you need to do with your legs and feet to compensate for not being a 6-foot-4 defenceman.”

It was tough for the Senators to give up on Stone, who was set to become an unrestricted free agent. Ottawa had offered the winger an eight-year contract which was turned down.

Ottawa had several suitors as trade talks heated up. It was rumoured the New York Islanders had offered a first-round draft pick and winger Anthony Beauvillier for Stone. The Nashville Predators, Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets were all said to have made offers.

Article content

It has worked out nicely for Stone in Las Vegas. He agreed to an eight-year contract extension that pays him $9.5 million per season and was named the team’s captain early in 2021. While he has had some injury issues, he won a Stanley Cup with the Knights a year ago. 

Before being dealt by Vegas, Brannstrom (selected 15th overall in the 2017 NHL draft), had seven goals and 21 assists in 41 games with Chicago of the American Hockey League. The upside was real.

It was reported early this season the Senators explored dealing Brannstrom to clear cap space they needed at the time to sign centre Shane Pinto.

And now, maybe, the time for a change of scenery has come.

And somebody else can imagine him becoming the “next Erik Karlsson.”

Article content