Senators Need to Play Brannstrom or Trade Him

At the end of the 2020-21 season, it looked like Erik Brannstrom had finally secured a spot in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators. The key piece in the Mark Stone trade with the Vegas Golden Knights, he flourished in the Senators’ farm system, recording the highest point-per-game pace of any under-21 defender in 2019-20. Then, while the NHL was in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he scored eight points in 10 games in Switzerland’s National League while also being one of the youngest players on any team. Finally, when then the NHL returned in January, he put up 13 points in 30 games with Ottawa, which ranked fifth among defencemen on the team, and was one of the best all-around presences in puck possession. It was exactly what the Senators needed to transform their defence into an effective unit.

However, once the 2021-22 season began, Brannstrom was nowhere to be seen. After an admittedly OK training camp, the Senators assigned him to the AHL’s Belleville Senators with the belief that he needed more time to develop. While he was never going to be handed the position, especially after the addition of Michael Del Zotto and Josh Holden in the 2021 offseason. But even after not wowing scouts during the preseason, Brannstrom looked to be at least a top-six defender. Instead, the Senators sent him down without a second thought.

While some believe Brannstrom needs more development time in the minors to ensure he becomes a top defender, it’s clear that he deserves a spot in the NHL. The young Swede has the skills to improve the Senators shaky blue line, which is once again costing them wins this season. Yet, Ottawa seems hesitant to scratch any of their current defenders, which benefits nobody. With his entry-level deal expiring at the end of this season, Ottawa needs to either play Brannstrom and give him a role where they can see how he fits into the team, or ship him out to a franchise that will play him and get something back for a player they seemingly don’t want to keep.

Brannstrom Hasn’t Been Given a Fair Shot

On Feb 25, 2019, the Ottawa Senators traded Stone and Tobias Lindberg to the Vegas Golden Knights for Oscar Lindberg, a second-round pick in the 2019 draft, and former first-round pick Erik Brannstrom. It was a major step for the team, as Stone was one of the last stars on the roster after the Senators committed to a full-scale rebuild. Over the past five seasons, he scored at least 20 goals, and before the trade, he led the team with 28 goals and 62 points.

However, it won’t be a trade that looks good in hindsight, because if given the chance, Brannstom will blossom into a top-four puck-moving defender. That’s someone the Senators could really use right now, but it’s clear they don’t want to make space for him at this time. Yet, when looking over Ottawa’s depth chart, few players offer the same set of skills as him. Thomson is likely the most similar in terms of offensive potential, but he also has had a slow road to the NHL. Will he be the next victim of a team trying too hard to fix his weaknesses while ignoring his strengths?

The future is promising for the Senators’ defence. Sanderson is turning into a potential superstar defender at the University of North Dakota, and Bernard-Docker is proving he’s a top defensive defender. But if the Senators can’t figure out their current situation on the blue line, they’ll have a much harder time when those players are ready to take on a roster spot. Brannstrom can provide them with a bit of stability, especially on the offensive side, but he needs the opportunity. And at this point, it just doesn’t seem like he’s going to get it in Ottawa.