Over the last few days, the online community has been buzzing with heated exchanges over Erik Brannstrom.
It’s a good reminder of the passion of Sens fans but also it makes me long for a return to the post-season.
While other fan bases are enjoying the unique combination of excitement and terror that comes with cheering on your team in the playoffs, we’re debating the future of our third defence pairing. Six months out from an actual hockey game.
Anyway, my point is, Erik Brannstrom rules and anyone who says otherwise is a damn fool! Okay, perhaps it’s a little more complicated than that.
What is clear though, is that after the way he played in the second half of the season, there is absolutely a spot for him on this team next season.
The now 23-year old defenceman is coming off his best season in the NHL. And it ain’t close. Offence was still a struggle at times but it was his play in his own end of the rink that turned heads. Especially for a smaller player. He generally knows where to be on the ice and unlike his first couple seasons in the show, he’s learning how to use a combination of good positioning and active stick to make up for a lack of size.
While his numbers don’t exactly jump off the page (18 points in 74 games), you could see that he was gaining confidence with the puck on his stick as the year rolled along. He looked like a different player down the stretch.
If there was any doubt about his future with the team, the General Manager with an uncertain future of his own put that to rest in his season-ending remarks. Something along the lines of, obviously we’re going to sign Erik Brannstrom, was the quote. DJ Smith had similar praise for Brannstrom, singling him out as one of the players that took a big step this year.
Expectations have always been out of whack for Brannstrom. His own General Manager didn’t exactly do him any favours in the early going but even before he came to Ottawa, Brannstrom was viewed as one of the top prospects not playing in the NHL.
It will be interesting to see how the Senators navigate contract talks with Brannstrom and his agent this summer. He’s still an RFA so Ottawa definitely has some leverage here but it’s worth noting that he is eligible for arbitration, should the two sides not be able to reach common ground in negotiations.
Another one or two-year deal makes a lot of sense.
A quick look at the depth chart suggests that Brannstrom should have a spot on next year’s blueline. Thomas Chabot, Jakob Chychrun, Jake Sanderson and Artem Zub have those top four spots locked up but after that, there are some openings.
Some combination of Brannstrom, Travis Hamonic and Jacob Bernard-Docker are likely to battle it out for ice time next year. Tyler Kleven looked comfortable in his audition but you would think they want him to put in some time in Belleville to start.
There was a time not long ago when Brannstrom’s future with the organization was uncertain at best. But on the heels of his best season yet it’s no longer a question of whether or not he’ll crack the NHL roster but rather, just how much better is he going to get.
Six months to go.
