Breaking News - Senators reach agreement with free agent defenseman
Today the Ottawa Senators announced that they've come to terms with and have re-signed restricted free-agent defenceman Erik Brannstrom to a one-year, $900,000 contract.
Brannstrom was selected 15th overall in 2017 by the Vegas Golden Knights. Brannstrom was acquired by the Senators in a multi-player trade that sent Mark Stone to Vegas.
The 23-year-old had 14 assists in 53 games last season with the Senators. He also skated in nine AHL games with Belleville, recording one goal and two assists.
Senators General Manager Pierre Dorion spoke about his young defenseman:
As the main piece acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in the Mark Stone trade of 2019, Brannstrom was expected to become a legitimate difference-maker for the Senators' defense. Instead, he has struggled to stay in the lineup while not showcasing the elite offensive skill that many believed he had. In 116 NHL games since the trade, he has just two goals and 31 points.
Brannstrom is still just 23 years old, there is still time for things to around. Defenceman are known to take longer to develop. Pierre Dorion and company are hoping this is the year Brannstrom takes the next step. With all the great moves the Sens have made this off-season, they still haven't been able to land a top pairing defender. That's not for lack of trying. They appear to be one of the remaining teams in the Jakob Chychrun bidding war.
| POLL | ||
Do you still see Erik Brannstrom developing into a point producing defenceman? | ||
| Yes, he�s young and shown flashes of his potential | 21 | 35 % |
| No, lucky if he develops into a Top 6 | 23 | 38.3 % |
| Maybe not as many points but still a Top 4 | 16 | 26.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
