The Vancouver Canucks have acquired defenseman Erik Brannstrom in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche. The team gave up defenseman Tucker Poolman (head) and a 2025 fourth-round draft pick in the transaction. Brannstrom joined the Avalanche as a free agent on a one-year, $900,000 contract in the summer after the Ottawa Senators didn't extend a qualifying offer to him. The 25-year-old has skated in 266 NHL games, posting 69 points (seven goals, 62 assists). He notched a career-high 20 points (three goals, 17 assists) in 76 games last term. Brannstrom is set to start the season in the AHL after he was waived right after the deal. Poolman missed the entire 2023-24 campaign with a head injury and has also been ruled out for 2024-25. The Canucks are retaining 20 percent of Poolman's salary in the deal.
Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Brannstrom scored his first goal of the season in his home country of Sweden in Saturday's 2-1 shootout victory against the Wild in the 2023 NHL Global Series. The 24-year-old defenseman scored the equalizer on a slap-shot in the early part of the third period while the entire unit of the Wild were going for a line change, and goaltender Anton Forsberg picked up an assist on the game-tying goal in the final frame. Brannstrom is not a recommended fantasy option outside of deep dynasty and keeper leagues as has recorded one point and a plus-two rating through 10 games, while playing on the third pairing with defenseman Travis Hamonic.
Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Brannstrom has been diagnosed with a concussion following his early exit from Thursday's matchup against the Islanders. He needed to be stretchered off the ice after absorbing a hit from Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck. Brannstrom has opened the season on Ottawa's third defensive pairing, logging nine shots, six blocks, and three hits across seven appearances with no points. The injury bug has hit the Senators backline hard early in the season, with Artem Zub (upper body) and Thomas Chabot (hand) also hurt. While Zub's return shouldn't be far away anymore, Chabot has been ruled out for at least four weeks, and Brannstrom will be sidelined indefinitely. The blue line is set to lean heavily on Jake Sanderson and Jakob Chychrun.
Erik Brannstrom Enjoys Three-Point Night Versus Montreal
Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Brannstrom posted his first career multi-point game with three assists in Wednesday's 5-1 victory over Montreal. He provided the helpers for Shane Pinto, Brady Tkachuk and Nick Paul. Connor Brown and Alex Formenton scored for Ottawa as well. Brannstrom has gotten a chance to log big minutes lately with power-play duty on the first unit and a spot on the second defensive pairing. He's picked up 12 points in 27 games this season with 39 shots, 23 hits and a plus-five rating. The Swedish blueliner is one of only three players on the team with a positive plus-minus after skating in at least 20 games. The Senators are streaking over the finish line with seven wins in nine games.
