Toronto Maple Leafs 2017 NHL Draft Preview: No. 21 Erik Brannstrom
By Austin Owens
As the Toronto Maple Leafs and the rest of the NHL prepare for the draft, we look at Erik Brannstrom. The Swedish defender didn’t have a first-round grade in many rankings at the beginning of the year, but after a strong season, he’s starting to prove people wrong.
The 2016 draft had several headlining players that controlled the main portion of the coverage in North America. This was particularly true north of the border, as the Toronto Maple Leafs and every other Canadian team failed to reach the playoffs.
This summer will be a different story. Further, there has been a lot of movement in the draft rankings over the course of the season.
On Monday, we looked at Kristian Vesalainen. Today, we profile Erik Brannstrom, who is the 21st-ranked prospect on our board.
Brannstrom has come up through the HV71 system his entire career, starting with the U-16 team in 2013-14 and culminating in his first season in the SHL this year.
Although he had a 19-game stint with the J20 team (where he had 23 points), Brannstrom spent the majority of the season with the top squad, where he played 35 games. He finished with just six points, but only took one penalty the entire season.
Here’s what Sportsnet‘s Jeff Marek had to say about Brannstrom:
"NHL teams who favour a smart possession game will love Brannstrom. Undersized by traditional standards (5-foot-10, 179 pounds), but moves the puck great. At the Five Nations Tournament he played like every shift was his last and tried to make something happen every time he was out there. Scouts noticed"
Brannstrom was not a part of the HV71 team that won the SHL Championship. He played in the playoffs for the J20 team, where he averaged a point per game.
Additionally, Brannstrom made several appearances for Sweden this season. He first played at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, where he had three points — and 31 penalty minutes — in five games.
He also participated in the World U-18’s in April. He had five points in seven games for Sweden, who fell to the Russians in the bronze medal game:
Brannstrom signed an extension with HV71 that goes until 2019. He’s another player slated in the first round that will play overseas for a year or two, before he comes over to play pro in North America.
He’s a smaller bodied defender, but he’s been in the conversation to go before 20 depending on how the draft shakes out. He could be another solid product from the SHL.
Next: Leafs' 2017 NHL Draft Preview: Michael Rasmussen
What’s your take on Brannstrom? Do you agree with the current projection that he will be drafted 21st overall, or is this too high or low? Further, what kind of career are you predicting for him in the NHL? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.