What story lines are you looking forward to most this season?

Well I for one hope Brannstrom sticks out like a sore thumb. I hope he pushes for a spot out of camp but I do prefer he start in Belleville. No reason why Belleville can't dominate this year. No point having Brann develop in a losing environment.

Losing environment is overrated imo. Get him nhl experience if he dominates the ahl and prep him for 2 years down the road when we're good.

I was listening to the interview with Wolanin from yesterday on tsn. That kid has a great attitude and seems very smart. I think he’s really going to try to outdo himself this year. Place himself in the top 4 and try to stay there. I really liked his playlast year. There’s a chance Brannstrom winds up on the right side when he makes the NHL. Pushing zaitsev down or if Demelo gets traded near the deadline(which would be a mistake IMO, I’d keep him)

By the end of the year
Chabot-demelo
Wolanin-Brannstrom
Lajoie-zaitsev
Boro-Jaros as extras or Borotraded with Hainsey at the deadline.

Love wolanin. Expect 40 points this year.

Troy Mann sounded really positive this morning. He knows he's going into the year with a stacked AHL team. Spoke about Brannstrom and had nothing but amazing things to say. Also said some really positive things about Davidsson and Batherson, and said he'd be disappointed if Brown didn't dominate this weekend.

Not sure I'd be thrilled with Brannstrom on the right side tbh but Brannstrom did say in his interview that they used him on the right in Chicago and in Sweden. He is more comfortable on the left side though. Is there potential that Brann is better than Chabot down the road?

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:Troy Mann sounded really positive this morning. He knows he's going into the year with a stacked AHL team. Spoke about Brannstrom and had nothing but amazing things to say. Also said some really positive things about Davidsson and Batherson, and said he'd be disappointed if Brown didn't dominate this weekend.

Not sure I'd be thrilled with Brannstrom on the right side tbh but Brannstrom did say in his interview that they used him on the right in Chicago and in Sweden. He is more comfortable on the left side though. Is there potential that Brann is better than Chabot down the road?

No. I don’t think their upsides are even comparable. Chabot is much better in my opinion. Think 80 points for Chabot, 65 for Brannstrom.

So Chabot is Karlsson/Burns level and Brannstrom is Krug level? I actually heard Krug is a very good Brannstrom comparable. Hell I'll take that on my second pairing.

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:So Chabot is Karlsson/Burns level and Brannstrom is Krug level? I actually heard Krug is a very good Brannstrom comparable. Hell I'll take that on my second pairing.

That's a bang on comparison for Brannstom IMO.

Sounds good to me. Then I expect he'll play his left side and Wolanin will be pushed to bottom pairing.

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:So Chabot is Karlsson/Burns level and Brannstrom is Krug level? I actually heard Krug is a very good Brannstrom comparable. Hell I'll take that on my second pairing.

In my opinion, exactly.

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:Troy Mann sounded really positive this morning. He knows he's going into the year with a stacked AHL team. Spoke about Brannstrom and had nothing but amazing things to say. Also said some really positive things about Davidsson and Batherson, and said he'd be disappointed if Brown didn't dominate this weekend.

Not sure I'd be thrilled with Brannstrom on the right side tbh but Brannstrom did say in his interview that they used him on the right in Chicago and in Sweden. He is more comfortable on the left side though. Is there potential that Brann is better than Chabot down the road?

I thought I heard that Brannstrom actually liked the right side.

Whatever works and gets us the best defence core tbh. If Brannstrom can learn to play both sides at any time that is a weapon that is great to have.

I think he'll play right at some point soon

He actually said he preferred the left side but doesn't have issues playing the right. He's done it before.

wprager wrote:He actually said he preferred the left side but doesn't have issues playing the right. He's done it before.

Yes, in Sweden and in Chicago. But he said he'd prefer the left. He's the first injury call-up especially if he can play both sides.

Chabot-De Melo
Wolanin-Zaitsev
Hainsey-Brannstrom
Extra: Jaros, Boro

Hainsey gone at deadline. De Melo re-signed for 2 years, Brann moves to left side paired with Boro full-time next season. JBD full-timer in 3 years, Lassi in 4. Pushes Jaros and/or Zaitsev out.

Chabot-JBD
Brann-Thomson
Wolanin-Zaitsev/Jaros

Does anyone else keep forgetting we have Hainsey and Zaitsev and Ennis...? Dear lord, how things have changed.

History has a way of repeating itself. Trading Ceci + for Zaitsev was such a near-sighted move that could bite us in the a$$ similar to Phaneuf. I see him being our 3rd pairing RHD in two seasons from now. I guess his contract isn't a complete albatross but they could have retained Ceci for one more year, traded him at the deadline, and waived Harpur. Connor Brown is a depth forward in Ottawa.

DefenceWinsChampionships wrote:History has a way of repeating itself. Trading Ceci + for Zaitsev was such a near-sighted move that could bite us in the a$$ similar to Phaneuf. I see him being our 3rd pairing RHD in two seasons from now. I guess his contract isn't a complete albatross but they could have retained Ceci for one more year, traded him at the deadline, and waived Harpur. Connor Brown is a depth forward in Ottawa.

Not a fan of the deal at all. But I remain uncertain about What Brown will bring.
Ottawa seems to value these 3rd liners a lot. They seem to draft them quite a bit.

I will defer to the experience and expertise of the people making these deals and hold off jugement 7ntil15-20 games.