The current NHL trend is to build a defence corps around mobile, puck-moving defenders that can drive play from their own end, all the way to the offensive zone. In this year’s draft those prospects seem to be coming from Finland, but Sweden’s Erik Brännström is one of those special players, and a standout talent in his own right.
He was one of the best Swedish defenders in terms of offence while playing in the Swedish junior league for HV71, producing at over a point per game in his draft year. His strong play earned him a call-up to the senior squad, where he more than held his own against a higher level of competition.