TORONTO, ON - FEBRUARY 17: Erik Brannstrom #26 of the Ottawa Senators skates during the warm-up prior to playing against the Toronto Maple Leafs in an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on February 17, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Senators 2-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
Starting the season in Ottawa following a successful loan in Switzerland and training camp, Erik Brannstrom had an uneven season, sometimes due to no fault of his own.
D.J. Smith struggled to trust Brannstrom and was quick to insert veterans Braydon Coburn and Josh Brown into the lineup instead of the obviously more talented and evidently better option.