Erik Brännstrom will forever be linked in Ottawa as the player acquired in exchange for Mark Stone back in 2019. Stone was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights in a deal that longtime owner Eugene Melnyk had been planning for a while. Brännstrom was the prized asset Ottawa gained in that trade, with GM Pierre Dorion calling it his proudest moment as a general manager. However, Brännstrom didn’t live up to the hype, struggling to match Stone’s NHL impact and eventually becoming a fringe NHL defenseman. Although he played over 70 games in consecutive seasons for Ottawa, the Senators chose not to keep him after 2023, and he began moving between teams, including the Vancouver Canucks, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers, and Buffalo Sabres during 2024-2025.
Eventually, Brännstrom signed a three-year deal with Lausanne HC in Switzerland’s top league, signaling an apparent end to his NHL career. Yet, his performance overseas has been a bright spot. In his first season in Switzerland, Brännstrom excelled, playing 30 games while leading defensemen with 13 goals and 25 points, ranking 10th overall in league scoring—surpassing several former Senators draft picks.
Meanwhile, some other former Senators, like Alex Formenton, have struggled to make an impact this season. Senators captain Brady Tkachuk made headlines with his playful antics during a game against the Montreal Canadiens, notably roasting a fan in a Grinch costume during warm-ups.
In terms of depth on the left side of defense, the Senators have new prospects such as Carter Jakemchuk, drafted in the first round, and the physically imposing Gabriel Eliasson. Ottawa’s management has preferred bigger defensemen, unlike the smaller Brännstrom, who stands at 5-foot-10. Despite not fitting Ottawa’s typical profile, Brännstrom’s success in Switzerland offers him a promising new chapter at age 26.
— Written by Steve Warne, Hockey News – Ottawa
Fan Take: Brännstrom’s journey from a highly-touted NHL prospect to finding success overseas shows the unpredictable nature of hockey careers and underlines the importance of perseverance. For fans, this highlights the global reach of the sport, where players can reinvent themselves and continue to thrive beyond the NHL spotlight.
