Swedish defenseman Erik Brännström, aged 25, has inked a three-year deal with Head Coach Lausanne, a team competing in Switzerland’s National League, as announced on Monday. Lausanne’s sports director, John Fast, expressed enthusiasm about acquiring Brännström, highlighting his mobility, offensive skills, and versatility that mark him as a modern, well-rounded defender and a valuable asset for the team.
Brännström, who has been playing in North America since 2018, had been widely speculated to be moving to Switzerland. Hailing from Ekjo, Sweden, he developed through junior hockey and turned pro with HV71 near Yongkopi. Drafted 17th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, he was later traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2019 in a multi-player deal that brought Mark Stone to Vegas.
From 2019 to 2024, Brännström maintained a steady career, playing primarily for the Ottawa Senators with occasional assignments to their AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators. However, the recent season was tumultuous for him, involving multiple transfers: signed by the Colorado Avalanche as a free agent, traded to the Vancouver Canucks before the season, then moved to the New York Rangers and later to the Buffalo Sabres without appearing in NHL games for the latter two teams. His NHL statistics include 77 points and 162 penalty minutes over 294 regular-season games.
Joining Lausanne, one of Switzerland’s top teams, Brännström aims to help under Coach Geoff Ward—last season’s Coach of the Year—secure a championship after the team consistently reached the finals but fell short, losing recently to the ZSC Lions. Alongside Brännström, Lausanne has bolstered their roster with notable signings including goaltenders Connor Hughes and Antoine Keller, as well as players like Austin Czarnik, Dominik Kahun, and Finnish talents Janne Kuokkanen, Antti Suomala, Lauri Pajuniemi, and Lauri Niku.
Additionally, Canadian-Swiss goalie Connor Hughes, 28, has committed to Lausanne on a five-year contract, further strengthening the squad.
Fan Take: This signing signals Lausanne’s serious intent to dominate the Swiss National League and raises the profile of European hockey by attracting seasoned NHL talent. For hockey fans, Brännström’s move illustrates the growing appeal of European leagues as competitive alternatives and showcases the global nature of the sport’s talent movement.
