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Drafting Ottawa Senators Players to Playoff Teams

By Jack Baines

Mar 1, 2021; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (left) and defenseman Thomas Chabot (72) celebrate after a second goal by right wing Drake Batherson (middle) against the Calgary Flames in the second period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2021; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (left) and defenseman Thomas Chabot (72) celebrate after a second goal by right wing Drake Batherson (middle) against the Calgary Flames in the second period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports /
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7th: Boston Bruins – Erik Brannstrom

Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Brannstrom (26) Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Brannstrom (26) Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports /

Much like Stützle, Brannstrom is not here because I think he’s the Sens’ 7th best player. Boston already acquired Mike Reilly from Ottawa at the deadline to shore up their blueline and while the situation isn’t as bad as when Jack Ahcan was playing on the top pair, Boston can’t keep giving Kevan Miller big minutes if they want to be serious contenders.

Brannstrom was up and down between Ottawa and the AHL this season and struggled early on, but after getting regular minutes after the trade deadline seemed to find another gear to his game. This isn’t about getting players for the future, so potential isn’t really what we’re considering here, but Brannstrom’s late-season form shows he might have even gotten better as the playoffs went on if he were given that chance.

After acquiring Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar from the Sabres, Boston is loaded upfront, so they’re one of the teams that can afford to draft for position here. If you want to say they should take Victor Mete here, I wouldn’t argue with you, but I’ve also already written two paragraphs on Brannstrom so it’s too late to change that now.

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