Knights draft defenseman Erik Brannstrom 15th overall
The Vegas Golden Knights added Erik Brannstrom to their prospect pool, drafting the Swedish blue-liner 15th overall at the 2017 NHL Entry Draft on Friday.
Erik Brannstrom
Position: Defense
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 179 lbs
Age: 17
Club: HV71 (SHL)
Nationality: Sweden
| GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
If you covet mobility on your blue line, Brannstrom is your guy, and the Knights appear to have added a legitimate piece to their prospect pool.
Just 17 years of age, Brannstrom is undersized, but has plenty of time to grow and develop. Though his numbers in the SHL aren't particularly eye-popping, Brannstrom also played 19 games as captain of HV71 J20 of the SuperElit league, where he logged 23 points in 19 games against players his own age.
Brannstrom was the ninth-ranked European skater according to NHL Central Scouting heading into the draft, and while he might not be ready to immediately make the jump to the NHL, his skating, intuition, and offensive skills - as evidenced in the video below - show he has the makings of a prosperous future in the pros.
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