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Scouting the 2017 Draft: Erik Brannstrom; could a left-handed D be right for us?

Erik Brannstrom is viewed by many in the hockey world as a versatile mobile defensemen with offensive upside. Praised for his skating ability and passing, Brannstrom helped HV71 claim the SHL Championship this season (he is also the teammate of my previous scouting profile subject, Lias Andersson). He hasn’t skyrocketed up the draft boards as the season has progressed, but he has gained more attention as the year has gone by.

Brannstrom’s offensive numbers with HV71 do not jump at you (35GP-1G-5A-6P), but it should be noted that in the SHL (and KHL) young players like Brannstrom (who was 17 playing against grown men) are usually not given the ice time they deserve.