It has been a rocky start for the Vancouver Canucks out of the gate for this 2024-25 season. The club has lost three straight games to start the season, allowing 13 goals. With so many new faces on the backend, there has been a lot of shuffling of pairings to find who gels together. However, reinforcements look to be on their way.
RinkWide Vancouver’s Irfaan Gaffar shared what he’s hearing, that Erik Brannstrom would be joining the Canucks in Florida.
Sounds like Erik Brännström will be joining the Canucks in Florida. Played in two games for the Abbotsford Canucks after being acquired in a trade with Colorado.
— Irfaan Gaffar (@irfgaffar) October 16, 2024
Then, Chek TV’s Rick Dhaliwal confirmed this on his hit show with Don Taylor, Donnie & Dhali – The Team. “The Canucks have called up a defenceman this morning from Abbotsford, Erik Brannstrom.”
Brannstrom was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in a move that sent a 2025 fourth-round pick and Tucker Poolman’s $2.5 million LTIR money the other way. The Swedish defenceman has plenty of NHL experience, suiting up in 266 games, registering seven goals and 62 assists for 69 points with a minus-13 rating.
Once he was acquired, Brannstrom was placed on waivers for an AHL assignment. In just two games in Abbotsford, the left-shot defenceman impressed with his moves and stick handling while registering three assists.
Erik-Dängles-Brännström at it again. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/NdH2rEoBsC
— Dave Hall (@davehall1289) October 13, 2024
Dhaliwal added what he’s hearing about where Brannstrom would stack up in this current Canucks blue line.
“Canucks issues are clearly on the right side. I’ve been told this morning, Brannstrom can play the right side. He is a lefty, but he can play on the right side.”
Vincent Desharnais has been a healthy scratch for the previous two games after a difficult outing in the season opener, where he finished with a minus-two rating. Noah Juulsen replaced him in the lineup the last two games, but a costly turnover led to a goal against last night. If Brannstrom succeeds on the right side, he will bring an added layer of puck-moving and high-end skating ability to the bottom pairing,
The former 15th overall pick in the 2017 draft will join his new team on this road trip, with a chance to make his Canucks debut as early as Thursday against the reigning Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
