Looks like former Vancouver Canuck Erik Brännström may be headed back to Europe after seven years played in North America.

Per hockeynew.se, the 25-year-old defenceman, who last played in the NHL with the Canucks, is rumoured to be looking at a move to Switzerland’s National League to sign a long-term deal. Originally from Eksjö, Sweden, he played his way up through his home country’s development system in the HV71 franchise, a team based in nearby Jönköping. The report includes that Genève-Servette and HC Lugano are two Swiss teams with room in their rosters to add imports.

Brännström was first drafted 15th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL entry draft. His North American debut came with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves the following year where he had 28 points in 41 games, before he was dealt to the Ottawa Senators in early 2019 as part of the deal to acquire Mark Stone. He made his NHL debut with the Senators that March, playing two games before returning to their AHL affiliate in Belleville. The Swede spent the following five seasons with the Ottawa Senators, with a few short stints in Belleville over his first few years.

In late 2020, on loan from the Senators, Brännström played two months in Switzerland’s National League with the SCL Tigers, putting up eight points in ten games played.

Last summer, he became a free agent and signed a one-year $900,000 contract with the Colorado Avalanche. He was traded to the Canucks after training camp in exchange for defenceman Tucker Poolman and a 2025 fourth-round pick.

The 5’10, 181 lb. defenceman started the season in Abbottsford, but was called up in mid-October to fill Derek Forbort’s spot on the roster. He played 28 games with the Vancouver Canucks from October to December, registering three goals and eight points. Through his time in Vancouver, he was often left as a healthy scratch. In late January, Brännström was sent to the New York Rangers as part of the J.T. Miller deal, and was later traded to the Sabres, playing in the AHL with both franchises.

Despite early promise in Europe, his career in North America arguably never quite panned out how he probably would have wanted it to, with 77 points across his seven seasons in the NHL. Now after a chaotic season where he was traded three times, it looks like he’s turning back to his roots with the hopes of securing a more stable long-term deal in Switzerland.