Avalanche make sneaky good addition with defender

The Colorado Avalanche have had a fairly quiet offseason. While this is the case, they have added to their depth by bringing in a few depth players like Calvin de Haan, Parker Kelly, and Erik Brannstrom. The player who Avalanche fans should be keeping the closest eye on out of this trio is Brannstrom.

Brannstrom, 24, is a former top prospect who has had decent seasons but has never become a top-four defenseman. While this is the case, it is still possible for him to take another step forward in his development, as he is still only 24 years old.

Brannstrom was also long overdue for a change of scenery from the Ottawa Senators. He was the subject of trade rumors with the Senators for multiple seasons and never found a new home. Yet, he has now gotten just that with the Avalanche.

When looking at the Avalanche's current defense, Brannstrom should be put in a position to succeed. Due to his ability to play both sides, he has an excellent chance of being a regular on their bottom pairing next season. In addition, due to this offensive upside, he should get some reps on their power play.

Ultimately, there is no risk in the Avalanche taking a shot on a promising young player like Brannstrom. He is only signed for the 2024-25 campaign and has an affordable $900,000. If he thrives playing with the Avalanche's stars and takes a step forward, this signing could become a big-time steal. It will be intriguing to see what happens on that front from here.

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