Ex-Vancouver Canucks Defenseman Reportedly Agrees to Multi-Year Deal in Europe
Photo credit: Bob Frid - USA TODAY Sports
A former Vancouver Canucks defenseman has reportedly agreed to a multi-year deal overseas starting in the 2025-26 season, ending his time in North America, for now.
While the 2024-25 campaign is still going on in North American and Europe, a number players have already begun planning for where they'll be suiting up next season and beyond.
Earlier this month, it was reported that former Vancouver Canucks defenseman Erik Brannstrom was heading to Europe for next season and it appears that the wheels are in motion to make that a reality.
Former Vancouver Canuck Erik Brannstrom reportedly signs in Switzerland
When that report came out in early April about Erik Brannstrom's plans to play in Europe, the only thing that was known at the time was that the blueliner wanted to play in Switzerland rather than his home country of Sweden.
"Erik Brannstrom is a known name in Switzerland, as he suited up for ten games with the SCL Tigers during the 2020-21 season. According to info gathered by Expressen, Brannstrom wants to return to Europe but in the National League rather than in his home country, i.e.. Sweden." SwissHockeyNews.ch said."
It looks like Brannstrom will indeed be heading to Switzerland, according to a report from Johan Svensson of Expressen on Monday.
Svensson says that the 25-year-old defenseman has agreed to terms on a three-year contract with National League club, Lausanne HC.
Brannstrom, a native of Eksjo, Sweden, has had quite an eventful 2024-25 season and has likely raked up quite a few Air Miles points following three trades since the start of October.
In early October, the Colorado Avalanche dealt Brannstrom to Vancouver for Tucker Poolman and nearly four months later, he was moved once again, this time to the New York Rangers in the J.T. Miller trade.
Brannstrom's trade to New York wasn't the last one this season, as the Rangers dealt him on Deadline Day to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Nicolas Aube-Kubel.
In 27 AHL games this season between Abbotsford, Hartford and Rochester, Brannstrom has registered 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists), 34 penalty minutes and was a plus-14, while also putting up eight points in 28 games with Vancouver.
With Brannstrom set to become a restricted free agent this summer, the Buffalo Sabres have a big decision to make - either issue him a qualifying offer to retain his rights if he returns from Europe OR don't issue him a qualifying offer and allow him to become a UFA.
It's probably safe to say that the latter option will probably be exercised by Buffalo Sabres General Manager Kevyn Adams.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 22 | 405 ANSWERS Ex-Vancouver Canucks Defenseman Reportedly Agrees to Multi-Year Deal in Europe Do you think Erik Brannstrom will return to North America following the 2027-28 season? | ||
| Yes | 98 | 24.2 % |
| No | 307 | 75.8 % |
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