2569X1444 news release-EN

OTTAWA - The Ottawa Senators (@Senators) announced today that they have acquired one of the NHL's top prospects in Erik Brannstrom, along with centre Oscar Lindberg and a second-round pick in the 2020 draft (previously acquired from the Dallas Stars) from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Mark Stone and minor league forward Tobias Lindberg.

Brannstrom will be assigned to the Senators' American Hockey League affiliate, the Belleville Senators, while Lindberg is expected to join Ottawa for its game in Washington tomorrow.

"Erik Brannstrom is the top defence prospect in the game; simply a dynamic talent who will be a major component of our future," said general manager Pierre Dorion. "He was undoubtedly the best prospect available at the trade deadline and in addition to his talent, he is a natural born leader. We could not be more excited to look at the future of having Erik join the other young prospects in the Senators organization. He'll be a cornerstone player of our rebuild."

"We made every effort to sign Mark Stone, who was a fine player and great person for our organization. Mark will be missed. Knowing that, this deal returns a young player who our fans will love for many years to come."

Meet the new Ottawa Senators

Erik Brannstrom :Branstrom, 19, is in the midst of his first professional hockey season with Vegas' American Hockey League affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. An AHL all-star as a rookie, he has registered 28 points (seven goals, 21 assists) and 36 penalty minutes in 41 games. He also appeared in five pre-season games with the Golden Knights this season and earned four points (two goals, two assists) which tied for the team lead among defencemen.

The 5-10, 173-pound native of Eksjö, Sweden was originally Vegas' third first-round selection (15th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft. Brannstrom spent the majority of his three previous campaigns skating for HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League with whom he recorded 21 points (three goals, 18 assists) over 82 games. His two goals and 13 assists in 44 games ranked second among all teenaged defencemen in SHL scoring during the 2017-18 season.

Internationally, Brannstrom most recently participated in the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship in Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. where he captained Team Sweden to a perfect 4-0 preliminary round record, while also leading all tournament defencemen in scoring with four goals in five games. At the conclusion of the tournament he was recognized as an IIHF Media All-Star on defence. A highly decorated international skater, he has also medaled at the 2018 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship, 2016 IIHF U18 World Junior Championship and 2015 IIHF U17 World Hockey Challenge.

Oscar Lindberg :Lindberg, 27, has been skating in his sixth professional season (his second with the Vegas Golden Knights) and fourth full year in the National Hockey League. A native of Skelleftea, Sweden, Lindberg has tallied 12 points (four goals, eight assists) and 24 penalty minutes in 35 games.

Phoenix's second of two second-round selections in the 2010 NHL Draft (57th overall), Lindberg has recorded 71 points (34 goals, 37 assists) and 113 penalty minutes over the first 232 games of his NHL career with the N.Y. Rangers and Vegas. He has also skated in 17 NHL post-season contests registering five points (three goals, two assists) and six penalty minutes.

A 6-1, 202-pound centre, Lindberg helped Team Sweden win a gold medal at both the 2013 and 2017 IIHF World Hockey Championships over which he recorded four points (one goal, three assists) in 15 games.
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