BRENDAN BRISSON

2024-07-24

Scout: Puneet Sharma

Skating:

His skating is average, although it has improved since being drafted however

Passing/Handling:

In slower-paced scenarios, he displays skillful maneuvering and strategic offensive zone play

Shooting:

excels in one-timer accuracy and hand skills

IQ (Vision, Anticipation, Panic/Poise):

Strong IQ and anticipation which helps in compensating for deficiencies in skating

Forechecking:

He can at times show a lack of competitiveness but when he has all gears running he has the tools to be a high-level, 200-foot player

Defense:

He is strong on the back check. As a center he seems to be trailing behind the play at times.

Best Asset:

Brisson’s standout trait is his shot. He has a quick release that allows him to score from a variety of areas in the offensive zone, but he often elects to stand in the faceoff circle where he opens himself up for one-timer opportunities.

Biggest Concern:

Lack of competitiveness at times.

Top Tier/Role Potential:

Potential to be a top six forward but more likely will be a middle six.

Justification for Top Tier Assessment:

He has all of the skills, talent and ability to play a full 200-ft game. He just needs to leave all of his competitive drive on the ice.

50th Percentile Tier/Role:

I think he will get the opportunity to break in as a middle-six this season and show what he has.

Justification for 50th Percentile Tier Assessment:

Based on the logjam in Vegas, he’s more poised to be a middle six forward but he definitely has the potential, skill and talent to push his way up to the top six – considering how often Vegas players get injured

Stylistic Comparable:

Alexis Lafrenière

---

2024-07-11

Scout: Grant Campbell

Skating:

Lysell has a very quick first few steps, then has a bit of a choppy stride to get up to full speed. Acceleration is above-average, but overall speed is just average. His first few steps allow him to create space in tight areas as he is strong on his feet.

Passing/Handling:

Lysell has above-average passing on both his forehand and backhand and stickhandles well in tight. Passing and handling the puck are what will get him to the NHL.

Shooting:

He has an accurate wrist shot, but he's not going to overpower goalies at the AHL or NHL level with his shot.

IQ (Vision, Anticipation, Panic/Poise):

He has above-average vision with the puck on his stick and will usually find the open teammate with a nice pass. His anticipation is slightly above average as he keeps his head on a swivel when he's without the puck and he gets in the way of the puck quite often. He has very good poise with the puck in his own end or in the OZ.

Forechecking:

Forechecking is the weakest parts of Lysell's game as he relies on his two linemates to do it. It just isn't his game and could hurt his ability to stay in the NHL for any length of time.

Defense:

Lysell has decent positioning in his own end, but can cheat at times when leaving the zone. He will need to get pucks deep when entering the offensive zone, as he likes to carry the puck in, which might not translate well to the NHL. After two years in the AHL, his defense is passable but certainly not a strength.

Best Asset:

As mentioned above, his passing and handling of the puck are his strengths. He has the ability to control the play in the other teams zone and could be an important cog of any team's power play. He will get a chance on the power play in the NHL at some point.

Biggest Concern:

lack of physical engagement, non-existent cycle game, can forget to move his feet

Top Tier/Role Potential:

top-six winger and playing on the first unit of the power play. Could be a Tier 3 forward. No BASH

Justification for Top Tier Assessment:

He has the passing and handling skills to work with better players when he is skating and putting in an effort. He will need to find the right chemistry to reach his potential.

50th Percentile Tier/Role:

Top AHL forward, but no place in the NHL as a bottom six forward.

Justification for 50th Percentile Tier Assessment:

He would need to develop some better defensive traits and perhaps a little more of a physical, cycling game to become a bottom-six winger in the NHL. He could be a boom or bust top-six forward.

Stylistic Comparable:

has a similar skating style to Cody Hodgson and much the same puck handling and passing abilitiies.

Scouts Final Thoughts and Additional Stats/Info:

His style of skating and play remind me so much of Cody Hodgson who was the 10th overall pick in 2008. Hodgson had some underlying healthy issues, but he peaked at 20 goals and 44 points with some power play time in 2013-14. Hodgson had a much better shot, so I see Lysell with a lower ceiling in goals, but perhaps more assists.

Games Scouted:

01/06/24 AHL; 03/03/24 AHL; 05/08/24 AHL

---

2023-08-25

Scout: Brandon

Skating

Brisson is a rather textbook, though ordinary skater as he has no glaring mechanical issues but also isn’t dynamic and explosive.

He gets around the ice well enough and ends up where he ought to be positionally.

He has an aggressive hustle if in pursuit of the puck carrier and this is used either on the forecheck or to apply pressure when the opponent is trying to break the puck out.

Passing/Handling

Brisson is a delicate puck handler with a light touch.

He is not known to hold onto the puck and carry it beyond one zone but would rather move the puck deliberately and accurately to free himself up to get into open spaces/lanes.

He is the “and” in “give-and-go”.

If holding on to the puck, he is prone to slowing the play down a notch or two to match his tempo.

He will patrol the area around the O-zone blueline looking to pick off breakout pass attempts.

Shooting

Brisson possesses a whippy and accurate wrist shot.

His one-timers and one-touch shots are crisp and pack some punch, though he could stand to dial in his accuracy to hit the net more often.

Displayed the ability to shoot at full speed off the rush.

Tends to position himself as a potential pass target in the mid to high slot.

Would like to see him develop more plays on his own accord instead of relying on others to do so. This would allow him to unleash his shot more often.

IQ (Vision, off/def anticipation, panic meter)

Brisson tends to circle around and near the play to observe the happenings, looking to capitalize in a bounce or a pass in his favour.

He will activate to help out if the puck is caught up in a scrum along the boards, though is more comfortable hovering a stick length away as that gives him the most flexibility to adapt.

He can seem a bit too lax in his posture as he glides around assessing the scene. Doesn’t visually appear to be a threat to pounce on the play/puck.

Forechecking

Brisson provides a willingness to take initiative and provide disruptive pressure as F1, especially during the moments where the opponent is trying to set up a breakout.

While he doesn’t really use his body to separate the puck from the carrier, he does engage physically and finishes the vast majority of his checks.

His forecheck game isn’t based on deep puck retrievals but applied as a way to force decision making and hopefully errors in the opponent's puck movement and handling.

Defense (Rush and in-zone)

Willing to contribute to scrums along the boards, though is often seen in a spatially supportive role.

Used as a short range outlet pass option that can one-touch the puck to a teammate building up steam.

Best Asset

Supportive, adaptive, and opportunistic positioning.

Biggest Concern

Reliance on teammates to do most of the heavy lifting and play generation.

Top Tier/Role Potential (and why)

Top 6 supportive winger with a scoring touch.

High-slot dual-threat bumper role on the PP.

20-30 goals, 60-70 points.

SOG potential has a wide range of variance depending on linemate qualities.

Though he plays physical, might not provide many HITS as he doesn’t often use his body to knock the puck loose.

50th percentile Tier/Role (and why)

Middle 6, opportunistic scorer, 30-40 points.

Could provide a scoring threat on a depth/checking line if paired with aggressive forechecking puck retrievers.

Stylistic Comparable

Sergei Samsonov crossed with Brock Boeser.

Games Scouted:

2022-11-15

Henderson Silver Knights (7) vs. Tucson Roadrunners (1)

Notable Stats: 1 G, 1 A, 1 SOG, 0 HIT, 1 BLK, 14:32 TOI

2023-01-22

Henderson Silver Knights (3) vs. Colorado Eagles (4)

Notable Stats: 1 G, 1 A, 2 SOG, 0 HIT, 0 BLK, 20:13 TOI

2023-04-15

Henderson Silver Knights (4) vs. Ontario Reign (1)

Notable Stats: 1 G, 1 A, 3 SOG, 0 HIT, 0 BLK, 15:10 TOI