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Everytime I watch him, he seems to do pretty well. And he seems to display a pretty good skill level. Why is this guy getting scratched all the time? He must be a lockerroom problem / not work hard enough or something. Anybody have any dirt on this guy? There must be something about him off the ice that's causing him to not be a regular on the ice.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8460743#&navid=nhl-keymatch 14 games, 1 goal and 4 assists for Tomas Holmstrom. http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8460743#&navid=nhl-keymatch 11 games, 1 goal and 2 assists for Todd Bertuzzi. I can't believe people will post "What's wrong with Datsyuk" and "What's up with Zetterberg" threads all day long and leave these two WASTES OF SPACE alone. Bertuzzi and Holmstrom are the biggest problem cases on the Red Wings right now, and imo, are keeping the team from developing the players they will need to make a run in this year's playoff. They are both 5-7 years past their primes, and 2-3 years past their effectiveness limit. Why is it that these two guys, who can't open up a square inch of ice, consistently see time with our big guns and drag them down, but a guy like Helm who can open up the whole rink can't sniff a shift with Hank? To me, this is the biggest problem with the Red Wings. The GM has invested in two guys who skate like they're on one leg, and the coach isn't willing to put them in the stands. "But Homer can't be effective without a top line center." HE ISN'T EFFECTIVE PERIOD. The Red Wings need to stop pretending it's 2002. Pavel and Hank need SPEED. They aren't 21 and 23 anymore. Get them some guys who can skate and open up the ice, already.

IAN :siren:

WHITE!! :siren: :siren:

Will never get tired of seeing Lids and Homer connect like that. Beauty.

You're trying too hard. This bulls*** of yours jumped the shark several posts ago.

BEAUTIFUL deflection by Homer. Textbook.

Finally something we agree on. We're both eternally grateful that you're not Jesus. I'm also glad you're not Crosby. Welcome back, Sid. I wish you good health and a good butt-kicking by the Wings every time you face them.

Bob Errey, is that you?

Smith gave the puck away to Vlasic, Vlasic scored, and it's Ericsson fault because he makes more money and isn't a rookie? Umm, that makes sense. Using that logic, why not blame Howard? He makes more money than both of them combined.

I agree he needs to use his size better, but it's funny how much more grief he gets for it than Kindl, who never really fights (not counting getting tuned up by Benn recently) and is even less physical than E. Ericsson is 6'4" 221 lbs. Kindl is 6'3" 216. They both should be knocking guys around out there.

No, you're not. I'm sure it comes off like I love the guy but honestly I just don't think he sucks, which compared to the prevailing opinion here probably looks like worship. He's overpaid and likely won't improve enough to earn his contract this season, but he's been playing solid defense, stepped up his physical play, and has the occasional Rafalski-worthy breakout pass like he had to Bert the other night. He's taken a few bad penalties, but like I said in the GDT, when he took one the other night clearing the crease, I'm okay with it. At least half the time the refs would let that go. He's definitely using his size more and makes sure to step in between Howard and whatever forward is trying to get in his face at the end of the play. He still needs to figure out how to get his slapshot off quicker. And I'd love for him to start blocking shots, since almost no one on this team does these days. But that may be asking a bit much.

Am I the only one who thinks E hasn't been that bad? Sure he still makes some boneheaded plays but it looks like he is playing a much safer game out there and not taking as many risks. He is also stepping up the physical game as i've seen him step up for some big hits and has had a couple good ones recently. All he needs to do now is not stand around with his dick in his hand in front of the net and clear the crease better.

Oh, please.

As a note to those who dislike the "blind hatred" of f***head up there, if you don't like that there are people here who dislike him, either suck it up and accept that hey, a lot of people don't like the guy, or go post on LetsGoPens, where there will NO "blind hatred" of Sir ******-a-Lot. Choice is yours.

It's got to be more than this.

Refresh my memory, but wasn't it Brendan Smith who gave the puck away to Vlasic for him to score? Why is it Ericsson getting the hate? What about Zetterberg who looked clueless out there, or Datsyuk and Lidstrom missing their assignment and giving Sharks a short handed goal? Ericsson is just easier to blame? Smith is a complete bonehead, Dastyuk has no heart, Zetterberg is clueless, Lidstrom is looking old and washed up. Lets blame Ericsson!!!

I was actually just quoting you, pointing out your hypocrisy. Apparently negativity and player bashing is acceptable when it's someone you don't like. I'm touched that you went and dug up my old posts though. It's good to know my hard work doesn't go unnoticed. Yes he was. Watch the replay. Vlasic wasn't his man. He helped out Helm, then went over to the slot and was watching Desjardin and Murray. He shouldn't have gone to the left side of the net because Helm was covering that, ineffectively. Like I said, Ericsson was about #4 on the list of responsibility for that goal. Helm got overpowered inthe corner, Hudler and Smith looked confused as to who had who, Hudler lets Vlasic skate away unchecked behind the net, then Helm didn't cover the left side of the net well. For Ericsson to be at the left side of the net he would've run into Helm, been guilty of running around in his own end, and left two players wide open in the slot. It wasn't his responsibility. I'd put Hudler most at fault, for peeling off his coverage of Vlasic, I'm guessing because he thought Smith would pick him up. Still, he shouldn't have let the puck carrier go unchecked behind the Wings net. It was lazy defensive play on his part.

That's exactly what it will be, which is almost certainly why you created it. I guess it's easier just to be negative than be optimistic. And on the play you mention, Hudler, Helm and Smith did a poor job covering their assignments and got outworked or outmuscled. Yet you key in on Ericsson, who was actually moving to the slot to cover Desjardins and Murray after he went over to help Helm. Ericsson is overpaid and likely won't earn his contract, but if you're going to rip on his play, that goal is a poor choice because he's about 4th in line for being responsible. Edited because I couldn't spell Desjardins.

It's a little scary when I find myself agreeing with Burke. Years ago when the league was still discussing the trapezoid rule, Buccigross wrote a column about it. I emailed him saying I thought the simple solution was just to make goalies fair game outside the crease. Don't want them playing the puck? Then don't go far from home. He actually replied and made several good points similar to Burke's. Goalies basically have anchors strapped to their legs which makes them a very easy target and at an unfair advantage to players. And that if the rule was that they were fair game, guys like Darcy Tucker (again this was a few years ago) would take every opportunity to crush goalies, which usually leads to all out melees on the ice and would be extremely disruptive to the game. Because even though it would be a legal hit, no team would stand for letting their goalie get run like that (except Buffalo, evidently). I have to agree given how many clean hits lead to fights these days. Lucic absolutely took the opportunity to run Miller. Like I said before, if Shanny wanted to keep more in line with his earlier rulings, I think this warranted a fine. Agree to disagree I guess, because you seem to be taking every piece of information about Miller's injury in the worst light. Waited to come out with it? Tattling to the media? Where do you get that players are setting a timetable for his return? In every player I can think of that's had a major concussion recently, they talk about how they can't even have a full effort workout until the doctor clears them. Then they need to get cleared again for contact in practice.

White is doing great. He's producing, he's gritty, and his diving face-block to save a goal will go down as one of the team's best plays this season. Yeah, because he's replacing Mr. "Hitting Machine" Brian Rafalski. Also, do feel free to rag on Holland for not finding an imaginary Rafalski replacement in last offseason's VERY DEEP free-agent pool.

I'll take White at his salary vs Raffi at his, Ian's pretty darn good with what he brings to the table. He moves the puck well, handles the puck well, loves to shoot, feeds nice passes and plays with passion. Not to mention consistency is his forte, Babs mentioned it last game when saying "he brings it every night". Ian White is playing like a #3-4 right now a #5-6, and I watched White play for years and never saw too much physical presence from the guy but he's certainly not affraid to go head first (pun intended) into the dirty places thats for sure. The physical presence on our D core would be Kronner, Big E, Commy and Stuart imo but White certainly could end up being our D's unsung hero by the end of this year

I've loved White's play, hes one of the few that actually pinch in and rotate the offense. He plays an offensive defenseman well. He may have pinched a couple times and let his man get past him, but he has Lidstrom with him to pick them up. He fits perfectly with Lidstrom.

WHITE POWER! Er...