haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted August 6, 2008 It's unfortunate that because of his contract and the Wing's cap situation, he could very well spend the whole season in GR instead of getting some ice tme in the lineup. If all contract situations were equal, I have a hard time believing Ericsson would be behind Quincey and Meech. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabura 12,232 Report post Posted August 6, 2008 Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart This is the Wings' top 4. Barring injuries, this will be the Wings' top 4 for as long as possible. At very best, Ericsson will play on the third pairing this season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RyanBarnes! 293 Report post Posted August 6, 2008 I have seen plenty of prospects come and go and once in a while you get that special feeling. Someone else might need to get injured but my gut feeling is that Ericsson will be playing Red Wings hockey this season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted August 6, 2008 You need to be objective. Ericcson has 8 total NHL games under his belt. He's not ready yet and Lebda and Lilja have little to no upside? If that's so, why would anybody want them in a trade? When I say that Lebda and Lilja have little to no upside I mean that they're pretty much at their peaks- they're as good as they're going to get. I'm not so sure I used upside correctly, but I always took it to refer to a predicted future increase in value based on untapped potential. In other words- (Current Datsyuk) - (Rookie Datsyuk) = (Rookie Datsyuk's Upside). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernWingsFan 854 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 It's unfortunate that because of his contract and the Wing's cap situation, he could very well spend the whole season in GR instead of getting some ice tme in the lineup. If all contract situations were equal, I have a hard time believing Ericsson would be behind Quincey and Meech. Exactly. This is largely about the waivers. If Ericsson didn't have any waiver options left to where other teams can just pluck him up like that, he'd be on the Wings full-time I think. This is not necessarily a bad thing though as you can never have enough defensive depth. 2006-07 playoffs showed this where injuries to a few defensemen played a significant part in getting the Wings eliminated in the WCF, and 2007-08 playoffs showed this to where all the defensemen were healthy more often than not which played a significant part in the Wings winning the SC. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eva unit zero 271 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 It's unfortunate that because of his contract and the Wing's cap situation, he could very well spend the whole season in GR instead of getting some ice tme in the lineup. If all contract situations were equal, I have a hard time believing Ericsson would be behind Quincey and Meech. In six games last season where both players played defense... Meech played more minutes four times. Meech was 0-2-2, -4 compared to Ericsson's 1-0-1, -3. Certainly hard to argue that Ericsson did more in their shared time, and Meech was the one getting more time during those six games so it's hard to say that the coaches felt Ericsson was helping the team more as he wasn't playing more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 In six games last season where both players played defense... Meech played more minutes four times. Meech was 0-2-2, -4 compared to Ericsson's 1-0-1, -3. Certainly hard to argue that Ericsson did more in their shared time, and Meech was the one getting more time during those six games so it's hard to say that the coaches felt Ericsson was helping the team more as he wasn't playing more. I don't think you can extrapolate a lot from a sample of 6 games, but even so their ice time was pretty close to one another with the exception of one game, I think. My guess is at this point they may have a little more faith in a Meech as a less talented D-man who has better decision making. Keeping it simple, not trying anything fancy. Meech is the more experienced at the moment, but Ericsson has way more upside, hence Bowman's comment and Babcock bringing up his name in a press conference that had nothing to do with him. "We have a kid named Ericsson, and I can't believe we don't dress him. I think he's going to be a stud in the league." — Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock (May 2008, USA Today). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 I don't think you can extrapolate a lot from a sample of 6 games, but even so their ice time was pretty close to one another with the exception of one game, I think. My guess is at this point they may have a little more faith in a Meech as a less talented D-man who has better decision making. Keeping it simple, not trying anything fancy. Meech is the more experienced at the moment, but Ericsson has way more upside, hence Bowman's comment and Babcock bringing up his name in a press conference that had nothing to do with him. "We have a kid named Ericsson, and I can't believe we don't dress him. I think he's going to be a stud in the league." — Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock (May 2008, USA Today). Snepts my man/woman, I have been looking for that quote to post in this thread for a day now and couldn't find it, you sir (or madam) are the Man (or Woman)! Pretty sure you are a guy, but in this world gone politically correct mad I had to cover all bases!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CanadaBoy 151 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 Woah who edited my title ? :battle: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dabura 12,232 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 (edited) My guess is at this point they may have a little more faith in a Meech as a less talented D-man who has better decision making. Keeping it simple, not trying anything fancy. Meech is the more experienced at the moment, but Ericsson has way more upside, hence Bowman's comment and Babcock bringing up his name in a press conference that had nothing to do with him. Pretty much. Bottom line, Meech is the safer pick between the two in terms of the here and now. Ericsson has the greater upside in the long run, but given the current blue line situation, management can afford to hold back on his top-6 debut until he's 101% ready. Which, really, is probably in his best interest anyway. Just a side comment about Babcock's praise: I wonder if that wasn't a fancy bit of pimping...as in, for potential suitors. Not that I honestly think management has any intention of dealing him. But you never know.... Edited August 7, 2008 by Dabura Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisdetroit 189 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 When I say that Lebda and Lilja have little to no upside I mean that they're pretty much at their peaks- they're as good as they're going to get. I'm not so sure I used upside correctly, but I always took it to refer to a predicted future increase in value based on untapped potential. In other words- (Current Datsyuk) - (Rookie Datsyuk) = (Rookie Datsyuk's Upside). I had to look it up. You are correct "upside" can mean either trending upward or having a positive aspect. I thought that you were saying that there was nothing positive about them but you meant that they wouldn't get any better. An advantageous aspect: the upsides and downsides of home ownership. An upward tendency, as in business profitability or in the prices of a stock. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chrisdetroit 189 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 I have seen plenty of prospects come and go and once in a while you get that special feeling. Someone else might need to get injured but my gut feeling is that Ericsson will be playing Red Wings hockey this season. I hope that you are right but alot of people (great hockey minds) had a good feeling about Eric Lindross too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 I hope that you are right but alot of people (great hockey minds) had a good feeling about Eric Lindross too. A concussion for every shift in the NHL is slightly different than not living up to expectations. Comparison = Fail Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 Ericcson won't be as amazing as people think. He was extremely nervous out there when he played. He needs to mature. He'll be a solid extra D-man this season, maybe the season after he'll see Lilja-Lebda like minutes for a season or two. I don't see him cracking Top 4 until Rafalski or Lidstrom retires. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CaliWingsNut Report post Posted August 7, 2008 You need to be objective. Ericcson has 8 total NHL games under his belt. He's not ready yet and Lebda and Lilja have little to no upside? If that's so, why would anybody want them in a trade? Jeff Finger. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 I had to look it up. You are correct "upside" can mean either trending upward or having a positive aspect. I thought that you were saying that there was nothing positive about them but you meant that they wouldn't get any better. An advantageous aspect: the upsides and downsides of home ownership. An upward tendency, as in business profitability or in the prices of a stock. No problem dude- if you read my original statement differently I'm sure others did too, so I'll be more careful in my phrasing in the future. I had to double check the definition once you pointed out my original post because I wasn't 100% sure either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 Just an additional note: In the current issue of the Hockey News the editors had a list of the "top 10 rookies we're already excited about seeing in the NHL next season". They listed Ericsson as the #8 prospect in that list. #1 was Stamkos, with various other top draft picks (including the top 3 picked this year) filling out the list and the Brunnstrom thrown in for good measure. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RyanBarnes! 293 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 I hope that you are right but alot of people (great hockey minds) had a good feeling about Eric Lindross too.I wouldn't compare Ericsson to a prospect of the same magnitude that Lindros was at the same age. I also wouldn't say Lindros failed to live up to expectations. If not for injuries he would have had a great career. Had you said Daigle, then yes, but once again, both were subject to a lot higher expectations than Ericsson will ever be. Ericsson is more of a late bloomer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 I wouldn't compare Ericsson to a prospect of the same magnitude that Lindros was at the same age. I also wouldn't say Lindros failed to live up to expectations. If not for injuries he would have had a great career. Had you said Daigle, then yes, but once again, both were subject to a lot higher expectations than Ericsson will ever be. Ericsson is more of a late bloomer. I would say late bloomer is a bit of an understatement considering he was drafted DEAD LAST!!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akustyk 84 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 In the current issue of the Hockey News the editors had a list of the "top 10 rookies we're already excited about seeing in the NHL next season". They listed Ericsson as the #8 prospect in that list. #1 was Stamkos, with various other top draft picks (including the top 3 picked this year) filling out the list and the Brunnstrom thrown in for good measure. does anyone know what exactly are we feeding our prospects that 9th round dead last draft pick is mentioned in the same line as other team's 1st round 1st overall picks? I do think he's pretty much overrated with this 8th spot but it still is quite amazing to see Wings fishing such gems in draft Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 does anyone know what exactly are we feeding our prospects that 9th round dead last draft pick is mentioned in the same line as other team's 1st round 1st overall picks? I do think he's pretty much overrated with this 8th spot but it still is quite amazing to see Wings fishing such gems in draft Honestly at this time you would think that we (as wings fans) would get used to this phenomenon but every time I see a Wing's player being highly touted and he was drafted 5th round or later I still go "Wow how did the wings get this guy!" Is there anyone out there who is used to this yet, I mean I know we kind of expect it or the org but it still surprises me every time! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeverForgetMac25 483 Report post Posted August 7, 2008 Ericcson won't be as amazing as people think. He was extremely nervous out there when he played. He needs to mature. He'll be a solid extra D-man this season, maybe the season after he'll see Lilja-Lebda like minutes for a season or two. I don't see him cracking Top 4 until Rafalski or Lidstrom retires. Gofigure, it was his first 8 NHL games. What did you expect.....Lidstrom-like calmness? Ericsson may or may not be 100% ready for the big show this year, but to say he "won't be as amazing as people think" is a pretty loaded statement seeing as that you only have an 8-game sample size. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
