RedSea 31 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20..._news_on_a.html DETROIT -- A team that has experienced two defensive implosions in eight days and remains near the bottom of the NHL in penalty-killing received more bad news Monday when the Detroit Red Wings learned defenseman Andreas Lilja will be out at least seven more games. Lilja was placed on long-term injured reserve due to persistent headaches from his concussion. The move requires him to sit a minimum of 10 games and 24 days. He has already missed three games and won't be eligible to play until March 27. "Once he's symptom free, he has to practice for a week without any effects," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. The move allows the Red Wings to keep defenseman Jonathan Ericsson on their roster, giving them more time to assess his play before deciding whether he should be with the club in the postseason. The Red Wings will miss Lilja's shot-blocking and penalty-killing abilities. He leads the team with 92 blocked shots and is third with 95 hits. He has the second-best plus-minus rating among the club's defensemen (plus-13). Lilja was injured Feb. 28 in Nashville, getting punched out by Shea Weber. Ericsson has one assist and a minus-2 rating while averaging 17:55 in ice time the past three games, paired with Niklas Kronwall. Sad to see. Never thought I'd be bummed out by a Lilja injury, but he's been solid this year. At least we still get to see Ericsson play. The article also mentions Hossa might return Thursday against the Flames (we'll need him). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esteef 2,679 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Godspeed Lilly! Big Rig Hut! esteef Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yzersyukstromberg 0 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 What a disappointment. Lilja was easily our most improved player this year... Let's at least hope he'll be OK, and ready to go for the playoff run. In the meantime, it'll be a nice opportunity to see what Ericsson has to offer. eseagull Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rivalred 630 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Crap! He leads our team in blocked shots... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedSea 31 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Crap! He leads our team in blocked shots... If Ericsson can work on getting that 6'5" frame into the shooting lane then he'll lead the team in blocked shots by a mile. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Why couldn't it have been lebda :ranting: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeytown_Ryan 122 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 This sucks....Im not a big Lilja fan....But it is hard to argue how well he has played and how big a loss this is Get Well Lilja Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uk_redwing 495 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 We play the Flames, Blues and Flyers in the space of 6 days and we havnt even got Lilja to do some "enforcing." That just fills me with confidence. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedSea 31 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 We play the Flames, Blues and Flyers in the space of 6 days and we havnt even got Lilja to do some "enforcing." That just fills me with confidence. The scouting report on Big Rig says he fights when necessary, so maybe he'll muster up the confidence to beat the crap out of some Flyer (the team I'm most worried about). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Superman54 91 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Damn, that means I gotta watch more of Lebda... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rage 24 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Man, what a bummer. Better now than 3 weeks from now I suppose. Hopefully this will really help him rest up for the playoffs. I'd like to see some other Wings start to get some rest down the stretch too, including Lidstrom. Need him fresh as possible. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KrazyGangsta 79 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 IMO honnest opinion, I don't wish injuries to anyone but the injuries this year for the wings have all helped the players rest up a bit. Hossa / Datsyuk / Lidstrom / Holmstrom / Zettz / Lilja / Franzen can't remember if anyone else. All these players got like a week at least off then usual just so they could rest up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben_usmc 253 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 The scouting report on Big Rig says he fights when necessary, so maybe he'll muster up the confidence to beat the crap out of some Flyer (the team I'm most worried about). I certainly hope not, remember he just came back from a wrist injury and he would get in some s*** wearing a cast anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungGuns1340 1 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Hopefully this is a blessing in disguise if the Wings management likes Ericsson enough to put him in the lineup over Lebda/Meech for the playoffs. For some reason, I think Ericsson could end up being the missing piece to our defense. Not so much because of talent, but more because flukey things like that tend to happen in the playoffs, where the most unlikely players become heros. I think he has the potential to play a role similar to Beauchemin in Anaheim's cup run. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedSea 31 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 I certainly hope not, remember he just came back from a wrist injury and he would get in some s*** wearing a cast anyway. Forgot about that. Maybe Kopecky will step in and include it in his newly-found game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ben_usmc 253 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Hopefully this is a blessing in disguise if the Wings management likes Ericsson enough to put him in the lineup over Lebda/Meech for the playoffs. For some reason, I think Ericsson could end up being the missing piece to our defense. Not so much because of talent, but more because flukey things like that tend to happen in the playoffs, where the most unlikely players become heros. I think he has the potential to play a role similar to Beauchemin in Anaheim's cup run. or Bobby Orr (HEY! a man can dream) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie_Wing 354 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Bad news, sounds like they've got no idea when he's actually likely to return. I wish Kindl got an oppertunity up here but that's unlikely to happen given how much Babcock raves about Ericsson. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Superman54 91 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Bad news, sounds like they've got no idea when he's actually likely to return. I wish Kindl got an oppertunity up here but that's unlikely to happen given how much Babcock raves about Ericsson. And for good reason too. Kindl will eventually get his chance, no matter how overdue it is. You gotta be patient when playing for Detroit, it sucks but that is the system they play under. Players like Helm, Leino, and Ericcsson would be a full time player on half the teams in the NHL. It sucks because we potentially lose players like Quincey, but I am sure later in the future we will see the true benefit in waiting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sixer 37 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Don't ever fight again Lilja! Get Well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norrisnick 1 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 or Bobby Orr (HEY! a man can dream) I don't want Bobby Orr. I want Big Bird. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernWingsFan 854 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Why couldn't it have been lebda :ranting: Or how about not intentionally wishing injury on anybody. Kinda gutless... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 (edited) Bad news, sounds like they've got no idea when he's actually likely to return. I wish Kindl got an oppertunity up here but that's unlikely to happen given how much Babcock raves about Ericsson. Have you been following Kindl's play in GR lately? He's got 4 pts (assists) in his last 20 games (all healthy) and he's been their worst defensive player. Kindl still needs seasoning in the AHL. In the words of GR fans "he's fallen back to his old ways" defensively. That's fine because this is only his second pro season. I'm just saying- he's not ready for the NHL, even in the slightest. Edit: I suspect you'll think I'm exaggerating (since I'm an Ericsson fan, not that that means I'm not a fan of Kindl). So here's an article from a Grand Rapids fansite. Read the "defense" paragraph. http://www.griffinscentral.com/articles/030109.html Edited March 10, 2009 by Drake_Marcus Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 So who will be our enforcer now? Kopecky? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reds4Life 51 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 That sucks. Hopefully he will be good to go for the playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeytown0001 7,652 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Dang. Get better soon Lils! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
