j.hoop 64 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 (edited) saw this on HFBoards and wanted to post it. it may have already got attention in the "lilja placed on LTIR" thread but wanted to make it its own. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...0367/1128/rss16 Interesting theory from Babcock, who believes the three young defensemen in camp (Ericsson, Derek Meech and Kyle Quincey ) were hamstrung by anxiety trying to win a roster spot. "In hindsight we probably should have given one of them the job and just allowed them to relax and play," Babcock said. "We had three guys so wound up, it just didn't work." seems like a rare " ive made a huge mistake " from babcock Edited March 10, 2009 by j.hoop Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Basically, he should just give Ericsson that spot right now and permanently keep him there. Meech sucks, Quincey is gone, and Lebda isn't ever going to be better than what he is now. Also, I doubt Chelli will be back next year. I don't see how anyone can argue for any of those other guys over Ericsson right now. Even after Lilja returns, Ericsson should still be a permanent starter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Basically, he should just give Ericsson that spot right now and permanently keep him there. Meech sucks, Quincey is gone, and Lebda isn't ever going to be better than what he is now. Also, I doubt Chelli will be back next year. I don't see how anyone can argue for any of those other guys over Ericsson right now. Even after Lilja returns, Ericsson should still be a permanent starter. Meech, Quincey (already is), Lebda, Cheli will all be gone next year. The Wings can not let Ericsson sit in GR anymore, this is his last year, and I can not believe they are willing to part with him in any way shape or form, PP2 Kronwall and Ericsson, mmm, mmm, mmm, what do ya say!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wombat 26 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 I don't think anything doing with the #8 defenseman could be considered a "huge mistake". This is not about the #6 guy, it was about being the #8 guy (behind Lidstrom, Rafalski, Stuart, Kronwall, Lilja, Lebda, and Chelios). Overall, I consider Ericsson the best of the 3 over Meech and Quincey, however, I don't think it was wrong to start him down in GR. If you keep Ericsson up, you lose both Meech and Quincey. Some might not see this as a big loss, but look at what has happened this season. With such a tight cap situation, Meech has been forced to play forward many times this season when the Wings could not afford to bring up another forward. Also, right now if there are injuries to the defensemen, Ericsson can be brought up from GR to fill in. If Ericsson was up already, the Wings would be bringing up guys that are not NHL caliber. Ericsson is a good player that is getting better because he is getting more playing time. As the #7 or #8 d-man in Detroit, he does not develop as well. It's the same situation Meech found himself in last year. If any hindsight should be made, it's that Chelios should not have been signed as he just does not come off as a legitimate NHLer often enough. Without Chelios, the Wings could have kept both Meech and Quincey, or at the very least probably could have traded one of them. Holland probably could not swing a trade since everyone knew one of those guys would be cut because of roster issues. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwingfan19 293 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 should have kept quincey, but i'd like to see ericsson there permanently he brings some size and a cannon of a shot (why oh why is sammy still on the point on the PP) and is better than lebda and chelios. I'd be fine and quite frankly more comfortable with a lilja/ericsson 3rd pairing in the playoffs than lebda/lilja. But from what i've seen of ericsson these last games, he has looked good out there and i think the 6th spot is his to lose at this point Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Meech, Quincey (already is), Lebda, Cheli will all be gone next year. The Wings can not let Ericsson sit in GR anymore, this is his last year, and I can not believe they are willing to part with him in any way shape or form, PP2 Kronwall and Ericsson, mmm, mmm, mmm, what do ya say!! Don't tell me you've lost faith in Sammy also? Et tu, Opie? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Don't tell me you've lost faith in Sammy also? Et tu, Opie? I started last year saying he was expendable on this roster, with the development of Mule, Flip, Huds, and now Helm, Leino, Abdelkader Sammy is very expendable. Is he a solid player and does he do a good job on this team? yes, is he trade able? yes was he last year? no. I just want Big Rig's booming shot on the point, ala Schnieds. Not a fan of Sammy on the point, but he gets the job done, but with Rig being lefty it probably won't happen! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 I started last year saying he was expendable on this roster, with the development of Mule, Flip, Huds, and now Helm, Leino, Abdelkader Sammy is very expendable. Is he a solid player and does he do a good job on this team? yes, is he trade able? yes was he last year? no. I just want Big Rig's booming shot on the point, ala Schnieds. Not a fan of Sammy on the point, but he gets the job done, but with Rig being lefty it probably won't happen! Sammy is and always has been a solid player. But he's sort of....neutral. He's solid, but expendable. He's okay and good defensively, and despite the ridiculous timing of his shots he's an asset to the team, but not a huge one. He's one of the very few replaceable players on this roster if push comes to shove. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StevieY9802 6 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 I don't think anything doing with the #8 defenseman could be considered a "huge mistake". This is not about the #6 guy, it was about being the #8 guy (behind Lidstrom, Rafalski, Stuart, Kronwall, Lilja, Lebda, and Chelios). Overall, I consider Ericsson the best of the 3 over Meech and Quincey, however, I don't think it was wrong to start him down in GR. If you keep Ericsson up, you lose both Meech and Quincey. Some might not see this as a big loss, but look at what has happened this season. With such a tight cap situation, Meech has been forced to play forward many times this season when the Wings could not afford to bring up another forward. Also, right now if there are injuries to the defensemen, Ericsson can be brought up from GR to fill in. If Ericsson was up already, the Wings would be bringing up guys that are not NHL caliber. I'm with you about it not being a mistake to send Ericsson down to GR. Meech over Quincey was probably a mistake but hey things happen. Not every decision is going to be the right one. Holland very rarely makes bad choices so... Ericsson wasn't going to be play enough here. I know some people here think Lebda or Lilja or both should have been let go to get him up here but there is nothing wrong with him playing in GR. That's where this team is so good. They are so good and deep they can take their time with the young kids and bring them up when they are ready. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ms_Hockey 0 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 Sammy is and always has been a solid player. But he's sort of....neutral. He's solid, but expendable. He's okay and good defensively, and despite the ridiculous timing of his shots he's an asset to the team, but not a huge one. He's one of the very few replaceable players on this roster if push comes to shove. I couldn't have said it better myself. Sammy isn't a BAD player.. but I've always described him as "vanilla pudding". You can't really love him & you can't really hate him - because he's right in the middle. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungGuns1340 1 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 I think what hes basically saying here is "we should've kept Quincey instead of Meech." With the logjam we had, Ericsson being waiver exempt would've meant he'd be down there anyways and Lebda would've remained in the top 7. Really, it would've be nicer to have Quincey as an option than Meech, who is ridiculously similar to Lebda. But at the same time, I still don't see Quincey being the same guy as a 6/7 in Detroit as he is right now in LA. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungGuns1340 1 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 I couldn't have said it better myself. Sammy isn't a BAD player.. but I've always described him as "vanilla pudding". You can't really love him & you can't really hate him - because he's right in the middle. I love vanilla pudding - much more than Chocolate too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StevieY9802 6 Report post Posted March 10, 2009 But at the same time, I still don't see Quincey being the same guy as a 6/7 in Detroit as he is right now in LA. You're right here. Quincey is a big part of that LA team right now. Here he would be getting 10-15 minutes a game and wouldn't be playing every game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
