Ericsson's play

[Blueliner 69]

Warning: This is not a player bashing thread, but rather my observations so far this season.

Ericsson has played well below expectations. I know he hasn't played much in the NHL, but he's making mistakes that he shouldn't be making after playing a couple years in GR and in last year's playoffs. He still has a forward's mindset out there. The first and third goals tonight were because he pinched high along the boards in the defensive zone and allowed scoring opportunities. He is also playing very poorly down low in front of the net. There have been at least four goals scored against this season because of his mistakes.

I like Ericsson and think that he has great potenial. I"m glad he's a Red Wing, but needs to start playing like a defenseman and not a forward. His play could be why the defense is playing poorly.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

I'm with you, he hasn't been very good in the early going.

[dat's sick 1,002]

I wouldn't blame him for the entire defense, but tonight he did some costly mistakes. I'm hoping he'll improve as the season goes on. Remember he still hasn't had a ton of NHL experience, and it's a much different thing to play next to Lebda than it is to play next to Lidstrom.

[RusDRW 155]

you shouldn't listen too much to our commentators. He is fine, gaining experience and that stuff. Plus this tram is built for play-offs where a lot of things are allowed. Ericsson is no exception.

[Carman 387]

I like Ericsson and think that he has great potenial. I"m glad he's a Red Wing, but needs to start playing like a defenseman and not a forward. His play could be why the defense is playing poorly.

Really? The defensemen playing 15 minutes a night is the reason for the poor defense? He definitely isn't playing great, but the whole team has been on and off every other period, everyone is to blame why we aren't off to a good start. Let the new players settle in and start getting chemistry if we become 7-13 then you can start sounding the alarms.

[SDavis35 140]

Love Ericsson, but I think he may have been benched near the end. Ken and Mickey were commenting he hadn't played much late in the game.

[Zetts 236]

He hasn't been great, but he hasn't been too bad either.

People seem to forget that young D don't seamlessly jump into the game. Even if he has a bit of playoff experience, it was expected that he'd struggle at times this year. He'll figure it out.

Fischer made brutal plays nonstop at first, but after a couple of years he was really figuring it out and turning into a high end player before the incident. I'm expecting the same thing from E.

Edited October 18, 2009 by Zetts

[Carman 387]

Love Ericsson, but I think he may have been benched near the end. Ken and Mickey were commenting he hadn't played much late in the game.

Probably because in a close game you want to run your 2 best pairings, don't think it had much to do with benching Ericsson personally.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

He was impressing us all when he was next to Lidstrom, against Chicago and Pittsburgh in the playoffs I thought his defensive game was poor. It has so far this year, I like him because he fights (or did) but he's got to play better. Overall defence will probably never get back to 07-08, but if we spread out the talent a bit more who knows.

[Blueliner 69]

Really? The defensemen playing 15 minutes a night is the reason for the poor defense? He definitely isn't playing great, but the whole team has been on and off every other period, everyone is to blame why we aren't off to a good start. Let the new players settle in and start getting chemistry if we become 7-13 then you can start sounding the alarms.

Sorry, part of the reason. No need to get upset over a missing word.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Warning: This is not a player bashing thread, but rather my observations so far this season.

Ericsson has played well below expectations. I know he hasn't played much in the NHL, but he's making mistakes that he shouldn't be making after playing a couple years in GR and in last year's playoffs. He still has a forward's mindset out there. The first and third goals tonight were because he pinched high along the boards in the defensive zone and allowed scoring opportunities. He is also playing very poorly down low in front of the net. There have been at least four goals scored against this season because of his mistakes.

I like Ericsson and think that he has great potenial. I"m glad he's a Red Wing, but needs to start playing like a defenseman and not a forward. His play could be why the defense is playing poorly.

Ericsson had a bad night tonight. So did lots of guys. He's still among the strongest defensive d-men on the team right now-- which shows because he's getting tons of PK time.

He's also second on the team in defensive points (2 goals and 2 assists in 7 games). And he's first on the team in defensive goals. All without playing a second on the PP so far. That's impressive considering he's on the 3rd pairing playing 16 mins a game.

What's Ericsson's +/-? -3.

Sounds terrible right? Kronwall is -4, Cleary is -3, Zetterberg is -2, Stuart is -2... the list goes on. Only Lidstrom and Rafalksi are + d-men on this team right now.

Ericsson's:

-->1st on the team in defensive goals scored (2)

-->2nd on the team in defensive points (2-2-4)

-->3rd on the D in hits,

-->4th most blocked shots on the team,

-->has the fewest give-aways on the top five D (Meech and Lebda split the time as the #6, but they are a higher give-away per game average than E). Ericsson's got 5 give-aways in 7 games, with Rafalski at 7, Stuart at 8, Lidstrom at 9 and Kronwall at 11. Note that Ericsson plays fewer minutes than those guys, but not few enough to make it a wash-- he's still playing at least 75% of the time those guys are, so it's definitely notable that he gives the puck away the least.

-->Is 2nd on the D in take-aways with 2 (Stuart has 4)

-->3rd on the team in short-handed time on ice (with just 8 seconds fewer than Lidstrom per game)

To say he's underperforming as a rookie d-man is absurd.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

He was impressing us all when he was next to Lidstrom, against Chicago and Pittsburgh in the playoffs I thought his defensive game was poor. It has so far this year, I like him because he fights (or did) but he's got to play better. Overall defence will probably never get back to 07-08, but if we spread out the talent a bit more who knows.

Really? Because all the comments that came from media people during the playoffs were that Ericsson was extremely defensively savvy, especially for a rookie. One TSN commentator said he looked like he could be a future Norris winner.

If his defensive game were poor Babcock wouldn't have put him out on the PK in critical situations or on the ice for the last two minutes of a 1 goal game in the Stanley Cup Finals.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

He needs to be more physical for his size. Last year in the playoffs he was playing with more grit and intensity.

His playing mates are the problem, though, not him.

[KrazyGangsta 79]

You learn from your mistakes.

[skyphoenix 153]

Everyone makes mistakes but since Ericsson is playing with Lebda, his mistakes seem more costly.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Hey, Kronwall wasn't impressive at first either, so we'll have to wait and see.

The reason people are disappointed is because he pleasantly surprised us last year in the playoffs, thus we were looking forward to having him in the lineup all season and being a force on the blue line.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Hey, Kronwall wasn't impressive at first either, so we'll have to wait and see.

The reason people are disappointed is because he pleasantly surprised us last year in the playoffs, thus we were looking forward to having him in the lineup all season and being a force on the blue line.

Well the stats say that he's playing really good hockey for a 3rd pairing d-man, and excellent hockey for a rookie d-man.

I just don't see what else people expect from this kid when the only + d-men on the team are Lidstrom and Rafalski. Yeah he had a rough game tonight, but he's had some really strong games so far too. And when you average it all out his stats are impressive so far.

[uk_redwing 495]

Hes played average in comparison with the rest of Detroits defense.

[Buppy 1,720]

Judged by the standard he set last year and in the playoffs, he has certainly been disappointing. Whether that standard is reasonable is a different debate.

[Pucks 66]

Judged by the standard he set last year and in the playoffs, he has certainly been disappointing. Whether that standard is reasonable is a different debate.

He needs to use his size better. I hate when our defenders use that one arm around jamming the stick along the boards style. I call it the chicken wing defense, a la the Lilja. It's terrible. It's the main reason teams can keep us in our own zone once they start the cycle. Keep both hands on the stick and use your shoulder to check the guy against the board and separate him from the puck. The Canadian defenseman do this the best. I wish they would watch tape of this from other teams.

You rarely see a player like Datsyuk with only one hand on the stick. He can come out of the corner with the puck most times. Keep two hands on the stick where they are needed and you will also take less cheap penalty's with the off arm, a la the Kronwall.

Ericsson also need to simplify his game in his own end. With Bret "Headless chicken" Lebda as his partner.......good luck.

Edited October 18, 2009 by Pucks

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Really? Because all the comments that came from media people during the playoffs were that Ericsson was extremely defensively savvy, especially for a rookie. One TSN commentator said he looked like he could be a future Norris winner.

If his defensive game were poor Babcock wouldn't have put him out on the PK in critical situations or on the ice for the last two minutes of a 1 goal game in the Stanley Cup Finals.

I know Drake, and I'm not hating, just stating what I saw from him. There were times were he was a monster, and others where he looked like a 6'5 Lebda, but that'll come because he's just a rookie. I'd just prefer he be paired with Lidstrom because Lilja is hurt, and spreading the talent would be fantastic. Ah man, I hate mentioning Lilja, if he were healthy we'd have such a strong defence.

Lidstrom-Lilja

Rafalski-Stuart

Kronwall-Ericsson

mannnn

[Yzerfan1999 81]

Not concerned about this guy at all. He will be fine.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I know Drake, and I'm not hating, just stating what I saw from him. There were times were he was a monster, and others where he looked like a 6'5 Lebda, but that'll come because he's just a rookie. I'd just prefer he be paired with Lidstrom because Lilja is hurt, and spreading the talent would be fantastic. Ah man, I hate mentioning Lilja, if he were healthy we'd have such a strong defence.

Lidstrom-Lilja

Rafalski-Stuart

Kronwall-Ericsson

mannnn

I dunno if I'd pair Lilja so highly in that line-up. I'd rather see Kronwall get the time in with Lidstrom so he can learn as much as possible Or throw Ericsson on with Lidstrom for the same reason. What about:

Lidstrom-Ericsson

Rafalski-Kronwall

Stuart-Lilja

Give Stuart a chance to be more offensive by putting him with Lilja. Plus, given how much time Stuart gets on the PK the mins would come out fine for him. You could even switch Ericsson and Stuart for a few of the shifts to give them a better balance of TOI.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I dunno if I'd pair Lilja so highly in that line-up. I'd rather see Kronwall get the time in with Lidstrom so he can learn as much as possible Or throw Ericsson on with Lidstrom for the same reason. What about:

Lidstrom-Ericsson

Rafalski-Kronwall

Stuart-Lilja

Give Stuart a chance to be more offensive by putting him with Lilja. Plus, given how much time Stuart gets on the PK the mins would come out fine for him. You could even switch Ericsson and Stuart for a few of the shifts to give them a better balance of TOI.

In any case, we'd have a very strong defense with not alot of weaknesses (well at least on paper )

[Drake_Marcus 890]

In any case, we'd have a very strong defense with not alot of weaknesses (well at least on paper )

Oh yeah. At this point the Lebda/Meech position is the weakest link by a mile, so having a good, reliable guy like Lilja there would be fantastic. It's amazing how far Lilja's come, eh? Remember when he was the goat back before the 08 cup? His play has definitely improved dramatically. If only we could be sure he'd come back and play the same way if/when he comes back from his concussion.