Ericsson's growing pains

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Ericsson's -6.

Dan Cleary's -8.

Ericisson has 10 points in 27 games.

Lidstrom has 11 points in 29 games.

Can someone explain to me how Ericsson deserves so much s***? For a 25 year old rookie making NHL pittance. SRSLY?

Thank you.

And Lidstrom didn't pass Ericsson's point total until tonight's game.

[kook_10 1,705]

Ericsson's -6.

Dan Cleary's -8.

Ericisson has 10 points in 27 games.

Lidstrom has 11 points in 29 games.

Can someone explain to me how Ericsson deserves so much s***? For a 25 year old rookie making NHL pittance. SRSLY?

It's not so much that he deserves s***, but that he deserves examination like everyone else. He doesn't get a pass. Lids has clearly been struggling on the scoresheet, and Ericsson has exactly 2 assists and has been -5 in his last 16 games. In that same stretch, Brett Lebda has 4A and -2. [stats aren't one dimensional] Comparing him to other struggling players is not doing him a service and to say that he makes only one mistake a game is generous and disingenuous. He just hasn't looked all that strong defensively of late. Yes, the kid has a big burden to carry but he also has a lot to learn. The responsibilities he's been given only go to show management's confidence in his potential, and I too am optimistic about him. That said, he is still very green.

Edited December 7, 2009 by kook_10

[ben_usmc 253]

Ericsson is playing like s***, but as pointed out earlier I believe he is logging in a lot more minutes then most rookies though.

Edit: Especially with all the injuries to the defense, you also have to keep in mind he isn't playing with top 4 partners, and for the most part the forwards haven't done any favors.

Edited December 7, 2009 by ben_usmc

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

He's been a weak link defensively -- maybe proportionally moreso than Lebda with his added ice time, although I don't know if anyone can match Brett -- but you can't complain, he's been good and competent enough for a rookie. Occasionally a guy will step in as a freshman and everything will click but most of the time there's a struggle and some growing pains, so it's all just a part of the process.

[b-random 0]

Ericsson's -6.

Dan Cleary's -8.

Ericisson has 10 points in 27 games.

Lidstrom has 11 points in 29 games.

Can someone explain to me how Ericsson deserves so much s***? For a 25 year old rookie making NHL pittance. SRSLY?

You have watch them play, you can't just judge them by their numbers. Regardless of what people say about Lidstrom this year, he's still probably the best defenseman in the league, he seem to have lost some of his scoring ability. I just thought the praise came too soon for Ericsson. In my opinion, his positioning/decision making is poor and he can't deliver a decent pass most of the time. He'll never be as good Nick Kronwall, not sure why people would even make the comparison. I think his defensive ability at this point is comparable to Brett Lebda AT BEST, just with a huge size advantage.

But that's not to say he couldn't be a good D-man given the proper role. He can move the puck down ice because of his reach and speed and he has a MONSTER (albeit inaccurate) shot. I think he's almost had too much asked of him too soon. He's been playing a lot of minutes on a injury riddled team, so I think his faults are really being exposed because Detroit HAS to play solid defense EVERY NIGHT just to have a chance right now.

Edited December 7, 2009 by b-random

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I totally forgot that Ericsson was converted from a forward!

OK.... I will have to give him 2 more years.... so he is probably like 2 years behind Kronner in terms of development..... so it makes sense now.

Yup. And very late in his career at that. He switched to D at the suggestion of Wing's scout Hakan Andersson in 2001, so he's not been playing the position very long at all. Basically I think the Wings are trying to mold him into the the D man that fits their needs.

Right now I think he just needs to keep it a little simpler than he has been, and be more physical. Sometimes I think Ericsson doesn't always realize how big he is, though he's probably also afraid of taking a penalty.