nate94gt 134 Report post Posted February 21, 2011 I disagree. I feel he was horrid throughout the entire road trip. He was playing great earlier in the season, but he's lately been back to some of his old tricks. i agree. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HankthaTank 1,100 Report post Posted February 21, 2011 I disagree. I feel he was horrid throughout the entire road trip. He was playing great earlier in the season, but he's lately been back to some of his old tricks. Aside from the Tampa game where he was noticeably "horrid" I wouldn't say he was cause for the usual frustrations that can mount from his "defensive" play. Just wildly inconsistent and not worth "worrying" whether we bring him back was really my main point. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlakKy 58 Report post Posted February 21, 2011 I feel that Ericsson is a lot like Komisarek. Both of these guys are big and capable of pulling pucks out of corners when going at it with even the toughest forwards in the league. Yet as soon as they have some free ice and the puck on their stick, they throw it up the middle of the ice... which we all learned in peewee was the dumbest move ever. I guess the real difference between Komi and E is that Komisarek is a former all-star and is paid wayyyyy too much. Lebda plays more minutes than Komi on nights when they both skate. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drake_Marcus 890 Report post Posted February 21, 2011 I wonder if the fathers trip got him thinking about his mother's situation too much. He really didn't play like himself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Sample 31 Report post Posted February 21, 2011 Ericsson has the tools to be a good player. He is big strong and has a great shot. Pretty much everything he needs to be a good d-man in the NHL. However, he almost never uses his big body to clear the net or to make a big check. He takes too long to get his shot off and usually ends up getting blocked. I think that the Wings have given him lots of time to adjust to playing defence. Depending on what he can be signed for is the deciding factor for me. If he can be signed for cheap and be the #6 or 7 d-man fine if not bye bye big E Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Pred 48 337 Report post Posted February 21, 2011 how about converting him back to a forward? that'll free up room for Smith, who is the most talented D we have had in the minors for years. E then learns off Hommer to become the new net front pest when hommer hangs em up. His big frame will at least be used in a constructive manner instead of not using it to its full capacity on the D. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve Sample 31 Report post Posted February 21, 2011 how about converting him back to a forward? that'll free up room for Smith, who is the most talented D we have had in the minors for years. E then learns off Hommer to become the new net front pest when hommer hangs em up. His big frame will at least be used in a constructive manner instead of not using it to its full capacity on the D. I was thinking of this as well. The problem I see with it is the back log of players we already have at forward. With Flip and Modano coming back at the end of the week who sits out? Miller will for sure but besides him who? I think that Ericsson may end up like Meech. A good player that just dosen't fit on this team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted February 21, 2011 Screw moving him to forward, we dont need another Franzen (big guy, not physical). Lets move him to goalie, he cant be any worse at that then he is at defence. Plus it'll be hard to take holding and tripping penalties in the nets. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Heaten Report post Posted February 21, 2011 (edited) Aside from his bone headed passes, I thought he's looked solid. Isn't this only in his 2nd year in the NHL? After reading some posts here, you'd think he was a 10 year veteran who won't ever develop. I'm sure he won't have any problems finding a contract next season with any other team in the NHL. But I'm sure Holland re-signs him. Those who think Smith will be the savior on defense, he's not very good either. Edited February 21, 2011 by Heaten 1 haroldsnepsts reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted February 21, 2011 Aside from his bone headed passes, I thought he's looked solid. Isn't this only in his 2nd year in the NHL? After reading some posts here, you'd think he was a 10 year veteran who won't ever develop. I'm sure he won't have any problems finding a contract next season with any other team in the NHL. But I'm sure Holland re-signs him. Those who think Smith will be the savior on defense, he's not very good either. Agreed. You know the team must be performing well, including Hudler, if Ericsson is back to being the whipping boy. He needs to play more physical and work on getting his slapshot off faster, but I think he's having a great sophomore season overall. Looks comfortable out there, great first pass most of the time. Yes, he still has brainfarts, but in his second full season in the NHL, I can live with that more than I can when Rafalski and Kronwall do it. Overall this season, Ericsson's development has been great. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uk_redwing 495 Report post Posted February 21, 2011 Those who think Smith will be the savior on defense, he's not very good either. Err...Smith has been playing fantasticly well for Grand Rapids this season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frozen-Man 144 Report post Posted February 22, 2011 It's common knowledge that Lidstrom will be replaced by committee. Especially since the Leafs managed to lock Lebda up on a MULTI-year contract. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HankthaTank 1,100 Report post Posted February 22, 2011 Those who think Smith will be the savior on defense, he's not very good either. Uhhhh....he isn't on the Wings yet and has looked like a beast down in GR? Not sure too many people have said savior but excited about a potential solid top 4 D-man who can play both ends well? I think its more excitement. Let's pump the brakes on all this "not very good" stuff. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mabuhay Red Wings 177 Report post Posted February 22, 2011 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Heaten Report post Posted February 22, 2011 Uhhhh....he isn't on the Wings yet and has looked like a beast down in GR? Not sure too many people have said savior but excited about a potential solid top 4 D-man who can play both ends well? I think its more excitement. Let's pump the brakes on all this "not very good" stuff. I've been to games (front row) and watched him especially. He's not very strong defensively compared to other AHL players. I don't expect Smith to be more than a Kronwall-type player. Not that's a bad thing, I love Kronwall... But he's no Duncan Keith. I watch him for what he is, not for what we hope he becomes. He's not there yet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HankthaTank 1,100 Report post Posted February 22, 2011 I don't expect Smith to be more than a Kronwall-type player. Not that's a bad thing, I love Kronwall... But he's no Duncan Keith. Well, I have got to say I have heard that comparison before and I don't mind it one bit. Just hopefully Kronwall circa 2008 and not the pinching doesn't hit for s*** Kronwall we see now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeytown0001 7,652 Report post Posted February 23, 2011 Not the best showing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie_Wing 354 Report post Posted February 23, 2011 He's struggling a bit. Wouldn't mind Kindl to come in for Thursday's game, although it won't happen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeytown0001 7,652 Report post Posted February 23, 2011 Where's the Big Rig from the '09 playoffs? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted February 23, 2011 Where's the Big Rig from the '09 playoffs? Lost in a paralell universe. We've got Anders Eriksson reborn playing with Rafalski these days Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mabuhay Red Wings 177 Report post Posted February 23, 2011 I remember reading this and having sooooo much hope. http://www.redwingscentral.com/prospects/ericsson.php Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
newfy 695 Report post Posted February 23, 2011 Uhhhh....he isn't on the Wings yet and has looked like a beast down in GR? Not sure too many people have said savior but excited about a potential solid top 4 D-man who can play both ends well? I think its more excitement. Let's pump the brakes on all this "not very good" stuff. I dunno alot of people who think he will be a savior but we have another Nik Kronwall calibre player down there which is pretty solid, and yes I agree he has been a beast in GR. Smith is a Kronwall that fights, pretty good prospect to have Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HankthaTank 1,100 Report post Posted March 12, 2011 Get him off the ice. Just looks awful anymore..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted March 12, 2011 (edited) Get him off the ice. Just looks awful anymore..... With Lebda gone and hudler turning his game around, we're back to the scapegoat that was predicted at the beginning of the season. Last night's game was a shaky defensive showing by just about any Dman not named Lidstrom. Ericsson, Kindl, and Kronwall all had brutal turnovers. Kindl got lost around his own net several times. And no one clears the crease but Stuart. It's not that I even think Ericsson is particularly good. He's just not as awful as people make him out to be. For how you feel about people focusing on every Jimmy Howard rebound, that's exactly what you're doing with Ericsson. My main complaints with him (as always) are he's not physical enough for his size. He doesn't know how to pin a guy to the boards properly. And he seems to lose focus as the game wears on, at least lately. He'll start strong but then make a boneheaded play. Like a no-look backhand pass to no one behind his own net. I'm happy he's not as awful as he was last season, but his development seems to have slowed. His upside is when he's playing confident he's got a great first pass, can jump into the play and be effective, and has a pretty good stick. Edited March 12, 2011 by haroldsnepsts 1 Drake_Marcus reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted March 12, 2011 Where's the Big Rig from the '09 playoffs? I remember him being surprisingly solid then too. But now I have to wonder if some of that was colored by my expectation at the time, and the company he kept. He hadn't even played a full season, and the other bottom guy was Lebda (and to a lesser extent Meech and a very slow Cheli). I still hold out hope he can be a solid bottom pairing guy and maybe even be a #4 Dman one day. 1 Drake_Marcus reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
