Lebda leaving Detroit?

[themcityblues 249]

Here's the weird part, since Lilja has paired up with Lebda ... Lebda has been looking better then he has all season.

You guys think Ericsson was making Lebda look bad?

I'll be sad to see Lebda go. He looked great when paired with Lilja. Those two defense-men have good chemistry. E was bad this playoffs, wasn't even moving his feet. Atleast Lebda skates hard and gets the damn puck in the zone.

[SwedeLundin77 460]

I'll be sad to see Lebda go. He looked great when paired with Lilja. Those two defense-men have good chemistry. E was bad this playoffs, wasn't even moving his feet. Atleast Lebda skates hard and gets the damn puck in the zone.

I am on the fence about Ericsson... Part of me wants to see him go after his lackluster performance this season. At the same time, I also think that maybe he just had a sophomore slump and he'll be back on game next season. It's tough, but I trust the coaching staff and front office to get it right with the kid. We just need to be careful if we're going to have Ericsson and Kindl up next season.

[Andy Pred 48 337]

I know its a step up from the AHL, but Kindl and Ericsson played alot together in the 08+09 season in GR. Both these guys could crack top 4 D so having them work it out on the 3rd pairing isnt going to be such a bad thing. Plus Kindl has far more upside than Meech/Lebda and also alot more size. Add into that that Smith will be in GR's next season with another of the rookies, Lashoff who has looked the part each time he has played for the Griffins. Smith may even get a look in with the big club for a couple games next season, I can only see him spending one year in the AHL, too much talent to leave in the A any longer.

and lets not forget the sleeper in the pack, if this kid puts on some weight we could have another gem on our hands,Adam Almqvist.

Edited May 14, 2010 by Andy Pred 48

[cupforwings 138]

Ericsson is only 2 years younger than Lebda and has been awful this season... Lebda played good in the playoffs when he was called to... That third pairing defense was terrible with Ercisson and Lilja.. they are just so slow. I guess you can give Ericsson another season to improve (a lot), but IDK....

[magicaldatsyuk 6]

ericsson is big and has got a lot of potential, lebda makes too many stupid plays and lilja isnt the fastest guy to ever put on skates..

[Big_Mike 1]

I have a friend who does sports for a local radio station here in Columbus. Word is, if Lebda becomes available, the Jackets maybe interested. LOL seems like it would be a good fit eh?

This is just rumor of course......

Edited May 23, 2010 by Big_Mike

[eva unit zero 271]

Of all post-lockout defensemen the Wings have played, the only defensemen I would rank below Lebda in their post-lockout Wings career are (in order from best to worst):

2005-2006 #4 Cory Cross 16 GP, 1-1-2, 15 PIM (Acquired from Pittsburgh on March 8th, 2006 for Detroit's 4th pick)

2005-2006 #4 Jamie Rivers 15 GP, 0-1-1, 12 PIM (Traded to Phoenix on March 9th, 2006 for Phoenix's 7th pick in 2006 draft)

2006-2007 #17 Brad Norton 6 GP, 0-1-1, 20 PIM

2007-2008 #36 Garrett Stafford 2 GP, 0-0-0, 0 PIM

That's it. Those are the only defensemen to play for the Wings who were worse than Lebda in the Winged Wheel during Lebda's career, which is all post-lockout. There has been no reason for Lebda to continue on this team; when it came down to him, Chelios, Meech, and Quincey I said then that he should have been the one cut and people looked at me funny on this board. Lebda has not improved since his rookie season and is a 28 year old defensive liability with mediocre puck skills. To invest any more money or time into a waste of space like Lebda is a folly. Comparably, Derek Meech has improved moderately offensively since his rookie season but has shown CONSIDERABLE improvement in the defensive end. He also has the same kind of speed as Lebda and better hockey IQ, and he is only 26.

Edited May 23, 2010 by eva unit zero

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

ericsson is big and has got a lot of potential, lebda makes too many stupid plays and lilja isnt the fastest guy to ever put on skates..

Sheldon Brookbank please.

[Motown4013 350]

Oh I so disagree here. Lilja will be back and will be a constant on the 3rd pairing. Any wise person who has seen what our PK has done without him and then with him back would agree with me here. He'll take the same salary he did last season. You need to hold onto Lilja because Lidstrom has 1 more year in the tank more than likely, and when he leaves, it'll be Rafalski, Kronwall, Stuart, Lilja, Ericsson, and Kindl... let Lilja walk and we're putting too much pressure on the kids and we don't do that as an organization. We won't have 3 vets and 3 young guys for our D after next season.

Lilja is a mainstay in Detroit until he retires. They guy has proven to be consistent and hard to play against in his own zone.

Agreed. He is a better D-man than Lebda, Meech and Kindl....See ya Lebs

[SweWings 45]

I'd take Ericsson over Lebda mainly because I've seen how good Ericsson can be. I don't what circumstances are required for him to be that good consistently, if he can even reach a level of consistency. But I'd still take that potential over Lebda.