38 replies to this topic

[Drake_Marcus]

Easy big guy. I'm on your side for this one. ...somewhat

I do take issue with this stat that you keep throwing out there though. His zero one goal against is quite misleading about his play. And his mistakes HAVE been directly translatable into goals. Some very good chances just happen to not go in our net for whatever random reason.

If you read my post though, I'm very clear that I don't blame him or single him out. I just added my piece because you seemed ready to try to prove that he's been particularly good. And that's not the case.

I didn't mean to direct the annoyance at you... I was more annoyed with the OP for not laying the blame on the guys who're playing 20+ mins a night and making the big bucks. Ericsson's been playing his role well. He's limited his mistakes in the playoffs compared to the regular season.

His play last year in the post season isn't something we should assume is long gone, but it sure didn't hurt him to be paired up with Lidstrom instead of a recently off the shelf Lilja or an all around risky Lebda.

Ericsson's play when his confidence is up is too good to throw the towel in now.

[AIK'91]

I was an Ericsson fan when he was an unknown in Grand Rapids. I'll be damned if one s***ty season will stop me from supporting him now. He'll have to disappoint me more consistently than that before I give up on his potential.

Fair enough. Every fan has their favorites on a team.

I just wish he starts playing like he's 6'5'' and somehow regains the poise and confidence he had so much of in the playoffs last year.

[Drake_Marcus]

Fair enough. Every fan has their favorites on a team.

I just wish he starts playing like he's 6'5'' and somehow regains the poise and confidence he had so much of in the playoffs last year.

Me too man, me too.

[Wings_Dynasty]

I would just put him on the first PP unit with Lidstrom, have him pinch (he was a forward) and Lids play back on the line. Release the kraken, and by kraken I mean slapshot.

[Crymson]

I would just put him on the first PP unit with Lidstrom, have him pinch (he was a forward) and Lids play back on the line. Release the kraken, and by kraken I mean slapshot.

You hate Rafalski. We get it. And you hate Rafalski enough to suggest that Ericsson, who cannot get a shot through traffic to save his life and is too slow to wind up against a penalty kill that challenges shots from the point, should replace him on the first power play unit.

[Wings_Dynasty]

You hate Rafalski. We get it. And you hate Rafalski enough to suggest that Ericsson, who cannot get a shot through traffic to save his life and is too slow to wind up against a penalty kill that challenges shots from the point, should replace him on the first power play unit.

Roger. Glad we are past the whole getting to know you phase.

Ericsson turns the puck over less than Rafalski. Yes, Rafalski has more TOI to give the puck away, but that TOI is more important than the ice time Ericsson gets. I think that the worst that could happen if Rafalski is replaced by E is that we give up a couple short-handed 2 on 1's. WHICH HAPPENS ALREADY!

He has a 100mph shot and he doesn't get to use it. He is paired with Lilja in a virtual shut-down pairing. They are expected to play most of their time in the defensive zone, which is why he doesn't shoot and therefore doesn't score. Rafalski does have those opportunities to shoot and plays with Lidstrom (during 5 on 5s AND powerplays) and doesn't score.

How can a change hurt?

I will concede that attempting this switch on the road in Game 7 is probably not the time to do it. But if they are down in the 3rd and a PP comes up, they should try it.

[Drake_Marcus]

Roger. Glad we are past the whole getting to know you phase.

Ericsson turns the puck over less than Rafalski. Yes, Rafalski has more TOI to give the puck away, but that TOI is more important than the ice time Ericsson gets. I think that the worst that could happen if Rafalski is replaced by E is that we give up a couple short-handed 2 on 1's. WHICH HAPPENS ALREADY!

He has a 100mph shot and he doesn't get to use it. He is paired with Lilja in a virtual shut-down pairing. They are expected to play most of their time in the defensive zone, which is why he doesn't shoot and therefore doesn't score. Rafalski does have those opportunities to shoot and plays with Lidstrom (during 5 on 5s AND powerplays) and doesn't score.

How can a change hurt?

I will concede that attempting this switch on the road in Game 7 is probably not the time to do it. But if they are down in the 3rd and a PP comes up, they should try it.

Agreed-- it can't hurt to give Ericsson a shot on the PP.

[haroldsnepsts]

Lebda is better then Janik, Kindl, Ericsson or Meech at this point. Can anyone say Lebda has been worse then Ericsson?

Babcock, apparently.

Ericsson had a terrible regular season, but I think he's been okay in the playoffs. I'm not sure why he's being singled out.


Changing out a bottom pairing defenseman is not going to solve the Wings' problems.

I would just put him on the first PP unit with Lidstrom, have him pinch (he was a forward) and Lids play back on the line. Release the kraken, and by kraken I mean slapshot.

The thing about his slapper is, he has a 100 mph slapshot in a skills competition. That's different from getting it off during playoff game conditions. He's gotten better, but his windup is still slow for the pace of the NHL game, so he often doesn't get it off before someone is there to block it. Rafalski may not have a cannon, but he's got a quick, often well place slapshot.

[Lidstrom for life]

Agreed-- it can't hurt to give Ericsson a shot on the PP.

At the very least he will hit some coyotes in the ankle with his slap shot

[haroldsnepsts]

Ericsson is:

1) Lazy
2) Careless
3) Unwilling to play physically
4) Unwilling to skate at top speed
5) Unable to produce any offense
6) Constantly making errors
7) Unable to participate in any puck-cycling
8) Unable to select shots
9) Slow

Etc.

Many of these things could be improved immediately, but he doesn't seem to care.

So Ozzy and Ericsson are apparently the two not safe under your umbrella of blind optimism.

I can understand a lot of the points you make, even if I don't agree with a couple like 5 (I don't think that's his primary role, much like Lilja), and 7 (again, not his role). But what I don't get is the personal attacks like #1 and saying he doesn't seem to care.

Really? You think he's just half assing it out there and could give a crap that he's playing in the playoffs? Like all he's half to do to play better is actually try?

He's still relatively young, has dedicated his life to hockey, and is getting his big break this year. Pretty much make it or break it. And so far he's mostly broke it. It may just be that he doesn't have the ability to become an NHL defenseman but it's pretty ridiculous to assume he just doesn't care.

[Mors]

I could see it being a concussion, he certainly looked confused out there yesterday, as in he literally didn't know where to go with the puck

[EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

This guy has just completely lost his wits out there. He's forgotten how to play the position. He's lost his awareness!? How could someone so young take so many steps backwards from one season to the next!? It's unreal. He looks like he needs a couple more seasons in GR right now.

Oh poor, poor Ericcsson. You see folks, Big E may very well be suffering from the Trent Hunter effect (having a great first showing with a team), thus gaining an expected level of play he most probably would not be able to achieve consistantly. Do I think he can play better? Of course I do, and he very well may still turn into a solid top 4 defensemen, but at this point and time I'd like people to remember that he was the last overall pick in the draft and even converted his position. The mere fact that he is playing in the NHL at ALL, is way above draft day expectations, and that alone makes him a relative success in my point of view.

In short, he may very well still become a great player, but he shouldn't be expected to be placed on the same standards as vets like Lids, Raffi and Kronwall.

EDIT: Lol at the Negs

Edited by EZBAKETHAGANGSTA, 26 April 2010 - 09:08 AM.

[Drake_Marcus]

I could see it being a concussion, he certainly looked confused out there yesterday, as in he literally didn't know where to go with the puck

He should've texted me! The answer is always to shoot it at the other team's net.

[EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

Ericsson is:

1) Lazy
2) Careless
3) Unwilling to play physically
4) Unwilling to skate at top speed
5) Unable to produce any offense
6) Constantly making errors
7) Unable to participate in any puck-cycling
8) Unable to select shots
9) Slow

Etc.

Many of these things could be improved immediately, but he doesn't seem to care.

Just out of curiosity, are you always this pessimistic and "glass half-empty" in real life too? While a lot of the things you stated are true, I really doubt it's because of a lack of emotion.

EDIT: Lol @ the Negs. Someone takign out their built up fury on teh interwebz?

Edited by EZBAKETHAGANGSTA, 26 April 2010 - 09:07 AM.

[SouthernHockeyHoney]

I didn't mean to direct the annoyance at you... I was more annoyed with the OP for not laying the blame on the guys who're playing 20+ mins a night and making the big bucks. Ericsson's been playing his role well. He's limited his mistakes in the playoffs compared to the regular season.

I was wondering the same thing....Why dis Ericcson, when, as has been noted above, he is playing his role well. Of those 20+ minute a night guys: Rafalski is just getting man-handled by the Coyotes big forwards; Kronwall is a turn-over machine, and Lidstrom can't carry the entire D by himself. Stewart has been the most consistant, and that's not saying a whole lot. Ericcson is fine. Leave him alone.

[kylee]

Ericsson is like the elephant who is afraid of the mouse.

[Wings_Dynasty]

Ericsson is like the elephant who is afraid of the mouse.

Corey Perry. He just needs more TOI to get some real emotion going. Put him out there when things are intense (powerplay) with some skilled guys and see what happens. He needs time.

[Crymson]

Just out of curiosity, are you always this pessimistic and "glass half-empty" in real life too? While a lot of the things you stated are true, I really doubt it's because of a lack of emotion.

EDIT: Lol @ the Negs. Someone takign out their built up fury on teh interwebz?

I imagine you're attempting to be ironic here. Sadly for you, my post entails criticism, not pessimism; pessimism requires an accompanying temporally-based reference, which in this case would be something along the lines of "Ericsson will always suck", "We're screwed because Ericsson will play badly", etc.

Nice try.

Edited by Crymson, 26 April 2010 - 03:53 PM.

[EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

I imagine you're attempting to be ironic here. Sadly for you, my post entails criticism, not pessimism; pessimism requires an accompanying temporally-based reference, which in this case would be something along the lines of "Ericsson will always suck", "We're screwed because Ericsson will play badly", etc.

Nice try.

No, I said you were pessimistic as you questioned his character and commitment, which to me is a bigger concern/failure than simply not being talented enough. You assumed the worst with no real basis of him not hustling and or having attitude problems, and also asserted that he doesn't care enough to change his ways in the near future, which I find to be indeed pessimistic.

Bad try.

Edited by EZBAKETHAGANGSTA, 26 April 2010 - 04:29 PM.