10/3 Pre-season GDT: Pittsburgh Penguins at Red Wings

[Carman 387]

Seriously, it's not even the regular season and ericsson is already the whipping boy and we're back to Osbad.

This place is so pathetic sometimes.

I sort of agree, but for a player that's competing for a spot you would think he would improve. He's not played well in the preseason, so why should we expect him to play well in the regular season?

[diehardredwing19 11]

ahhahha i dont need all the information but how did it go lmao!

[Guest Heaten]

are you watching ericsson today, or this preseason for that matter?

Are you watching the game (and entire team) today? Or are you just focusing your hate on one guy? The entire team has been brutal. Watch the game instead of focus all your attention on one player.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

are you watching ericsson today, or this preseason for that matter?

yup.

Did you notice how there was the word preseason in your question?

He hasn't looked great, but I'd rather he make stupid mistakes like he just did with Malkin here in the preseason, so hopefully he learns from that mistake and doesn't do it in the regular season.

Basically it doesn't mean much to me how guys look in the preseason because it's just that. The games mean nothing and it's not the real lineups. Most teams and coaches are in experimental mode.

So call me crazy, but I plan to wait until the regular season to see how he's doing before I start blaming him for everything.

[OsGOD 3]

I'm not sure if it really matters or not but when was the last time the Wings ended the pre-season with a losing record??

seems like every year they do

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I sort of agree, but for a player that's competing for a spot you would think he would improve. He's not played well in the preseason, so why should we expect him to play well in the regular season?

Of course it would instill more confidence if he's looked good. But there becomes this pack mentality, where people start criticizing him for every little thing. "did you see how ericsson jumped on the ice! lmfao! Errorson!"

Like I said, this isn't the real teams or the real opponents. It'd be nice if he looked like he had it together out there, but I plan to see what he does in games that count with his actual defensive pairings.

[Carman 387]

Of course it would instill more confidence if he's looked good. But there becomes this pack mentality, where people start criticizing him for every little thing. "did you see how ericsson jumped on the ice! lmfao! Errorson!"

Like I said, this isn't the real teams or the real opponents. It'd be nice if he looked like he had it together out there, but I plan to see what he does in games that count with his actual defensive pairings.

He is playing hockey, and he is playing for his career. This isn't as meaningless as you make it out to be.

[RWRNHZ40 18]

I'm not sure if it really matters or not but when was the last time the Wings ended the pre-season with a losing record??

Last year, won 3, lost 5.

[Hockeymom1960 5,107]

Of course it would instill more confidence if he's looked good. But there becomes this pack mentality, where people start criticizing him for every little thing. "did you see how ericsson jumped on the ice! lmfao! Errorson!"

Like I said, this isn't the real teams or the real opponents. It'd be nice if he looked like he had it together out there, but I plan to see what he does in games that count with his actual defensive pairings.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

He is playing hockey, and he is playing for his career. This isn't as meaningless as you make it out to be.

which could just as easily mean he's trying to do too much.

Ericsson is a converted forward with relatively little experience. It's quite possible he could never turn into a solid NHL defenseman. My gut is he'll still turn out to be an improvement over Lebda this season, if only for versatility, and there's the hope he'll develop into something more. But who knows.

[Carman 387]

which could just as easily mean he's trying to do too much.

Ericsson is a converted forward with relatively little experience. It's quite possible he could never turn into a solid NHL defenseman. My gut is he'll still turn out to be an improvement over Lebda this season, if only for versatility, and there's the hope he'll develop into something more. But who knows.

Oh yeah, I'm hoping the best for Ericsson too. But we do have a pretty good defenseman waiting behind him as well. I don't want to waive Ericsson or anything crazy like that yet, but I am disappointed in his performance and not sure why you say I shouldn't be.

[Guest mindfly]

Just get JANIK as the 6th D how hard can it be?

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Oh yeah, I'm hoping the best for Ericsson too. But we do have a pretty good defenseman waiting behind him as well. I don't want to waive Ericsson or anything crazy like that yet, but I am disappointed in his performance and not sure why you say I shouldn't be.

I don't think I said you shouldn't be disappointed. It'd be easier to be hopeful had he played like a stud this preseason. I get that.

But I think there's a lot of leeway between not being hopeful and making him the whipping boy. Not saying you have specifically, but if you cruise back through the thread you can see it's clearly happening already.

Take for example the post above mine right here. People are already calling for Janik or Kindl. I think Janik played well as a plug, but there's probably also a reason he's never really caught on in the NHL. And this is all happening before E takes one shift of the regular season.

Edited October 3, 2010 by haroldsnepsts

[Guest mindfly]

What are the D pairs? I thought kronwall and lidstrom were gonna play together?

A 6th D must be physical and take care of his own end, Ericsson does neither, i'm just stating the facts.

[brett 1,029]

this team is doomed. throw in the towel now.

[syntax 359]

Glad that one is over. Glad the preseason is over as well.

Looking forward to Friday.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

What are the D pairs? I thought kronwall and lidstrom were gonna play together?

A 6th D must be physical and take care of his own end, Ericsson does neither, i'm just stating the facts.

Those are just blanket statements, not actually facts. By your criteria we should get rid of Lidstrom and Rafalski as well because they don't meet both criteria.

Glad that one is over. Glad the preseason is over as well.

Looking forward to Friday.

This.

Thank god the season is finally starting!!

[Andy Pred 48 337]

hey i dont wanna get on anyone ones case as it is too early in the season ie not even started yet. But 5 goals on 25 shots, i mean come on even our netty in the beer league would get roasted for that performance, and this time he had our so called top 6 in front of him.

Babs will be a concerned coach after that showing, not just Oz but the whole outfit. Got 4 days to iron some big looking wrinkles out.

Edited October 3, 2010 by Andy Pred 48

[RWRNHZ40 18]

Those are just blanket statements, not actually facts. By your criteria we should get rid of Lidstrom and Rafalski as well because they don't meet both criteria.

This.

Thank god the season is finally starting!!

I think mindfly was speaking of our 6th D-man. Lids and Rafi are top 4 D-men. But he's right, Ericsson does need to take care of things in his own end. I know that he doesn't have years of experience that our top 4 have, but a lot of people are expecting him to go back to his form that we first saw in the playoffs. And since he hasn't, people are complaining.

Maybe he'll morph into a physical D-man whose plays won't give way to 2 on 1's or turnovers in front of the net, but maybe not. He may start the season but that doesn't mean he'll finish it. We can moan and complain and make him the whipping boy of LGW, but we're not the coach/GM, so we'll see what Babs has to say. I do wish him the best though.

[Guest mindfly]

Those are just blanket statements, not actually facts. By your criteria we should get rid of Lidstrom and Rafalski as well because they don't meet both criteria.

Lidstrom and rafalski are not 3rd pair defensemen and their job is to rack up 50pts plus and quarterback the powerplay etc, huge difference, how can you even put ericsson in the same sentence as them? mind boggling.

Edited October 3, 2010 by mindfly

[Z and D for the C 712]

I don't think it's a coincidence that mindfly is back to bitching right when we lose our minus ratings.

[titanium2 867]

I'm seriously just happy nobody is terribly injured.

But when was the last time the Wings ended the pre-season with a losing record?

[Barrie 900]

I didn't watch, and don't pay attention to preseason, but did Cindy play? If so, how long before the "Crosby Sucks" chant started?

[RWRNHZ40 18]

I'm seriously just happy nobody is terribly injured.

But when was the last time the Wings ended the pre-season with a losing record?

Ditto...

Last year. 3-5 record.

Barrie - Nope; out with sore hip flexor.

Edited October 3, 2010 by RWRNHZ40

[Barrie 900]

Barrie - Nope; out with sore hip flexor.

Good move on his part to only play in Detroit when he has to. If I was him, I'd skip this one too.