Thoughts on Ericsson?

[UP Wings Fan 0]

Just wondering how everyone is feeling about Ericsson? and whether or not you feel he is earning his new money? I feel he is a detriment while on the ice, way too many mistakes, and hasn't come close to showing that he is worth the 3+ million he is earning!

GO WINGS!

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

Not yet.

Completely flubbed a one timer in a 2-2 game and lead to an offensive scoring chance.

He's gotta be more consistent.

[Guest Crymson]

He's improving. Hopefully he will continue to improve.

Edited October 16, 2011 by Crymson

[P. Marlowe 748]

"Earn" is a funny word. He's playing a game and he makes more money in few months than most people see in their whole lives.

Oh and I think him and Kindl have been good. I usually have my feet on the ground with my expectations. Ericsson seems to have improved. Or maybe he's just his normal self and the long summer of reading Ericsson and Hudler hate just influenced me a bit.

Edited October 16, 2011 by P. Marlowe

[UP Wings Fan 0]

He's improving, but not enough. Not yet.

After 3 years with the Griffins and 3 with the Wings, my thought is that we shouldn't still be talking about him improving! He should be there already! My vote is that we keep Kindl up, send Ericsson down.

[P. Marlowe 748]

My vote is that we keep Kindl up, send Ericsson down.

Vote all you want but that's not the way it works.

[UP Wings Fan 0]

Vote all you want but that's not the way it works.

Wow, you're a wise one!

[P. Marlowe 748]

Wow, you're a wise one!

Yep.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Wow. we made it a whole 4 games before this thread popped up.

So you're asking if he's worth it 4 games into a three year contract?

Edited October 16, 2011 by haroldsnepsts

[dragonballgtz 273]

Kindl is the one that is anchoring the duo IMO so no... he is not at $3M per year level yet.

[Scott Stevens 44]

I thought Ian White made a lot of mistakes tonight. He's got the same problem Rafalski had when going into the boards with a forward. He doesn't keep his position between forward and net and lets the forward muscle him off the puck. It happened twice tonight and both times the Wild got good scoring chances.

Ericsson was invisible. He shanked a one-timer that was set up perfectly for him, and he missed a few other plays as well. He needs to move around and get involved more. He's too timid out there.

[Echolalia 2,961]

Actually I've been pretty impressed with Eriksson so far. He really looks like he's trying to play more punishing in our zone and be a more substantial player, and while I still think he has some stuff he needs to continue to work on, it looks like he's on the right path towards making our investment in him worth it.

[dobbles 252]

i think kindl has looked much better this year and that ericsson has just looked average. while he certainly isn't the worst ever, he is still showing he isn't a 3 mil player. i certainly hope he becomes that as the wings would certainly benefit from his improvement. i just don't think it will realistically happen.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Besides it not really being fair to judge Ericsson after four games, I disagree with the notion that Ericsson has been bad so far. Certainly room for improvement, but how many of us were scared to watch when we saw Ericsson and Kindl together before the first game? That pairing has done quite well so far.

I kind of look at it this way with Ericsson: if I don't notice him during a game, that's usually a positive. If he kills penalties, keeps working in his own zone and doesn't excessively turn the puck over, I am just fine with him as a third pairing d-man.

Edited October 16, 2011 by GoWings1905

[dobbles 252]

Besides it not really being fair to judge Ericsson after four games, I disagree with the notion that Ericsson has been bad so far. Certainly room for improvement, but how many of us were scared to watch when we saw Ericsson and Kindl together before the first game? That pairing has done quite well so far.

we have had several years to judge him. and IMO, he has shown nothing in the first 4 games to show he is any different from last year. additionally, IMO kindl has by far been the better player in the pairing and is the reason they haven't looked that bad.

I kind of look at it this way with Ericsson: if I don't notice him during a game, that's usually a positive. If he kills penalties, keeps working in his own zone and doesn't excessively turn the puck over, I am just fine with him as a third pairing d-man.

i don't think his contract allows us to take that opinion anymore. he is the 3rd highest cap hit for dmen and the 6th highest on the entire team. (those numbers drop to 4 and 8 respectively when looking at actual salary) he no longer has the luxury of being the bottom pairing guy that is successful by floating under the radar.

[DatsyukDangles 39]

I like to think I'm usually pretty reluctant to criticize "controversial" players after just a few games, but Ericsson is my one exception. Having watched him since he's come up from the GRG, I just haven't seen him improve much, if at all, over the course of his NHL career. And I haven't seen anything in the first four games to suggest I'm going to have any different opinion about him this year.

I see the guy make stupid plays in every game, whether they're minor blips or major screw ups. Maybe he's out of position, maybe he gets caught on a bad pinch, maybe he makes a stupid turnover, or maybe he takes a bad angle toward the boards and as a result misses a chance to play the puck; but it's always something. I don't consider it good if I "don't notice Ericsson," because he's the only player on the roster for whom I haven't thought to myself "wow he made a good play there." Usually the best I can give him is "well, he managed not to screw that one up."

My prayer is that he has a stretch where he somehow "turns it on" and ups his trade value while some other team is hurting on D men. I'd really rather not be stuck with him on the Wings.

[UP Wings Fan 0]

we have had several years to judge him. and IMO, he has shown nothing in the first 4 games to show he is any different from last year. additionally, IMO kindl has by far been the better player in the pairing and is the reason they haven't looked that bad.

i don't think his contract allows us to take that opinion anymore. he is the 3rd highest cap hit for dmen and the 6th highest on the entire team. (those numbers drop to 4 and 8 respectively when looking at actual salary) he no longer has the luxury of being the bottom pairing guy that is successful by floating under the radar.

Well said, and goes to my original question. At that salary I expect more, and yes even after 4 games! In those 4 games he has turned the puck over several times/game, whether it be holding the blue line, or a behind the net battle. His decision making is slow and he does not use his size well!

Thanks to all that replied! Hoping Ericsson can step up his play and prove me wrong, but it needs to happen soon!

GO WINGS!

[VM1138 1,921]

Big E's contract is going to cause Holland problems in future negotiations with players like Smith and Kindl. Kindl clearly has more upside than Ericsson, and will demand a higher salary once the time comes. Ericsson just reminds me of Lilja a bit, only less useful. He plays okay most of the time, never really enough to be noticed, and then makes absolutely boneheaded mistakes that hurt the team. But he doesn't block shots like Lilja did. So he's less useful. At this point. I hope he has a great year and proves me wrong, but I'm doubting it'll happen.

[13dangledangle 959]

I think Big E is playing well, or at least he's exceeding my expectation that's for sure. I feel the team is playing well, yes they are making some mistakes but after only four games in they're still shaking some rust off. Kindl has been great and I believe White is going to kill it in points and have a surreal year for him here. Our D is looking great (and with room for improvment that's a good thing) and in a few more games our forwards lines will be clicking even more so Im pretty stoked about these guys this year!

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I thought Ian White made a lot of mistakes tonight. He's got the same problem Rafalski had when going into the boards with a forward. He doesn't keep his position between forward and net and lets the forward muscle him off the puck. It happened twice tonight and both times the Wild got good scoring chances.

Ericsson was invisible. He shanked a one-timer that was set up perfectly for him, and he missed a few other plays as well. He needs to move around and get involved more. He's too timid out there.

Couldn't disagree more. I thought White had a great game last night.

And Ericsson being invisible most of the time I'm okay with. If he's physical and doesn't make big mistakes, that's great. He shanked the one timer, but he also knocked two guys down at center ice that led to the Datsyuk breakaway and was still more physical around the net than last season. And in general looked poised with the puck. He still needs to be more physical, but he's making progress.

Kronwall and Stuart looked like the shakiest out there last night. Stuart seemed to be flopping all over the place, and Kronwall had a few terrible turnovers, like the backhander up the middle from behind his own net

I thought Kindl had a great game. Not very physical but seemed much more confident with his outlet passes.

Big E's contract is going to cause Holland problems in future negotiations with players like Smith and Kindl. Kindl clearly has more upside than Ericsson, and will demand a higher salary once the time comes. Ericsson just reminds me of Lilja a bit, only less useful. He plays okay most of the time, never really enough to be noticed, and then makes absolutely boneheaded mistakes that hurt the team. But he doesn't block shots like Lilja did. So he's less useful. At this point. I hope he has a great year and proves me wrong, but I'm doubting it'll happen.

I'm not sure it will. I think Ericsson's contract was in big part because of Rafalski's surprise departure. IF Holland gets Commodore and White signed first, I don't think E gets nearly as much. But at the time Holland had major holes in his defense.

Ericsson isn't a better shot blocker, but overall much better at puck movement. I'd say he's not as useful on the PK but overall more useful because of the Wings puck moving defense system.

[Scott Stevens 44]

Couldn't disagree more. I thought White had a great game last night.

And Ericsson being invisible most of the time I'm okay with. If he's physical and doesn't make big mistakes, that's great. He shanked the one timer, but he also knocked two guys down at center ice that led to the Datsyuk breakaway and was still more physical around the net than last season. And in general looked poised with the puck. He still needs to be more physical, but he's making progress.

Kronwall and Stuart looked like the shakiest out there last night. Stuart seemed to be flopping all over the place, and Kronwall had a few terrible turnovers, like the backhander up the middle from behind his own net

I thought Kindl had a great game. Not very physical but seemed much more confident with his outlet passes.

I'm not sure it will. I think Ericsson's contract was in big part because of Rafalski's surprise departure. IF Holland gets Commodore and White signed first, I don't think E gets nearly as much. But at the time Holland had major holes in his defense.

Ericsson isn't a better shot blocker, but overall much better at puck movement. I'd say he's not as useful on the PK but overall more useful because of the Wings puck moving defense system.

Fair enough. But watch the difference between Lidstrom and White in future games when playing a dumped puck. Lidstrom only goes in first when he knows he has a big enough gap between him and the forward and will be able to play the puck comfortably. If not, he slows down and puts himself in position to play defense = between the net and the forward. Ian White didn't do that last night a few times and got stripped of the puck while he was behing the forward = scoring chance for the other team. I realize that noone plays as fundamentally sound as Lidstrom, so I'm not saying Ian White can't make a few mistakes. I'm just saying that he did.

[hockey23 79]

He hasn't even been on the ice for a goal against so far this season, but of course people on here will complain about him. I don't understand why people expect him to go from somewhat of a liability to a legitimate top-4 guy just because he got a raise.

Edited October 16, 2011 by hockey23

[dobbles 252]

while overall i am critical of E, it does seem he has picked up his physicality a bit. anyone else have an opinion on that? it could honestly be selective memory, but i do feel like he is using his size at least a little more in the first few games this year. thoughts?

[DatsyukDangles 39]

Couldn't disagree more. I thought White had a great game last night.

I agree with you here, I was impressed with how White played last night. Still disagree with you on Ericsson though. In open ice/center ice, Ericsson isn't bad. What kills me about him is how he plays the puck in his own corners and in the transitional game. The guy just makes so many dumb mistakes. I also agree with some of the other voices -- if Ericsson is taking up as much cap space as he is, I'm not ok with not noticing him for a game. If he's going to sign a contract as big as he did, he better be getting noticed for doing SOMETHING well.

[Guest 13GoWings40]

Just wondering how everyone is feeling about Ericsson? and whether or not you feel he is earning his new money? I feel he is a detriment while on the ice, way too many mistakes, and hasn't come close to showing that he is worth the 3+ million he is earning!

GO WINGS!

He's played 4 games of a 246 game contract, lets wait until at least 5% of the contract is played out before we decide its value