• Recently Browsing   0 members

    No registered users viewing this page.

Sign in to follow this  
Ekmanc

Ericsson re-signed 6-yrs $4.25 mill AAV

Rate this topic

Recommended Posts

This is kinda what I'm thinking.

Ericsson has become a solid #2 for us. Should he get bumped down the depth chart (maybe DeKeyser surpasses him, maybe we add someone), he'll be a really solid #3 or #4.

My issue with our defense is that we don't really have a top four. We have Kronwall, Ericsson, DeKeyser...and a big black hole. Hopefully Smith and Kindl can raise their games sooner rather than later. Even Kevin Weekes mentioned it - we don't have a great puck-moving defenseman, and it's hurting us. That hole has to be filled if we want to seriously compete for the Cup.

But I wouldn't change anything about Ericsson right now. He's become one of my favorite active Red Wings. I guess he could be a little meaner, more physical - but it's pretty clear by now that that's just not his style. Can't force things like that. Gotta play your game, be yourself.

Yes that's absolutely the issue with our defense and we desperately need someone to grab that #4 spot. Kindl looked like he might do it last year, but he has regressed. Smith started out horribly, but has actually looked great the last couple of games and one just has to hope he can keep it up and improve step by step on the defensive side. When everyone's healthy I say go with Dekeyser-Smith as 2nd pair. If Smith goes back to being awful I'll keep lobbying for Almqvist being a Red Wing sooner rather than later just because we need that PMD.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

If we're lucky we can get him to a relatively cheap 4-6 year deal, one of those that seem like total steals at the end of them.

Not so sure. He may very likely be hitting his prime right now. The next 2-4 years could be the best hockey he plays in his career. Making it a 4 year deal could mean we have to give him a raise just as he's starting to decline. Ideally you don't want to have to re-sign a player right when he's at his career peak, if you can avoid it.

I think you're right on the money (pun intended) with both points.

Ideally, we give DeKeyser what I guess you could call an extended bridge contract. One that, as you said, seems like a total steal by the expiry.

And I do think it was very important to sign Ericsson for six years, for the reason you mentioned. Gotta consider two things: 1) defensemen generally take a longer time to develop and peak, and 2) he made the switch to defense at a relatively late stage. Point being, he's probably heading into his prime right now. I'd expect the peak to last for 3-5 seasons before he starts declining, and generally you don't like to give raises to declining players.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

We still need a REAL #1 guy back there though...Ericsson nor Kronwall is it. DeKeyser will be it in a few years, yet needs to stay healthy, so far he has been injury prone...

Who? There are maybe 10 or 12 defencemen in the NHL who are clearly better than Kronwall. Answers on a postcard please as to how to obtain Weber, Chara, Suter, Subban, Keith, Karlsson, Letang or Doughty.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Who? There are maybe 10 or 12 defencemen in the NHL who are clearly better than Kronwall. Answers on a postcard please as to how to obtain Weber, Chara, Suter, Subban, Keith, Karlsson, Letang or Doughty.

Yep, this is the harsh reality.

I actually think Kronner has made a very smooth transition into the #1 spot. He still makes those stupid, lazy mistakes now and then, but, for the most part, he's owning his role. He's become one of the best defensemen in the league, and by all accounts he's a great veteran leader. We're very lucky to have him.

I'm perfectly happy with Ericsson and DeKeyser. It's just - to beat the dead horse - that hole in the top four. In a perfect world (to beat another dead horse here), we make a strong addition in the summer through free agency. There are some very appealing names on the list, though I expect pretty much all of them to re-sign.

(P.S. There Are Maybe Ten or Twelve)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

:clap: way to be kenny!

this looks like a good deal now, and it'll look like a great deal towards the end of the contract.

I like the progress E has continued to show..

no complaints about this contract

YES!!! Love the opening to this post! With all the Kenny bashing that has gone on this season It's nice to hear another "believer". Finding "diamonds in the rough", "over-ripening" and "patience with prospects" pays off once again. Major kudos to scouting and management, once again. LGW!!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Good signing in terms of both term and cap hit. Big Rig has come a long way, and if he keeps developing the way he has been the last couple of years, it will be a bargain by the end of it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm fairly certain that if someone went back through my posting history, they'd see where I posted that Ericsson's last (current) contract extension was an overpayment. This is one of those times where I'm more than happy to be proven wrong.

Very pleased with this signing. After many stumbles along the way, Big E has developed into a very solid and dependable defenseman. $4.25m is actually less than I thought he would sign for, so I don't have much to complain about. I could try to complain about the length of the contract, but since that's one of the things that pushed his AAV down, that complaint wouldn't really have much to stand on.

Well done, Kenny!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yep, this is the harsh reality.

I actually think Kronner has made a very smooth transition into the #1 spot. He still makes those stupid, lazy mistakes now and then, but, for the most part, he's owning his role. He's become one of the best defensemen in the league, and by all accounts he's a great veteran leader. We're very lucky to have him.

I'm perfectly happy with Ericsson and DeKeyser. It's just - to beat the dead horse - that hole in the top four. In a perfect world (to beat another dead horse here), we make a strong addition in the summer through free agency. There are some very appealing names on the list, though I expect pretty much all of them to re-sign.

(P.S. There Are Maybe Ten or Twelve)

I think the Wings have a couple of guys in the system capable of filling that #4 spot, but they won't be ready for the job for a few years. IMO, this is why Holland seems unwilling to part with prospects for a top D-man in a trade. It's hard, but as fans we're probably just going to have to be patient and the roster will work itself out. Not this season, but I'm thinking 2 years from now.

Edit: Sorry if this post is off-topic. Ericsson's contract actually seems below market value for a top 4 defenseman.

Edited by Wings_Toledo

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Growing pains for a defence without Lidstrom's Hall of Fame quarterbacking back there. You can see Kronwall isn't the same player because he has a much bigger responsibility now and probably has taken his foot off the pedal regarding bone crunching hits because it could lead to a penalty. I think he's doin g fine. We have good defensive kids on the Rapids with a bright future so big E deserves this contract and then some for being a responsible shut down guy and learning his role.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Good signing, good value. I'm not *crazy* about the 6th year, but it's livable. Ericsson has been pretty solid and that should continue for 4-5 more years. With the cap expected to jump significantly over the next couple years, his cap hit will be relatively low for what he is.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think the Wings have a couple of guys in the system capable of filling that #4 spot, but they won't be ready for the job for a few years. IMO, this is why Holland seems unwilling to part with prospects for a top D-man in a trade. It's hard, but as fans we're probably just going to have to be patient and the roster will work itself out. Not this season, but I'm thinking 2 years from now.

Edit: Sorry if this post is off-topic. Ericsson's contract actually seems below market value for a top 4 defenseman.

I think much of the reluctance in recent years to tap into the prospect pool came from having so many question marks on defense. Now with the way E has developed and him being locked up long-term, Kronwall locked up for a while, and DD already so good we have more answers.

Guys like Smith, Kindl, and our prospects are more expendable now, IMO. Which is not to say that we will, or should, trade them. But I think there'd be less risk in it now.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I think the Wings have a couple of guys in the system capable of filling that #4 spot, but they won't be ready for the job for a few years. IMO, this is why Holland seems unwilling to part with prospects for a top D-man in a trade. It's hard, but as fans we're probably just going to have to be patient and the roster will work itself out. Not this season, but I'm thinking 2 years from now.

Oh, we definitely have a bright future waiting in GR, no doubt about it. I'm just talking more about the here and now and immediate future. If Smith could flip a switch and own the #4 spot, I'd be happy. I just think a big UFA signing would be preferable because it'd give us solid depth, which we definitely lack right now, and it might take some pressure off of Smith.

Edit: Sorry if this post is off-topic. Ericsson's contract actually seems below market value for a top 4 defenseman.

I would say so. And he's our #2, who's entering his prime years now, so it really is a good deal.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Crymson

Excellent deal. I once despised Ericsson for his consistent boneheaded plays, but I was so hard on him mostly because he had all the tools necessary to succeed. He has since grown into a very solid shutdown defenseman. And if he ever learns to properly use that huge slapshot of his, watch out.

On a humorous note, this forum's counterpart on HF is exploding with negativity about this signing. Lulz.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Excellent deal. I once despised Ericsson for his consistent boneheaded plays, but I was so hard on him mostly because he had all the tools necessary to succeed. He has since grown into a very solid shutdown defenseman. And if he ever learns to properly use that huge slapshot of his, watch out.

On a humorous note, this forum's counterpart on HF is exploding with negativity about this signing. Lulz.

They're stuck in the 2010 playoffs

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this