Cali-Wing-Nut

Ericsson is a decent #5/6. I all for Holland bringing him back if the deal makes sense (no more than ($1.5 million). I think E will be wearing red and white next season.

I hope you dont complain about our defense if that happens.  Just cause hes cheap doesnt mean hes worth it (and 1.5 isnt cheap for what he brings to the table).

Furthermore, Why arent we hoping we can have solid 1 or 2 guys as 5 or 6 guys?  We had it before and we won cups.  Settling for less is the reason we are close but not winning.

Ill take #1 or #2 guys from #11-#14 teams for our bottom feeders.  Its been shown that the better players on shoddy teams are willing to eat some salray to play on a team that can go the distance or have a good chance.  

For once maybe we should draft in some expensive guys that have immediate return on investment and shuffle the guys we already have to make a decent team.  

I dont follow college or minor league prospects so Im at a disadvantage at calling who we should pick but I wouldnt mind making some trades for a young superstar.  Holland likes to weed out cheap players in the minors and stab them into the league at their prime. I question that tactic as it has about 20-30% return on investment as well as losing good players to trades before they even made it to the big leagues.

This will be the last post from me on this thread (as long as I dont get qouted) but I think we need to play Tatar, Mursak and Kindl.  These are three men that have a lot to give, are young and free of injury, cheap and all have the potential for being superstars or at very least very important players.

Tatar may not be Crosby but he is gonna overshadow Z just needs ice time.

CWN out!

By who?  Who said that he would be the next Lidstrom who hits like Kronwall? I never heard anyone say anything even close to that about him.  Babcock called him a stud in one quote, but that's about it.  Even in Grand Rapids they were saying he needed to bulk up and play with a mean streak.  Eeven among his supporters I don't remember anyone here ever saying he'd be a Lidstrom with Kronner's hitting.  Actually, anyone comparing any d-man on the Wings to Lids AND Kronner would get laughed at, for starters.  

I couldn't find the Red Wings prospect review, but on hockeys future they said he could develop into a #4-6 D-man, which still sounds about right.

http://www.hockeysfu...nathan_ericsson

Exactly what point of yours does his being drafted last prove?  My point was it should give some indication of expectations for him, or how the fact he's in the lineup at all is a win for the Wings.


Emotional needs for him to play well?  I'm not sure what you're referring to.  You seem to be the one who has a lot more emotions involved when it comes to Ericsson.

I have talked about Ericsson's upsides in several posts.  His biggest asset to the team is probably his puck moving ability.  Ericsson has a very good first pass.  Better than Stuart and Salei.  It leads to some brutal turnovers because he doesn't seem to have it between the ears yet.  But it's his second full season.  I'm guessing Detroit is hoping his decision making will continue to improve and there will inevitably be growing pains as he tries to stretch his role on the team.

His size is also an asset.  He's not as physical as he should be, but the Wings blueline is undersized and he provides some.  He'd be a greater asset if he played nastier.  And to be clear, I'm not saying Ericsson is some awesome defenseman.  But he's big, somewhat physical, will drop the gloves on occasion, good passer, cheap, relatively young, and could still improve.  Put that all together and he's a decent bottom pairing guy.

And now you're saying $2 mill to replace him.  If we're talking about re-signing E for that, then that does add to potential other D-men out there.  I was saying around 1.25 mill.

No short memory here.  Again, you seem to be angry because Ericsson didn't turn out to be a savior for the Wings defensive corps.  I don't think anyone realistically thought he would be that.  Everything I saw he was projected to be a #4-6 d'man.  If he turns out to be that, it's a win for the Wings.  And either way I don't see why Ericsson should take all the blame for not replacing the Wings aging defensive corps.  Isn't that Holland's job?

"Having played center most of his life, Ericsson  enjoys an impressive skill-set. He has excellent mobility and agility  for a player his size, possesses solid hands, has above average puck  skills, and makes a very good first pass. His shot’s not too shabby  either, having recorded a 100.1 mph slap shot at the 2008 AHL skills  competition.

But don’t let his soft hands fool you. He plays a  physical brand of hockey with a willingness to protect his teammates by  dropping the gloves."

Bleacher report scouting Report 2008

I highlighted what was talked about him by almost everyone.  A big shooter that wouldnt think twice about taking care of business. Sounds like Nick crossed with Kron to me.  Isnt that why they were pairing him with Nicky during the 09 cup? I remember them saying that he was being taught to play like Nick.  That ended in failure.  Ill give you this, he finally stopped trying to poke check pucks away and at least attempted to get in front of it as well as he could.

As far as his size is concerned, you claim he add some size at the blueline as an asset.  What good is size if he is either unwilling or unable to use it?  Potential is one thing, hell I had the potential to be an NBA basketball player except I didnt shoot good enough for a guy that is 6'6".  Just cause Im tall and have some size doesnt mean I was able to play at the level required for the DRW.  He is far from physical and a serious pushover.  Like I said and you seem to acknowledge is that he doesnt use his body to his advantage.

His first pass is fine as long as there isnt a forecheck that is worth a damn on the ice. His dump pass into the zone is scary soft and almost always ends in a quick outlet pass the other way right past him.  Again potential vs results.  Potential:10 Results: -100

As far as saying that it sounds like an emotional argument from you and some others, you sound like a codependent spouce of an alcoholic.  "Hell get better" is the operative phase.  We arent rebuilding a team last time I checked, people like myself expect results from the team.  I get angry because he is given too much time and as of yet I dont have an indication that he is gonna get dropped.

As far as his failure as a player being blamed on him?  What can I say hes out there on the ice and he aint doin s***.

As far as it being Holland fault instead?  Who are you gonna trade him to?  He thought he was gonna be awesome just like Babs and everyone else including me at the time. He actually played ok in 09 but that must have been freshman luck cause 4 months later and he stunk to high heaven.

Its Hollands fault if he keeps him.  Like the saying goes, Trick me once shame on you, Trick me twice, Shame on HOLLAND.  

I guess we will have to agree to disagree about how good he actually is and what hes worth.

Oh and Salei is no better, except that he volunteered to not play for weeks at a time.  That was nice.

The giveaway and hits stat is...  quite sad.

The points stat isn't.  He was supposed to be the defensive defenseman on the Jonny-Rafi pairing.

Well he blew that.  Thing is everything I always read/heard about what they were hoping from him was a big body Dman with the hands of a Forward since thats what he tried to be and failed doing.  

The rationale was that Johnny Turnover would be Nicky with Krons hitting abilty. sadly I cant find the link I had posted on a different forum where he actually stepped out of the way of a puck being shot which screened Howie and led to a goal.  Cant remember the team, wanna say the Stars, the Blues or Blue Jackets.

People that have seen him play in person have a whole new level of disdain for him.  TV tends to stay with the puck so you cant see what he is doing on the ice but it takes bad play to a whole new level.

My point with this is that he has been given a chance.  Even if you give him the benefit of the doubt that hes new to the position, how long do you let someone screw things up before moving on? If Detroit wants a half assed D man that is 6'6 220, they can hire me.  Ill play for league minimum and would probably show more heart and try than him.  Hope he goes to the minors, no team deserves what he brings.

Was it just me of did 80% of the time Erickson had the puck did he almost turn it over?

Well Ericsson led our defense with 70 giveaways through the full season and led the team with 14 in 11 games of the playoffs. He had 1 more blocked shot than KINDL at 37 for the whole regular season with almost double the amount of games played as Jakob.

How bout hits?  Hes our biggest D man and had the least hits of any of our bangers.

Numbers dont lie 15 points NOT goals, POINTS in 74 games from a guy that averages 18+ minutes a game is horrid.  The fact he doesnt help with anything else sticks a fork in it.  Some teams have a D man that cant shoot but does other things well. Truthfully, WHAT DOES ERICSSON DO WELL????

Answer is nothing.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you're drunk and hence have an overinflated sense of your comedic talents (spoiler: not funny).

Our top four D-men are solid. If you'd asked me a few days ago I would have said get rid of Salei and E, but I think Ericsson could use a little more time to get comfortable with playing D. Once that happens, there's a good chance we'll see more physicality out of him. Salei can go. Rafalski is killing us with that contract, but when he wants to be effective he generally can, so it's not the end of the world.

In summary: Not funny. Salei gone, Ericsson as #6, sign someone to play be #5.

Not trying to be funny I despise #52,  He scored 1 time in the playoffs and was completely worthless in the regular season. He is a traffic hazard.  Hes best at watching not playing and heaven forbid he does anything close to sacrificial like blocking a shot.

Hes soft on the boards, his lack of movement ends up setting picks on our own guys or screens Howie.  He has cost us numerous games.  Oh and how bout those blind drop passes he loves to do for a chasing forward FROM THE OTHER TEAM ?!?!?!  

Hes had enough time to get comfortable and thank god hes a UFA.

Although a few on this forum probably wish Id do what I said Id do earlier but I will seriously consider Draino down the gullet to watching Road Block, Traffic cone, Pileon aka a pathetic excuse for a D Man sport a Wings uni again.

Ericssucks and Sakei need a plane ticket to NOT IN HOCKEYTOWN,

Raffy aint that bad, he just needs someone to help him out on the blue line.

Heres to rebuilding our defensive lines in there entirety, unless it doesnt include Nick although Im not good at holdin gmy breath.

I believe god gave us the strength to fight on and yes I believe angles were there.

I still thank god for what happened.  I got 7 games out of Nick instead of 4 and thats good enough for me.

Hate to see how the rest of your life is though .  Probably a bitter hateful person.  I bet you tal to yourself about how idiotic people are and tell yourself how smart you are.

I may be dumb and maybe Im not but Belief gives people a will to keep going.  

Faith that theres a reason for what your doing goes a long way.

Obviously god was with all the players. Look at Clowe.  He was demolished and came back in Game 7.  Look at Bucky, hes a blessed man to score the way he does.

I dont think God picks sides but I think God picks people that believe.  

Hope you feel justified that we lost just so you think you can rub in something to my face that is hardly gonna bother me or any other true believer.

I believed and I got what I asked for.  You got nothing but being upset.

Well thank god for one helluva series.

We found a way to battle back with out a single chance of survival and we did it

Heres to the Wings

I gave you my attention and you gave me one helluva serie and one helluva season

Nick, Please come back.

We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not only because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.  


-JFK


GO WINGS!!!!!!

We have the momentum.  We have the game and it will be HISTORY MADE!!!

If we leave this period being only down a goal, I'll bef****** pleased.  

Our guys just can't finish for s***.  Too many hammer hands players.

HOPE YOUR f***IN PLEASED!!!!!!

Hopefully my fellow Bay-Area Red Wings fans can point me in the direction of a store where I can get an octopus.

I wish you the best but you will be arrested as soon as you throw it there.

Two games ago(for me Game 4 regular season) fans with face paint on were hoping I had one to call me out.


If you dont get arrested you will probably be attacked.

I was almost attacked after Game 1 because I was wearing red, throwing the sacred Octopi is for the trully righteous

May god and the force be with you

I cant handle this.

It's official.

Dan Cleary hates my life.

Me times a million

Im scarred of the dreaded last min goal against