Where does he play? I was under the impression that Hovinen was likely going to play in Adirondack next season. We already have one guy to adapt to the North American game plus Cal Heeter who goes somewhere.
Yes hovinen is more then likely starting there and actually splitting time with heeter, Ericsson wanted an NHL shot that's the reason why he wasn't signed, refused to play in ahl apparently
What is the fascination with this kid? He was ditched by the Flyers, passed on by 30 teams in seven rounds of the following draft, then not offered a contract by any of those same 30 teams afterwards. I know his YouTube clips are pretty impressive, but why do people think this kid is going to be anything special while the professional scouts of 30 teams don't seem to think he is even worth a shot?
I don't think a single player has re-entered the draft and been selected since before the lockout.
Teams prefer to take the 18 and 19 year olds that their amateur scouts spent the year following.
It is more valuable to select a younger player that is less of a known commodity and see what happens, especially when older players that re-enter the draft will be available without spending a pick right after the draft.
As for your claim that he was not offered a contract, care to back that up with a source?
Not signing a contract and not even being offered a contract are very different things.
I don't think a single player has re-entered the draft and been selected since before the lockout.
Teams prefer to take the 18 and 19 year olds that their amateur scouts spent the year following.
It is more valuable to select a younger player that is less of a known commodity and see what happens, especially when older players that re-enter the draft will be available without spending a pick right after the draft.
As for your claim that he was not offered a contract, care to back that up with a source?
Not signing a contract and not even being offered a contract are very different things.
Ericsson wasn't offered a contract. I don't have a source, but it's widely known around here.
You could have said the same thing about Hovinen at one point. He was a 2006 draft pick that went unsigned and overlooked until last year. It's not really proof that someone lacks the ability to make it.
Eriksson has been great every year except last year so it is puzzling why they gave up on someone who has been nothing but successful.
That's all well and good, but fans who have only seen him on YouTube and read about him on Twitter complaining that they let him go and now want to sign him while other GM's and scouts aren't interested is silly. It would be one thing if the kid was getting interest from other teams or something like that, but he isn't. It would be very shocking to me if 100 fans on HFBoards knew better than 100 professional scouts. The Flyers liked Hovinen better and they went with him. They aren't interested and neither is the rest of the NHL. If in two years he signs with someone else, great. But right now this guy is a nobody and it isn't great hockey policy to waste a contract on a nobody who may never set foot on North American ice. People get on Homer for wasting contracts all the time, but now a guy that fans like because he has good YouTube clips and Bill Meltzer wrote about him one time is a great move even though he was ditched once by this team for another player, not drafted, then not offered a contract.
Maybe they should sign Bodrov too. He has such a high ceiling and is playing very well in the KHL! Did you guys see his YouTube clips??? Or that tweet from EuroFlyers???
That's all well and good, but fans who have only seen him on YouTube and read about him on Twitter complaining that they let him go and now want to sign him while other GM's and scouts aren't interested is silly. It would be one thing if the kid was getting interest from other teams or something like that, but he isn't. It would be very shocking to me if 100 fans on HFBoards knew better than 100 professional scouts. The Flyers liked Hovinen better and they went with him. They aren't interested and neither is the rest of the NHL. If in two years he signs with someone else, great. But right now this guy is a nobody and it isn't great hockey policy to waste a contract on a nobody who may never set foot on North American ice. People get on Homer for wasting contracts all the time, but now a guy that fans like because he has good YouTube clips and Bill Meltzer wrote about him one time is a great move even though he was ditched once by this team for another player, not drafted, then not offered a contract.
Maybe they should sign Bodrov too. He has such a high ceiling and is playing very well in the KHL! Did you guys see his YouTube clips??? Or that tweet from EuroFlyers???
I don't know much about Ericksson, but I can't imagine they would want to draft a player twice. I would like to see them go after Michael Houser though. Pennsylvania kid playing well with the Knights, used to the North American rink, and has attended training camp with the Flyers.
I don't know much about Ericksson, but I can't imagine they would want to draft a player twice. I would like to see them go after Michael Houser though. Pennsylvania kid playing well with the Knights, used to the North American rink, and has attended training camp with the Flyers.
He's no longer eligible to be drafted... he's a free agent.
Time to bump this thread. It's funny reading the comments from the first two pages.
Things like, it's ok, we're going to use BOB and Bryz. Yeah, he had a good season, but everyone else passed on him. We signed Hoivonen in his place, etc...
Another year has gone by and he put up a 1.67GAA with a .931SA%...a year after putting up a 1.73GAA and .935SA%.
I don't care what the reasons nobody has signed him are. I don't care if he's demanding a starting role in the NHL...at this point, with where our club is, I give it to him.
Now that he's an UFA the Flyers could sign him 1yr, promise him he'll at worst be AHL starter or he gets to go home.
Our only goalie is Bryz, no NHL back up, Heeter and Stolarz haven't proven themselves even at the AHL level. Top goalies in the SEL are usually almost NHL back up material.
Maybe he just wants to stay in Sweden? That very possibly could be the reason we didn't sign him in the first place. Would also explain why he hasn't signed anywhere else...
Was there ever a statement made by the Flyers where they admitted they chose not to sign him?
From what I've read I'd really like the Flyers to sign him. He was what a 7th round draft pick? Hmmm what other elite goalie was drafted very late and is one of the best goaltenders in the league
Now that he's an UFA the Flyers could sign him 1yr, promise him he'll at worst be AHL starter or he gets to go home.
Our only goalie is Bryz, no NHL back up, Heeter and Stolarz haven't proven themselves even at the AHL level. Top goalies in the SEL are usually almost NHL back up material.
IIRC, Ericksson would come over only if he was guaranteed a spot on the Flyers roster he didn't want a spot in the AHL. His performance in the SEL has show that he probably has the quality to be an NHL back up at this time. If he'd sign, the Flyers would be well served to take him on before he goes with another organization and we have Bob Pt. II.
They might as well sign him for next year if they can and make him backup. I think it's hard to believe he's not an improvement over Leighton or Boosh.
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Down in the basement, I've got a Craftsman lathe. Show it to the children when they misbehave.
They might as well sign him for next year if they can and make him backup. I think it's hard to believe he's not an improvement over Leighton or Boosh.
Agreed completely. He's younger than any of the other goalies on the market, and he's FREE.
I've said it a lot, but taking Hovinen over him was a mistake...
Though the idea of him wanting NHL immediately seems like a plausible theory.