I like it. It looked good the other night and I think it's a match that just works. E is more mature than he was a couple years ago, Nick's the steady presence E needs, and White gives Kindl a better partner than he's ever played with. I think this is a very, very good idea.
Ericsson has done quite well in the last few games. He's finally using his mobility again. Few defensemen of his size are so mobile as he, and he spent his entire recuperation period period working out multiple times daily.
I have never been a big fan of big rig. But man he looks so comfortable when pinching up the boards and playing behind the net. put him on the wing on the third or fourth line bet he gains our respect and admiration as a forward faster than a defensemen.
(He was a forward before he was drafted last overall by the wings anyway.)
I have never been a big fan of big rig. But man he looks so comfortable when pinching up the boards and playing behind the net. put him on the wing on the third or fourth line bet he gains our respect and admiration as a forward faster than a defensemen.
(He was a forward before he was drafted last overall by the wings anyway.)
You're preaching to the Bench Choir.
I've been wanting to see him post up in front of the goalie on the powerplay since he's put on a Wings sweater.
^It may sound crazy but keep him on D regularly, and then on the second PP unit add him as a forward. I remember seeing Philly do it with Pronger and I've seen Boston do it with Chara once in awhile IIRC. Replace one of our forwards with Ericsson and park him in the crease area. Why the hell not give it a try? He's got an underrated release on his shot. He's a lot like Mule, he doesn't have to wind up and telegraph it. He just fires a laser like it's nothing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by last_sd
but I think we are seeing White/Q/Kindl aren't great when they get top 4 mins.
Maybe I'm missing something but White's been damn good all season in the top D pair up until just recently. And even that's starting to get overblown.
Finding our chemistry on D again is the recipe for success imo. That needs to be figured out in these last few games.
No offense to White but pairing Nick with E would allow Nick to create more offense. And we're gonna need that in the playoffs. White/Kindl is a reasonably solid 5on5 pair.
I think this is a move to reward/build Ericsson's confidence while sending a message to White and motivate him to start playing with the fire that he had the beginning of the season.
This is a different Ericsson on a different team. May as well give it a shot. If we're willing to experiment with Hudler on the point we'd may as well send E to the net.
Maybe I'm missing something but White's been damn good all season in the top D pair up until just recently. And even that's starting to get overblown.
You're missing the fact that a few of the posters expect and demand robotic perfection from the greatest hockey players in the world. Even Nic, Pav, and Z cannot escape their careful scrutiny. I wonder if these "fans" and critics have ever laced up ice skates though?
Anyways I hope big E can work well with Lidstrom, why not give it a whirl? This whole switch up may be designed to split up Kindl and E and spread the wealth a little bit. Good job on E to be drafted 291st overall back in 2002 and 10 years later he's starting the game with Nick Lidstrom.
Damn after the discussions I can't wait to hear what the forward lines are looking like for tomorrow. Will there be a switch on Datsyuk's line?
Finding our chemistry on D again is the recipe for success imo. That needs to be figured out in these last few games.
No offense to White but pairing Nick with E would allow Nick to create more offense. And we're gonna need that in the playoffs. White/Kindl is a reasonably solid 5on5 pair.
Ericsson doesn't buy Nick much space, friend. The best thing for Nick is a defensive partner who can pass the puck, because Nick needs to be attacking as much as possible. That's why Raffy worked with him. It's why Murphy worked with him. It's why Oulasson worked with him.
It's why Stuart and Dandenault didn't work with him.
I think this is a move to reward/build Ericsson's confidence while sending a message to White and motivate him to start playing with the fire that he had the beginning of the season.
I like it.
White hasn't changed much, Crashman. If the team looks good, White looks good. If the team doesn't look good, White won't look good.
Didn't Ericsson play with Lidstrom against Florida?
Anyways, I think it will be good move for Ericsson at least. He has an opportunity to justify that contract and show that he belongs in the top 4 (as he said last season).
Is he the reason our PK has improved? Maybe. Babcock seems to think so. But he eats up minutes and plays the 1st PK unit. He uses his big frame for something at least. I always wished he would become a Pronger type player. He doesn't have the offensive upside (being a forward, you would think he does), but he can still have the defensive upside if he limits his mistakes and has a bit of a meanstreak. That doesn't mean drop the gloves ever opportunity possible, but make the winger think twice before making a move (which is enough).
Didn't Ericsson play with Lidstrom against Florida?
Anyways, I think it will be good move for Ericsson at least. He has an opportunity to justify that contract and show that he belongs in the top 4 (as he said last season).
Is he the reason our PK has improved? Maybe. Babcock seems to think so. But he eats up minutes and plays the 1st PK unit. He uses his big frame for something at least. I always wished he would become a Pronger type player. He doesn't have the offensive upside (being a forward, you would think he does), but he can still have the defensive upside if he limits his mistakes and has a bit of a meanstreak. That doesn't mean drop the gloves ever opportunity possible, but make the winger think twice before making a move (which is enough).
He did.
Does anyone remember the pairings from the last playoffs?
Was it
Lidstrom Stuart
Ericsson Rafalski
Kronwall Selei ?
He did.
Does anyone remember the pairings from the last playoffs?
Was it
Lidstrom Stuart
Ericsson Rafalski
Kronwall Selei ?
Ericsson had the second most ES TOI behind Stuart. Everyone was pretty much within 1 min of each other. Only Salei played minutes well below the rest of the defense, right around 14 mins per game. Our PK was terrible last playoffs and Kronwall and Stu played the heaviest mins by far, over 3 mins per game on the PK.
Well, I guess that's one way to make Big Rig look better.
Yeah, that's what I was thinking.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SoupNazi
Lidstrom could make anyone look good.
I really like this move.
I'm not sure I really see a huge benefit to Nick. The only reason I can think of having E on the top pairing is that the forwards and D were getting abused, so babs wants a bigger guy out there. It sure as heck wouldn't be for defensive perfection or offensive prowess.
Quote:
Originally Posted by loojay
Is $3.25 a good price for a top pairing D?
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I'm having visions of elite forwards blasting around a flat-footed E, left spinning around in their dust ice spray.....
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I'm having visions of elite forwards blasting around a flat-footed E, left spinning around in their dust ice spray.....
You know the team is desperate when....
Although I'm an E supporter it was just a joke. I'm concerned how he'll look against opponent's top lines.
