Detroit Red Wings: It’s Time to Move on from Ericsson

The Detroit Red Wings drafted Jonathan Ericsson in the 9th round, 291st overall in the 2002 entry level draft.  It’s become quite a rocky road, but it’s time to say thanks and move on.

The Detroit Red Wings have again been loyal to a fault with Jonathan Ericsson.  If it sounds like a broken record that’s because the record is shattered and has been incinerated.  Ken Holland has all too often attached “life-long” contracts to mediocre talent.  Jonathan Ericsson is no exception.

After playing sparingly in his first two seasons of call-ups, Ericsson has been a regular in the Red Wings line-up over the past nine seasons.   Detroit had hopes of a difference maker once they saw Ericsson play in Grand Rapids.

Believe it or not, Ericsson in Grand Rapids produced some offense.  That is not a joke.  In two seasons Ericsson recorded 63 points for the Griffins.  15 of those points being goals.  With Ericsson’s size and some offense in the AHL, we can put together what Detroit assumed  “could” have been.

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Ericsson while with Detroit as a regular just never met that potential.  Ericsson has never really been a gifted skater,  his unwillingness to use his size is often frustrating.  The Offense was left in Grand Rapids, in nine full seasons with Detroit Ericsson has only been able to accomplish 120 total points.

Detroit has gotten more than they could have asked for from a 9th round selection although once Detroit saw the potential they had in Ericsson, it quickly faded away.  Ericsson has become a defensive defenseman entirely and consistently struggles to keep up with the pace of play.

This leaves the burning question that drives the majority of Red Wings fans crazy.  How do they get rid of him?  The Red Wings recently bought out Xavier Ouellet who was only making 1.3 million.  Ericsson has two years remaining at 4.25 per season.  It was an awful long-term contract Ken Holland gave the talent of a 6th or 7th defenseman.

Detroit used Ericsson as their 4th defenseman last season according to his 19:19 minutes per game of ice-time.  This season Detroit has young prospects looking to become regulars that in all likelihood will be blocked by Ericsson, who we assume will be granted a regular spot on the blueline.

Injuries occur, and that may open playing time for Filip Hronek along with Dennis Cholowski or maybe even Gustav Lindstrom.  One of these young players could also have an opportunity to beat out Nick Jensen during the pre-season to be the Detroit Red Wings 6th defenseman.

Detroit is reluctant to put Jonathan Ericsson on waivers, although it would be shocking if he were to be claimed.  Ken Holland has this type of favoritism much too often for players like Ericsson, and it starts to get old.  If the Wings are unwilling to place the veteran on waivers, at least make him your 7th defenseman, and allow a younger player to play.

Ken Holland has created this mess and the only thing Detroit will do is “wait.”  Niklas Kronwall & Nick Jensen are both in the last season of their contract.  Ericsson, Green & Daley all have two seasons remaining.  It’s extremely unfortunate but it looks as though we have to continue to wait another year for the back-end to have its face-lift.

Next season Mike Green along with Trevor Daley will both become tradable defenders to teams looking to add playoff depth until then, expect the kids to only be sprinkled in here and there.