{"id":10381,"date":"2017-06-02T14:32:38","date_gmt":"2017-06-02T18:32:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=10381"},"modified":"2017-06-02T14:32:38","modified_gmt":"2017-06-02T18:32:38","slug":"detroit-red-wings-protect-not-protect-jonathan-ericsson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2017\/06\/02\/detroit-red-wings-protect-not-protect-jonathan-ericsson\/","title":{"rendered":"Detroit Red Wings Protect or Not to Protect: Jonathan Ericsson"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to a new summer series on Last Word On Hockey. In preparation for the NHL Expansion Draft on June 21st, LWOH’s Detroit Red Wings Department will be going in depth on every Wing that is eligible to be picked by the newest NHL squad, the Vegas Golden Knights, who will begin play in the fall. The team will likely follow the seven-forward, three-defensemen, and one goalie format of protecting players, and this series will follow suit with that. For a brush-up on the expansion draft rules, click this link<\/a>. Without further adieu, we will\u00a0continue\u00a0this series with a once promising defenseman that made his entrance on the grand stage, Jonathan Ericsson<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Jonathan Ericsson<\/h2>\n

Defense,\u00a0Shoots Left<\/strong>
\n6’4″, 220 lbs<\/strong>
\nAge: 33 (This Past March 2nd)<\/strong>
\nCap hit: $4.25 million, three years remaining\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reasons for Protection<\/h3>\n

Ericsson has little to offer in his argument for protection. He is another one of those that has built up veteran stock in Ken Holland<\/a>‘s mind and was rewarded with a contract that did not match his on-ice contribution. In the first half of the season, he actually played quite solid defensively, as from the beginning of the season to December 31st, his goals against per 60 was 2.27, including 1.99 in the first two months. He excels in a smaller role like other Red Wing defensemen and when he plays sheltered minutes he can contribute. It’s hard to do that on a team that lacks a true number one as the Red Wings do. At this point, if the team protects him, they see a veteran that will help stabilize things entering a rebuild.<\/p>\n

Reasons for Exposing<\/h3>\n

Ericsson excelled in his minor role for half the season. In 18 games before his season-ending wrist injury, the goals against per 60 went up to 3.04. He finished with the second-worst Corsi-against per 60 among skaters that played at least 700 minutes for Detroit at 56.19, including over 60 in those 18 games.<\/p>\n

Even if Ericsson continued to play solidly defensively, a $4.25 million price tag for a player who has contributed no more than four goals and 15 points in a season not making up for his low hockey IQ shown on more than one occasion is quite steep. Plus, getting back to injuries, two out of the four seasons he’s been over 30 in have seen him play 48 (2013-14) and 51 (2016-17) games, calling durability into question at some point over the next three seasons. The contract is virtually un-tradeable. Exposing it at the chance that Vegas accepts it to hit the cap floor would likely be the only hope in getting rid of it without a buy out.<\/p>\n

Verdict<\/h3>\n

Expose Him.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ericsson had an incredible start to his career in the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs scoring four goals and eight points, including coming back three days after an appendectomy to play in Game 1 of a Stanley Cup Final, where he scored two of them. The problem is, Nicklas Lidstrom<\/a> was on the team and he’s scored one goal in\u00a054 postseason games since . He also only has 20 in the regular season since that time. Ericsson is falling quite short of the expectations the organization had for him when he was signed to his current contract in 2013. Now, he’s a burden to an organization that will have to slow through a rebuild.<\/p>\n

Vegas likely won’t take his contract but there are other young assets to protect before Ericsson. If the Red Wings are so inclined to get rid of it, there’s the possibility of an agreement with Vegas to select him with offering a trade piece in addition to the selection, but that is unlikely. Until then, it’s a waiting game for that money to come off the books.<\/p>\n

Check back tomorrow as Gustav Nyquist<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and his uncertain future come through the evaluation shredder.<\/p>\n

Each link is a gateway to analysis of each player.<\/p>\n

Updated Protection List<\/strong>
\nHenrik Zetterberg<\/a> (May 25th)
\nMike Green<\/a> (May 26th)
\nFrans Nielsen<\/a> (June 1st)<\/p>\n

Exposed:<\/strong>
\nJustin Abdelkader<\/a> (May 27th)
\nNiklas Kronwall<\/a> (May 29th)
\nDarren Helm<\/a> (May 30th)
\nDanny DeKeyser<\/a> (May 31st)<\/p>\n

Advanced stats courtesy of Puckalytics.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n