MLive’s Ansar Khan wrote an article regarding defenseman Jonathan Ericsson’s 2018-19 season outlook:
2018-19 outlook: Ericsson, for the second year in a row, played well at the start of the season. After Danny DeKeyser was injured in the fourth game, Ericsson joined Trevor Daley to form the team’s top defense pairing. Daley’s mobility complemented Ericsson, and they were a good match the first half.
But Ericsson didn’t maintain that consistency, which has been an issue. The message from coaches has been to hold onto the puck a little longer, utilize his big frame to protect the puck and move his feet while passing. Otherwise, he’s prone to turnovers and getting caught flat-footed and out of position.
Quotable: “You’re never going to be perfect with a partner but we’re always talking about situations on the ice. He’s more offensive-minded than I am. We’re just trying to complement each other’s weaknesses and strengths. He’s a really good skater, smooth skater than can handle the puck well. He’s got the offensive abilities and I’m pretty much the stay-at-home guy.” – Ericsson, on pairing with Daley.
His nickname should be Al……short for albatross.
If Z goes on LTIR for the duration and Nyquist is traded at the deadline, and this is Kronwall’s last season as expected, Ericsson will be not only the only Swede on the roster next season, but also the only Swede anywhere close to the roster, unless you count Axel Holmstrom.
Certainly we’ve drafted some Swedish players with potential but none are close.
Could be a Swedeless roster for a couple of seasons after the next. Not to be superficial about it, but really an end of a era, not unlike the period of so many great Russian players in Detroit.
The Swedes haven’t been as good as the past Swedes: Franzen, Holmstrom, Lidstrom, kronner and Z.
Nyquist is decent, but he doesn’t seem to have the heart and drive as those above. And then there is Mikael Samuelsson, Almquist……..