Erixon Gets Stronger

Eurohockey.com

He earned a second recall to the NHL New York Rangers on Tuesday just as the holiday season approaches.

Erixon's gifts of speed and size are easy to see, but the more subtle traits to his game and keys to hockey longevity is special treat to behold.
Presently, he is first among defenseman in scoring (one goal and 12 assists) and 6th in team scoring for AHL Connecticut Whale the Rangers top farm in the AHL. He garners loads of ice time anchoring the number one power play unit and also handling penalty killing duties, so ice time hasn't been an issue.

A veteran pair of eyes in defenseman Wade Redden who has 12 years of NHL experience to back up his assessment.

"He's got a lot of patience and a lot of poise and makes some real nice plays along the blueline and on the power play offensively. And he can find guys in front. We've seen a few times this year where he's made good shots to the net that led to tips; he finds those sticks in front of the net. He's a big guy with a good stick who does a lot of good things." commented Redden who has been a mentor to the young defenseman in Hartford.

A very good analysis also came from the Rangers Chief European scout fellow Swede Anders Hedberg recently told EHN during his recent visit.

"He handles the puck very well and he has a very accurate shot. He gets it on the net," said Hedberg of Erixon which is true especially when a lot players in the AHL are often high and very wise on a consistent basis and its treat to see a player who is hit the bullseye often and creating offense with his shot.

Hedberg who knows a bit about defenseman since he went around so many in his dazzling NHL and WHA career.

"He reminds me a bit of Niklas Lidström. He isn't a Lidström I want to be clear, but his shot consistently on net, he handles the puck in the tough spaces and he skates well and uses his body well at protecting the puck. That has been Lidström's calling card for years. To be sure he is boy and that's OK, but he is 20 years old at 6'3 nearly 200 pounds as he matures, he is going to fill out and be a very hard player to go against. He has the keys to what could be a long career," remarked Hedberg who saw a lot of Erixon last season when he was with Skellefteå AIK in the Swedish Elite League.

Erixon, displayed all those qualities in his last game action Saturday a 3-0 shutout win over traditional and division rival Providence Bruins. On four separate occasions he used that good reach, quick feet and big stick to breakup four potential scoring threats including one on Bruins leading scorer Carter Camper seemingly headed for a breakaway and Erixon swept in like a hawk took the puck positioned his body to shield Camper from seeking to reclaim the biscuit and sent of the boards for a Whale offensive rush.

Then late in the same shift he set up defensive partner Stu Bickel with a smooth tape to tape pass inside the offensive blue line and Bickel launched a short for his first goal of the season at 10:29 of the third period.

In the first period he did a good job of taking Jamie Arniel out of scoring position in front of the net. In the second period he deftly kept the puck in the offensive zone to try to create an offensive chance for the Whale.

He also credits assistant coach J.J. Daigneault who had 899 games of NHL experience and Stanley Cup ring in Montreal along with Redden and veteran defenseman Brendan Bell who played in Switzerland last season.

"I've tried to keep learning every day. There's a great group of guys here, and you can look at guys like Reds (Redden) and J.J. coaching, and you try to learn from them both on and off the ice, just how to handle yourself and how to behave. And I try to keep in mind most of the small stuff (the Rangers) wanted me to work on" commented Erixon who earned the games third star in his second game back from a lower body injury. He had two assists against Hershey Friday night.

"J.J. has tried to help me all the time working on small stuff, and I've always tried to learn from Bells (Brendan bell) and Reds all the time. I feel good, and I think I've shown I was able to play (in the NHL). I'd also like to make a little bigger impact when I get up there, and that's what I'm working on."

Now he will get the chance in New York to showcase some of things he has been working on down on the farm.

 

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