Red Wings Player Grades: The Sneaky-Good Forwards - Octopus Thrower

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DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MAY 01: Adam Erne #73 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Little Caesars Arena on May 01, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

The Expansion Draft: A Look at Detroit Red Wings Forwards by Chris Giles

At the end of the season, most Detroit Red Wings fan excitement was directed towards Jakub Vrana’s excellent performance, and the impending draft lottery. However, two of Detroit’s forwards had sneaky-good seasons that should no be overlooked.

Adam Erne

2021 Statline

Games Played: 45

Goals: 11

Assists: 9

+/-: -1

Preseason Projection

Middle-six/Bottom-six forward

2021 Season in a Nutshell

After a less-than-stellar 2019-20 campaign, Adam Erne was inexplicably effecient with Detroit this year. He didn’t just finish third on the team in points (With 20), his 11 goals led the entire team. Because of his deployment on Detroit’s bottom lines, Erne was not sent out to score goals or drive offense- but he cashed in on nearly every chance he got this year. All this was done without top line minutes (Average time at ice was 13:55). He also illustrated his sneaky good shot throughout the year; Erne’s 2020-21 shooting percentage is the highest of his career at  15.5% (5 percent higher than his previous best).

Erne also did his fourth line duties well, as his +/- is one of the best on the team (For players that played over half the year, his -1 is third). His CF% was also solid, finishing at 45.7.

They Said It

“Adam’s got good hands and he scored in juniors, scored in the American League. I know that’s a big reason Steve made the trade, because he believed there was some in him in terms of offense and that he could be a good 200-foot player that could provide offense. And that’s exactly what he’s doing right now.”

-Jeff Blashill via MLive

Final Grade

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What a rebound year for Adam Erne. He did all that you can ask a fourth liner to do, and more. This is one where the stats and eye test agree. Some of his goals seemed a bit lucky, but he did one thing that seemed to be a struggle for even the best of Detroit’s roster: finish on those chances. Adam Erne was not only Detroit’s best depth score. He was one of the best scorers on the team, period. Yes, it’s unlikely Erne will suddenly become and elite scorer and repeat this offensive output next year, but for now, fans should appreciate the fantastic year he provided for the Red Wings.

The Link Lonk


May 30, 2021 at 04:07AM
https://octopusthrower.com/2021/05/29/grades-red-wings-sneaky-good/

Red Wings Player Grades: The Sneaky-Good Forwards - Octopus Thrower

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