The Detroit Red Wings acquired Adam Erne in 2019 as a fourth-line, grinding, energy-type player.
They discovered this past season, when he tied for the team lead with 11 goals, that he is not limited to that role.
Erne, 26, tapped into some offensive potential the Tampa Bay Lightning believed he had when they drafted him 33rd overall in 2013, just three spots outside of the first round.
Steve Yzerman was the Lightning’s general manager at the time, and one of his first trades as Detroit GM was to acquire Erne for a fourth-round pick.
“I’ve gotten to know him since he was 18. I watched him work since his final years of junior, going to the American League, followed me to Detroit,” Yzerman said shortly after the season. “He’s really driven, he wants to be a good player in the NHL, he puts the time in, the work in. It was good to see he earned a bigger role on the team and thrived in it.
“I think we got a real good player who is a little bit of a different dimension -- a big, thick kid who’s got pretty good hands and can play a lot of different situations. I think there’s a lot more there. But I really like Adam’s determination and drive. We all feel good for him.”
Erne is among the Red Wings’ dozen or so restricted free agents. After signing a one-year deal for slightly less than $1 million in 2020, he is expected to ink a multiyear contract this offseason, which would keep him off the unrestricted market next summer.
Erne sees himself as part of the organization’s future.
“I think we’re a young team with some good veteran presence in the room,” he said. “As these young guys and everybody starts to gain some confidence, starts to gain some traction like we did this season every game and every practice, hopefully we can build some momentum.”
Erne spent most of the season on a line with Luke Glendening and Darren Helm, a unit kept intact far longer than any other.
“Those are two really hard-working guys,” Erne said. “A lot of nights we played against other teams’ top lines and we prided ourselves on not giving them much. We tried to keep it simple, get pucks behind their D, just kind of frustrate them, make them play in their zone.”
Erne also played the bumper role on the power play, scoring three goals to tie for the team lead.
Dylan Larkin said Erne plays the right way.
“Him, Glenny and Helmer had an identity to their line; the played hard, they were physical, they spent time in the O-zone by grinding it out and using each other,” Larkin said. “To see him have a good year we were all happy for him. As someone who’s a true professional, he comes to rink and does it right every day.”
Erne tallied 20 points in 45 games, equaling his career-high established in 65 games with Tampa Bay in 2018-19.
It was a significant step from his first season as a Red Wing, when he produced only two goals and five points in 56 games, posting a minus-24 rating.
“It definitely wasn’t the year I wanted last year,” Erne said. “I can’t blame it on anything in particular. I was happy to be able to bounce back this year and produce for the team and contribute more. I put in a lot of work in the offseason and plan to do it again this offseason.”
The feedback he received from Yzerman and coach Jeff Blashill was simple.
“Just continue to do what I was doing,” said Erne, who spends the offseason training at home in Connecticut. “I just tried to build on areas of the game that I played the most -- in front of the net, down low, being a good 200-foot hockey player. Try to bring that into next season, do that consistently throughout the year.”
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The Link LonkJune 17, 2021 at 05:04PM
https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2021/06/after-adam-ernes-emergence-red-wings-feel-theres-a-lot-more-there.html
After Adam Erne’s emergence, Red Wings feel there’s ‘a lot more there’ - MLive.com
https://news.google.com/search?q=Red&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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