Let’s see if I can peg the Kings’ netminding this year:
• Cloutier disappoints - check;
• LaBarbera’s play disappoints as much as he excites - check;
• Quick wasn’t quick enough - check;
• Kings’ insurance goalie, Aubin, isn’t the answer - check;
• Bernier wasn’t ready - check;
• Ten goaltenders used over 2 seasons - check;
• Enter Erik Ersberg - the answer?
Of the many topic requests I received this year, Ersberg was the most requested blog from Hockey Buzzers and letsgokings.com contributors. Who is this guy?
For starters, any articles on his game in the Swedish Elite League proved worthless since I don’t speak Swedish. It took a review of over 30 internet search pages to find enough to paint a picture about Ersberg. I liked how the Daily News’ Rich Hammond described the Kings’ net situation, something akin to the three bears’ fairy tale.
“It took six tries, but it seems the Kings might finally have stumbled over a reliable goaltender.
They went through Jonathan Bernier, who was strong but too young; Jason LaBarbera, who was solid but too fragile; and three others who did little to show that they could be trusted as No. 1 goalies.”
Blake gave an assessment of Ersberg’s strengths that have resonated with fans and have them calling him, Ersponge.
"To use an analogy, he plays like a sponge," defenseman Rob Blake said with a laugh. "When a shot does find its way to the goal, it's usually sucked in to him and he covers it up.
Rebound control is even more important now because of how the game is played. You used to be able to track the shot and tie up the guy in front of the net and you didn't get the interference calls, but now they call it. You have to be able to react to the shot and when there are fewer rebounds, or if the puck is pushed into the corners it is cleaner in front of the net."
Ersberg The Kings’ Sponge
The Swedish rookie’s NHL beginnings started with this English translation of the press release of Ersberg’s signing, compliments of the message board, thescoreboard.com:
“Era mountains to Kings
Only details from typing on LA Kings
Yet another national team goalkeeper disappears from the top division.
Erik Ersberg, 25, is outer mostly near a one oar contract with Los Angeles Kings. Already Färjestad's Daniel Henriksson has done clearly with Russian Sibir Novosibirsk. Timrå's Johan Backlund uppvaktas of both Nashville and Pittsburgh.
Now is HV 71: s Erik Ersberg only details from typing on for Los Angeles Kings. Some as means that all three sek's målvakter from WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS in Moscow with biggest probability disappears from the top division.
According to information to Sportbladet has Ersberg been offered a two road contract that gives him 500 000 dollars if he takes a place in Los Angeles Kings. Becomes that playing in farmarlaget Manchester Monarchs falls the salary to 70 000 dollars for a season.
Era mountain does not want to confirm which club the acts about.
- I have actually no comments before all is clear, but the feeling is well that this is quite near, he says.
Erik Ersberg might take the stage forward as HV 71: s first goalkeeper when Stefan lives moved to Detroit last summer. And made one's debut in three sek during Karjala cup.
Top Goalie in Swedish Elite League this season. Holmqvist (TB) and Lundqvist (NYR, 3 years in a row) won the award before him.”
Ersberg Nearly a King
I am so sick of having goaltender envy. No doubt others share my frustration. Perhaps the Kings do finally have their bridge to Bernier. Here is the Fox Sports Blog on Ersberg:
“ If you haven't heard of Ersberg, you aren't alone. Following two seasons in the Swedish Elite League, Ersberg started the year with the Kings' AHL affiliate in Manchester, N.H. He posted a pedestrian 2.92 goals against average and an .897 save percentage in 30 appearances with a mediocre Monarchs squad.
….Sure, it has only been four games, but Ersberg has posted a 1.68 goals against and .952 save percentage since being called up to Los Angeles because of an injury to Jason LaBarbera. His most recent performance was an impressive 2-0 shutout against Ottawa Thursday night at Staples Center.”
Kings Latest Bridge Between the Pipes Video from Ersberg’s First NHL Shut-Out Against the Senators
Ersberg’s 40 shot shut-out against the Senators put Ottawa into a crisis mode. An emotion that the Stars can relate to after Saturday.
“On Thursday night, the Senators fell 2-0 to the Los Angeles Kings, the team with the worst record in the 30-team NHL. Congrats on that one.
In the process, the Senators made someone named Erik Ersberg, making his third NHL start, look like a young Patrick Roy.
Now, maybe Ersberg will become another Patrick Roy, in which case this outcome will be viewed in a different light down the road. For the time being, it will be seen from the Senators' perspective -- as a disaster. The crisis is full on.”
Senators Make Ersberg Look Like Roy?
What did fans know before his unexpected call-up and less expected play? That starts from last summer’s rookie camp. Here is what Gann Matsuda reported on Ersberg then:
“The native of Sala, Sweden said that his speed and quickness are the strong points of his game. …I'm pretty quick, that's the best part of my game," said Ersberg.
After the [July] Development Camp, some of the goalies went up to Vancouver to work with [Kings goaltending coach] Bill Ranford," Ersberg explained. "We worked on pretty much everything, including for me, adjusting to the smaller rinks. I'll face more shots over here, Ersberg added. In the Swedish league, you have to deal more with tap-ins.
…I'm just here to do my best, whatever I can to make the team," said Ersberg. "Of course, I want to make the team. That's why I'm here. But they have some other good guys here too, so it's going to be tough. If I start in Manchester, that's fine. Hopefully, I can work my way up.
[Los Angeles] a big city. There's probably more people here than in all of Sweden."
Ersberg Talks Game from Rookie Camp Ersberg’s Play at Rookie Camp Video
The rookie camp never led anyone to predict this Swedish find would be the guy on the Kings’ roster now. Much less play like he plays now. Which leads me to this question, is there anyone other than I that prior to Ersberg wondered why the Kings couldn’t find a diamond in the rough between the pipes like the Wild did with Backstrom and the Ducks did with Hiller?
Surely with Lombardi’s scouting prowess and his builder reputation, Deano should have been able to find a gem… One late call-up does not a #1 NHL netminder make, but it does make a nice beginning. Here is what Dobber Hockey had to say on this surprising Kings’ find:
“Since Niklas Backstrom's dominant NHL debut, overage European free agent goalies were hockey's version of small dogs for celebrities.
Leading the hype parade was 25 year-old Erik Ersberg. Absent from the national team every single year of his playing career, Ersberg exploded onto the scene in 2006-07, winning Goalie of the Year honors in his first year as a Swedish Elite League goaltender. The allure was obvious, and every GM made a pitch. The eventual winners were the LA Kings, a team on a desperate search for a goaltender.
However, despite all the hype, Ersberg's adjustment to North America did not go as planned. While he didn't make the roster out of camp- Jonathan Bernier did- Ersberg was expected to go down to Manchester and rip it up; after all, he'd dominated an arguably tougher league just a season earlier.
Months later, Kings fans were still waiting. Some had even begun to see Ersberg's one-year contract as a blessing. While not terrible, he failed to rise above 21 year-old rookie pro Jonathan Quick and albatross Dan Cloutier.
And then March 2nd came. … Why not Erik?
… March 2nd was a historical day. Despite being in the league 40 years, the Kings had never had a Swedish goaltender start a game. Ersberg's performance soon made fans realize what they were missing. Despite losing in OT again (against Chicago and that improbable near comeback), Ersberg performed admirably, stopping 33 of 35 shots in a 2-1 loss. He followed it up two nights later with another 31-shot barrage, holding the Kings in until seven minutes to go in the third period.
And on Thursday night, Erik Ersberg posted his first-ever career shutout against the powerhouse Ottawa Senators."
Ersberg – King of the Crease Ersberg Interview After Coyotes’ Shoot-Out Win
While the Kings’ season is essentially over, the Manchester Monarchs’ is not as they are playoff bound. Ersberg can take his NHL earned confidence and take it to the AHL playoffs for the Monarchs with Harrold and Klemm. Read more here:
“Manchester's AHL Clear Day roster (playoff roster) was submitted to the league yesterday and the only veteran on it is captain Jon Klemm, who is up with the Kings now. One surprise was the fact Nashua's Jeff Giuliano, who is also up with the Kings, was left off.
"I don't have any concerns with our forwards," reiterated Hextall.
On defense, where the Monarchs needed help, Peter Harrold and Klemm will both return to Manchester if the Monarchs reach the playoffs.
The Monarchs' playoff goaltenders will be rookies Erik Ersberg, up with the Kings, and Jon Quick, who has been recalled from the Reading Royals (ECHL). Dan Taylor will continue to play goal in Manchester as long as Ersberg stays in the NHL.
Hextall said the possibility of goaltender Jon Bernier joining Manchester for the playoffs is "off the table" and a "non factor now" since Bernier's Lewiston team will make the QMJHL playoffs. Bernier, the Kings' first pick (11th overall) in 2006, began the season as the starter for the Kings.”
Manchester’s Play-Off Roster
What the future holds for Ersberg is anyone’s guess, including I suspect his. Either way, the Kings are better for it. Lets hope the Monarchs too considering Lombardi earlier this season stated that Final Four players are the ones to build teams. LaBarbera took the Monarchs to the Eastern Conference a scant year ago. With a far younger team, Ersberg will have his work cut out for him...
Carla Muller Carla.hockeygal@att.net