When Tim Erixon forced his way out of Calgary last summer, many inside and outside of the organization believed he played the Flames. Just over a year later, Erixon has been traded from the New York Rangers to the Columbus Blue Jackets as part of Monday’s Rick Nash blockbuster deal.
If the young defenseman did indeed con the Flames last summer, he might also have gotten the wrong idea from the team he ended up signing with. That’s the most ironic part of the whole saga.
When Erixon strong-armed his way out of Calgary, it rubbed the team and their fans the wrong way. He had yet to play an NHL game and by all accounts from those inside the organization, his camp completely snowed the team.
The Flames fully believed his intent was to sign his entry level deal with them and they had to scramble when it was determined at the last minute that wasn’t going to happen. Calgary did a pretty good job of maximizing their return considering the circumstances, bringing back prospect forward Roman Horak and a pair of second-round picks (who turned into Markus Granlund and Tyler Wotherspoon).
So why did Erixon leave the organization?
There were a number of reasons cited which included a chance to play right away, an opportunity to win, and a chance to play for the team his dad Jan played with for a decade. Those three reasons are why his move to Ohio is so ironic.
Personally, I try not to buy into the karma argument in this case, although numerous Flames fans believe that’s exactly what’s at work here. I do find it somewhat amusing, however, that the pillars Erixon’s camp fell back on have seemingly disintegrated in the matter of one year.
It started with last season where the former first-round pick played just 18 games for the Rangers when there is a good chance he would have seen more time had he stayed in Calgary. With all the injuries the Flames suffered on the blue line last season, which helped see T.J. Brodie play 54 games at the NHL level and Derek Smith dress in 47 contests. There’s no guarantee Erixon would have out-duelled either of those players, but there’s a good chance he would have been given the opportunity to stick with the big team for most of the season.
The second pillar looks to be a little out of reach, at least to begin with. Erixon now joins a franchise with four playoff games to their name in 11 years of NHL competition. The team has potential to improve like any team that has languished near the bottom of a conference for years, but their track record isn’t one that would fill most players with a ton of confidence. After finishing 30th during the 2011-2012 season, up seems to be the only direction this team can go…but how much upward movement will we see in the near future?
What’s most ironic, however, is Erixon moving from New York to Columbus after just one season. The Flames were certainly suspicious of how quickly the young player signed his contract with the Rangers after the trade was completed, and the fact Tim was born there during his father’s time in the league heightened the suspicion even more.
The Rangers may very well have wanted Erixon in the fold long term, and likely gave his camp all assurances in the world that he would be a member of the Original Six team for years to come. But what was thought behind closed doors?
We all know New York is prone to being in on transactions of the larger variety. Monday’s Nash acquisition was another in a long line of big trades or signings, falling in line with current names like Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik (both signings in unrestricted free agency).
An opportunity to bring in a player like Erixon could have been viewed as an opportunity to bring in another asset in the organization. An asset that could help your team on the ice down the road, or an asset that could help push you over the top in the pursuit of landing that big catch. The way it’s understood, Erixon was added to the Nash deal in the latter stages of negotiations with the Blue Jackets.
Erixon was an asset and he was used as such by the New York Rangers.
From a Flames perspective, the best case scenario will always be Erixon staying with the organization.
Whether you appreciate the way he went about his business or not, he is a good defensive prospect that still projects to be a top four NHL blue liner.
It’s been out of Calgary’s hands now for more than a year and they’re focus is now turning Horak, Granlund, and Wotherspoon into NHLers down the road. But from afar, seeing Erixon move to Columbus after just one season with the team he ditched the Flames for struck me as slightly amusing.
For those in, and for those who cheer for, the Flames organization, you can understand if they find it amusing as well.