If Erixon has shown anything, it is that he is NOT an NHL defencemen. For all the crapping everyone does on Engelland, Diaz and Smid - they are at least NHL defencemen.
Engelland as well brings great character to the team. I look at the team post '04 run, and I can't help think that character was an issue overall. I am in no way crapping on Iginla - I think he is unfairly criticized here. However, something 'overall' on that team made them suck. It was the overall character of the team (or lack of it - just not enough strong characters on that team maybe?). Now Engelland is NOT going to be this team's leader and show the way for the rest of the team. However, I strongly feel he adds loads of it. Hartley stated something like: "Engelland is a born leader". He brings tonnes of intangibles to the locker room - something that McGrattan did as well and why many thought McGrattan would be worth holding onto just for that intangible. Engelland can play - again, not an allstar, but not nearly as bad as people crap on him for - and provides leadership and a very strong character. Ideally he should be the 7th defencemen who dresses occasionally when playing against the bigger or nastier teams.
Erixon is probably at or at best slightly better on the ice than Engelland - and this is arguable. What there is no question of is his 'character'. It is a poor one. Not only was he dishonest the entire way with the Flames (thank goodness for Backlund letting Feaster know to chat with him!), but you see him look at his team mate - while on the Rangers which was his DREAM TEAM to be on - while said team mate was getting jumped by 4 guys, and skates to the bench. Once again, this was his 'dream team' to be on. If he wasn't willing to bleed for his favorite childhood team, he won't be willing to bleed for anyone.
I don't want him anywhere near this team. Not as a 7th defencemen even. Point of this long post is to emphasize that Calgary should be looking for players with high character and integrity. It is a philosophy they have started pursuing in the draft under Darryl Sutter, it is a philosophy that they continued to pursue under Feaster, it is a philosophy that Burke has stated is mandatory, and I am only going to guess it is a philosophy that Treliving will continue to adhere to. This team has great character on the ice. You don't need to bring in someone with a poor character on the simple chance that he MAY be an improvement on the 6th defencemen.
He has bounced around a few organizations now, and it looks like he will continue to do so until he bounces back to Europe eventually. Flames are the LAST team that should be giving him any sort of a chance. Let's allow the guys already in the system who are working hard that opportunity, not someone who has already proved that they not only don't deserve that opportunity, they have failed to seize it in a few other organizations already.
I just don't see the upside. Erixon had LOTS of potential. He was a very solid pick, and only increased his potential every single year post-draft. The minute he was about to enter the NHL, he has been stumbling. He dropped the ball big time by being incredibly dishonest with them. He stumbled every place he went to. Every organization took a chance on him because they all saw that potential in him. They have all given up on him.
Someone will claim him. Someone will see the potential in him still. I would bet that same team will eventually give up on that potential sometime next year. I just hope it isn't the Flames. I would bet on Wotherspoon's potential more. Or Kulak's. Or Culkin's (even with his injury). Or whomever else. In my opinion, all Erixon has done thus far is proved that it is wrong to take a chance on him and give him the benefit of the doubt.
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