Jonathan Ericsson

Playing career

Ericsson originally began his playing career as a centre, playing all but one game of the 2001–02 season at the position for HC Vita Hästen's junior team. However, after playing one game as a defenceman, Detroit Red Wings scout Håkan Andersson convinced Ericsson to permanently transition to defence.

Ericsson was drafted 291st overall in the ninth round of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft as the last player selected in the Draft by the Red Wings.

Throughout his next four seasons, Ericsson played for several teams in his native Sweden, a period of time which also saw him switching between centre and defence as his teams saw fit. After his 2005–06 season, Detroit signed him to a two-year, entry-level contract and brought him to the United States to play for their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Ericsson then played his first career NHL game on 22 February 2008, against the Calgary Flames, and scored his first career NHL goal the following game, on 26 February, against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mathieu Garon. Although he did not qualify under league rules to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup, Ericsson was nonetheless included on the 2008 Detroit Red Wings' Stanley Cup-winning team photograph, also being awarded a Stanley Cup ring for his efforts with the team. In the regular season of 2008–2009 he got 1 goal and 3 assists. On 16 April 2009, Ericsson played in his first post-season game in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings in Game One of Round One of the 2009 playoffs against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He recorded his first career playoff point in this game in the form of a goal.

In the second round of the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Anaheim Ducks, Ericsson recorded two assists and also fought Ducks winger Corey Perry in Game 1 of the series. Ericsson would then score a goal and an assist in Detroit's Western Conference Final matchup with the team's division rival, the Chicago Blackhawks, and recorded two goals with an assist in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ericsson scored Detroit's only goal in their Game-7 2–1 loss to Pittsburgh. At the end of the season, he won the 2009 Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association (DSBA)-Detroit Red Wings Rookie of the Year Award.

In 2008, Ericsson signed a three-year contract extension with the Detroit Red Wings carrying an annual average of $2.7 million. In 2009–10 season, Ericsson scored four goals and nine assists for 13 points in 62 games. In 2011, Ericsson signed a three-year $9.75 million contract with the Red Wings.

On November 27, 2013, Ericsson was signed to a six-year, $25.5 million contract extension with the Red Wings.

During the 2016–17 season, Ericsson suffered a season-ending wrist injury in February, limiting him to 51 games in contributing with just 9 points.

International play

Ericsson's older brother, Jimmie Ericsson, is a forward currently playing for Skellefteå AIK in the Swedish Hockey League. The Ericsson brothers were set to play together professionally for the first time at the 2010 World Championships. Following Detroit's elimination in the 2010 playoffs, Jonathan joined Sweden's national team at the World Championships. The brothers were originally in the lineup together, though Jimmie injured his knee on his first shift, missing the remainder of the tournament; the two were never on the ice together. In the tournament, Jonathan Ericcson finished the tournament with the most average minutes per game amongst Swedish skaters, and was also selected as one of the best players on the team as selected by the coach. The brothers eventually played together for the first time at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where they won a silver medal after losing to Canada in the tournament final.

Personal life

Ericsson married long time girlfriend Evelina Hedman in July 2014. In October 2013 they welcomed a daughter, Liv. She was named in memory of Ericsson's friend and former teammate Stefan Liv.

Awards