Already with his third NHL franchise at 22, Erixon gets a chance to log meaningful minutes in Columbus
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Finally Tim's Time to Shine - Mar. 8, 2013 - Vol. 66, Issue 20 - Mike Ashmore
NESTLED IN HIS APARTMENT ABOUT 10 minutes away from the MassMutual Center, home of the American League’s Springfield Falcons, it wasn’t uncommon to find Tim Erixon playing the latest FIFA or NHL video game with his teammates. And when it came to the latter, the 22-year-old didn’t have to use the create-a-player mode to see how he stacked up with all of the competition.
As the slogan goes, “If it’s in the game, it’s in the game.” And, well, Erixon’s in the game, rated a 74 by EA Sports in this year’s installment. The Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman insists he doesn’t play as himself when he gets some time away from the rink, but certainly wouldn’t mind seeing his character on the screen match his performance on the ice.
Acquired in the off-season as part of the trade that sent Rick Nash to Broadway, the son of former New York Rangers winger Jan Erixon had put together a breakout campaign, on pace to best last year’s 33 points in 52 games, before earning an NHL call-up in late January.
Scott Howson, ousted as Columbus GM in early February, won’t be around to see how the trade that will define his legacy plays out. Only time will tell if Erixon develops into the key piece Howson thought he was getting at the time. “His first year pro was pretty strong in Connecticut and then in New York as well,” Howson said of the deal, which also netted him forwards Artem Anisimov and Brandon Dubinsky and New York’s first-rounder in 2013. “He was just a guy that if we wanted to do a present part of the deal and the future part of the deal, he was the most important part of the future part of the deal.
“He’s going to be a good NHL player, possibly a top-four defenseman. He’s got very good hockey sense, he’s got good size and he’s just beginning to develop.”
Erixon, a two-way blueliner with significant offensive upside, finally discovered the point production many thought possible when the Calgary Flames picked him 23rd overall in 2009. Now in his third organization since draft day – he never agreed to terms with the Flames and was moved to the Rangers prior to 2010-11 – it seems the Port Chester, N.Y.-born and Swedish-bred blueliner has found the right fit with Columbus. “I’ve been playing a lot on the power play, not as much P.K. as last year,” Erixon said. “So it’s been more of an offensive year for me this year, but I’m happy to play any way the coaches want me to and help out the team.”
Left winger Jonathan Audy-Marchessault, who signed with Columbus as a free agent in the off-season, played with Erixon last season with the Whale and credits him for making his transition to a new team easier off the ice. “He’s quiet, but when you get to know him, he’s a great guy,” Audy-Marchessault said. “His feet are on the ground always. He doesn’t do anything stupid.”
Same goes for on the ice. “He plays well defensively and he blocks shots, but his biggest strengths come offensively,” Audy-Marchessault said. “He slows down the play and makes good decisions. He has a good shooter’s mentality and sees everybody on the ice. He does pretty much everything you need as a defenseman.”
Erixon is, of course, still a work in progress. He was ranked the No. 61 prospect in THN’s Future Watch 2013, the fourth consecutive season he was part of the top 75. To be the top-four mainstay Howson envisioned him as, Erixon believes he’ll need more foot speed and more muscle on his 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame to get stronger defensively.
Offensively, however, expectations were high right off the bat. “He’s a 40- or 50-point guy in the American League,” Howson said. “He’s got a chance to do that in the NHL.”
Other Potential Games For The United States at 2026 Olympics
- February 18: Quarterfinal, 3:10 p.m. - vs. Sweden
- February 20: Semifinal, 3:10 p.m.
- February 21: Bronze Medal Game, 2:10 p.m.
- February 22: Gold Medal Game, 8:10 a.m.
Stay with THN - Columbus for all of the Zach Werenski and Elvis Merzļikins Olympic coverage.
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