Let's Meet: Eric Nystrom

by BReynolds on Jul 1, 2010 9:33 PM CDT

What to say about Eric Nystrom? Well, go to YouTube, and every video of him has the term "VS" in the title. He's a fighter, but not an enforcer. He will be partnered with Brad Staubitz to "replace" Boogaard and Scott. The difference being that they can both play a regular shift, can play solid defensive hockey, and can chip in on the offense. No, Nystrom is not the next coming of The Great One, but he is a better option on the fourth line than the Wild have had in awhile.

Eric Nystrom

#23 / Left Wing / Calgary Flames

Height: 6-1

Weight: 193

Born: Feb 14, 1983

According to HockeyDB, Nystrom was once a #10 overall pick by the Flames. That is interesting, to say the least. Could he end up on a line with Sheppard, a former #9 overall? Could end up the highest drafted fourth line in all of hockey.

Nystrom is the stereotypical gritty character guy on the roster. He plays a minor role, but he does it exceedingly well. Again, not the next Alex Ovechkin, and he may not be the singular missing piece that makes the Wild a contender. Just like Matt Cullen, though, he makes this a better hockey team than it was before. A fourth line player that can add to the offense, can drop gloves with anyone, is not afraid of the toughest battles, and wins more than his fair share of those battles.

Nystrom will fit in well with the system, and makes the fourth line one that can now play regular minutes. I have yet to check out fan reaction on this signing, so I am guessing they likely believe he is the next coming of Lucifer and is here only to destroy the Wild. So, I'll leave you with that.

What do you think? Nystrom a better option than the Wild had previously?

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Comments

Solid.

Let's Go Twins!
Minnesota Wild Off-season: In Fletch We Trust.

by redheadzeb on Jul 1, 2010 9:50 PM CDT reply actions

Agreed.

by taralynn09 on Jul 1, 2010 10:04 PM CDT up reply actions

I like that we're actually going to have 4 lines to play with

by nemo1107 on Jul 1, 2010 10:03 PM CDT reply actions

I would put him

on a wing with Cal C on the other side….talk about an engery line, i think it would be a very good combo IMO

by BL3ACH on Jul 4, 2010 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions

Good signing.

If we must lose the Boogey man to another team, it helps to have some raw strength and grit come in to help fill the void. Nystrom is a tough guy who can play. I look forward to this next year more than the past few. That and we’ve re-signed BTE! HELLS YEAHHH MOTHAF-CKERS!!!!!

by Jolonco on Jul 1, 2010 10:17 PM CDT reply actions

Nystrom vs. Chipchura

Watch his fight vs. Kyle Chipchura on 1/17/10. He takes him out behind the woodshed and gives him a good beating. Not a heavyweight fighter, but isn’t afraid to drop the gloves with most guys. Can actually skate and put a puck in the net more than once in the past 4 years. A much better fourth line than last year.

by Arols5 on Jul 1, 2010 10:46 PM CDT reply actions

I added his stats above. Thought I did originally, but I guess not. Anyways, they are there now.

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by BReynolds on Jul 1, 2010 10:58 PM CDT reply actions

I doubted originally,

but this is a great signing, both in player and in the contract.

by ADN on Jul 1, 2010 11:37 PM CDT reply actions

Eric Nystrom
11 goals last year , so he will pitch in..
6’1 195….ex Michigan player.. Red Berenson ( a Heck of a coach) was his coach.
Dad is Bob Nystrom ex-Islanders great!
so he’s got good genes..

by old time hockey guy on Jul 2, 2010 9:45 AM CDT reply actions

so can we a little Michigan up up in here? and pick up Morrison too?

by old time hockey guy on Jul 2, 2010 9:47 AM CDT reply actions

He's got decent numbers and isn't one-dimensional in the least.. Great signing!

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Jul 3, 2010 1:15 PM CDT reply actions

Excellent signing

you guys are gonna love him in minny i promise

by BL3ACH on Jul 4, 2010 1:17 PM CDT reply actions

I have no doubt!

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Jul 4, 2010 10:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Hey All, Flames fan here… thought I’d drop in and give you all a little primer on Eric Nystrom (Although as a divisional team you’ve prolly seen him plenty already).

First things first, I think you guys overpaid a little but such is the lot of UFA signings and it’s not a hidious overpayment (maybe 25% or so over what I’d go for).

I see a bunch of comments talking about his fighting… he’s not a “fighter” perse, he will fight but it’s not something he does every game and it’s not where his strength lay.His strength lays in that he’s a pretty good defensive forward (up to and including work on the PK unit), he’s got a lot of hustle and will bust his ass every shift (he was a fan favorite in Calgary because of his exemplary work ethic) I wouldn’t be surprised if sometime in the future your team slaps a letter on his jersey (Leadership material I think).

That’s the good. The bad is that he’s not all that great for putting goals on the scoreboard. He’s not suitable for work above the third line (and is really best suited for the fourth). Really you should consider any offense he may provide as gravy.

I’ll miss Nyzerman (That’s his nickname amoungst his old college teammates that carried over a bit into the NHL). He was a personal favorite of mine. You guys got a gooder.

by Parallex on Jul 5, 2010 10:29 AM CDT reply actions

Thank you very much for your input!

And believe me, he’ll be a welcome change to our 4th line. It’s about time we had a complete(-ish) player on our 4th line. Sure we loved the Boogeyman, but he was never going to bring us the cup! Any goal Boogs would give us would have been far beyong gravy! It was would’ve been a golden turkey with the best tasting beer ever. I’m pretty sure Nystrom won’t disappoint, I’ve heard nothing but good about him…

By the way Parallex… what do you think about the Tanguay + Jokinen signings?

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Jul 5, 2010 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions

In a vacumn, I don’t mind either at the price we got… outside of a vacumn I like having Tang back since I thought the flames missed the type of player he is (if not the man himself) and at 1.7 it’s a reasonable reclamation project to take on… on the otherhand I don’t like Jokinen coming back at least Tang worked out fine the last time he was a Flame, Jokinen didn’t. He’s priced right and if he were to be used in a different capacity then he was last time I might not mind it but I have zero faith that the Flames brass will do anything different then toss Jokinen alongside Iggy and expect him to be something he’s not.

by Parallex on Jul 5, 2010 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Close to what I was thinking

A lot of people are quick to dismiss the Jokinen move, but the fact of the matter is he isn’t being paid 5+million this time around, so if he returns to form, he will be a bargain at 3 million and he should have a lot less expectations riding on him. On the other hand, the nonsense Sutter sputters about the whole situation makes me doubt his mental health. I love how he believes the move had a positive reaction. If it doesn’t work out, I fear Sutter will be unsafe.

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Jul 5, 2010 10:42 PM CDT up reply actions