Manitoba Moose

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

A wicked wake-up call

Free-falling Christensen bottoms out in Winnipeg

By: Paul Wiecek

21/11/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 1

He's making $750,000 a year playing a kid's game. And, at least lately, not even playing it very often -- or very well.

So why, then, does Erik Christensen sound more like a guy at his first AA meeting than a guy who's won the lottery of life?

Because, as it turns out, Christensen is actually quite a bit like that recovering drunk -- after stumbling about for years, he awoke one day to the harsh realization that he had hit bottom. Or at least something that looked just like it.

And for Christensen, a man who once skated alongside Sidney Crosby and was considered to have a very promising future of his own in hockey, the bottom has turned out to be, well, Winnipeg.

"It's just been kind of tough. So for me, this is -- I wouldn't say it's rock-bottom -- but it is a sobering experience," Christensen said Friday morning as the newest member of the Manitoba Moose was introduced to the media.

Sobering indeed. And a far cry from his partying days when Christensen was considered one of hockey's next big things.

In 2002-03, he won the Bob Clarke award as the leading scorer in the Western Hockey League, tallying 108 points in just 67 games with the Kamloops Blazers.

Selected in the third round by the Pittsburgh Penguins the summer before his breakout season, the Pens were justifiably patting themselves on the back for their prescience in picking Christensen.

And he rewarded their confidence, at least initially. Breaking into the NHL in 2005-06 on a young Pens team that included such other talented rookies as Crosby, Colby Armstrong and Ryan Whitney, Christensen tallied 13 points in 33 games. He then came back the next season with an even stronger performance, netting 18 goals and 15 assists in 61 games.

But that's as good as it got for Christensen. With his production falling off, he was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers midway through the 2007-08 season as part of the Marian Hossa deal and then was traded midway through last season to the Ducks after doing even less for the Thrashers.

Things went from bad to worse in Anaheim, where Christensen was pointless through nine games this season, prompting the Ducks to put the once promising goal scorer on waivers Nov. 2.

It was a slap in the face -- and it stung all the more when not a single NHL team expressed interest in picking up the centreman and his $750,000, one-way contract.

"Being put on waivers was a very difficult experience to have," said the 25-year-old Edmonton native, "especially with my career -- scoring goals in junior and having some success a couple of years ago in Pittsburgh."

But like the drunk who finally finds his way to an AA club room, Christensen sounds like a man who admits he has a problem and is determined to do something about it.

"I'm glad to be here," he said, "and I think for my career it's necessary for me to come down here and work on some things that will make me a better player in the long run."

Right now, Christensen is with the Moose on what's being called a two-week conditioning stint -- something that could evolve into more as the month unfolds.

"I'm going to be here at least two weeks and that's nice to know. It's the first time in three or four weeks where I know I will be in one place. Ever since I cleared waivers, I'd go to the rink every morning and think, 'Well, this could be the day they assign me somewhere or I go to Europe or something.'

"And that was literally every day. My girlfriend's waiting for me back home, waiting for me to find a place to land."

For the moment, he's landed here. And for a man from whom so much has been expected -- and, with the rich paycheque, continues to be expected -- he sounds like he is finding the view from the bottom to be liberating.

"I don't feel pressure," he said. "I don't feel I have anything to lose."

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

MOOSE 5 BULLDOGS 3 D6

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 21, 2009 D1

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1 Comments

Posted by: IceTime69

November 21, 2009 at 6:51 AM

While Christensen's lack of production is undeniable, I think it's unfair to omit that he's been plagued by shoulder problems since a 2008 hit by Chara, and finally had shoulder surgery last June. Not sure if his contract would have allowed for it, but it may have made more sense for him to rehab in the minors to start the season. I read an article recently that indicated the Ducks asked him to come back after surgery and crash and bang. I was among the thousands of fans who got to see "Crusher" light the lamp in Wilkes-Barre in the AHL, and I can assure you he thrilled us for his wicked wrist shot, certainly not for his checking abilities. In any event, hope he lands on his feet soon.