Jonathan Ericsson (shoulder) will not participate in Friday's contest. Ericsson did skate on Friday, but he's still sore. He might return on Sunday.

Jonathan Ericsson (shoulder) is expected to be a game-time decision on Friday. Ericsson skated on his own before Thursday's practice. "I felt better than I thought I would," Ericsson said. "There's a chance (I'll play). You see the (defensemen) dropping like flies and you want to go out there and help. But it might not be helping if you go out and the injury gets worse and you're out another two, three weeks."

Jonathan Ericsson (shoulder), who is questionable to play Tuesday, is scheduled to get an MRI on Tuesday. Ericsson didn't play Monday after hurting his shoulder in practice Sunday. We're still awaiting word on whether he'll be able to play tonight against the Stars. The Red Wings signed D Kent Huskins on Tuesday to provide depth after Ericsson and D Carlo Colaiacovo (shoulder) were sidelined and it's possible he could play if Ericsson can't go.

Jonathan Ericsson (shoulder) is questionable for Tuesday's home opener against Dallas. Ericsson did not play on Monday after injuring his shoulder in practice Sunday. If Ericsson is unable to go, the Red Wings will have to call up another defenseman from Grand Rapids as Carlo Colaiacovo was injured Monday.

Jonathan Ericsson is questionable for Monday's game at Columbus because of a sore shoulder. "Not as good as I hoped," he said when asked how he felt after the team's morning skate. "It's better than it was last night, but it just hurts." The Wings called up Brian Lashoff to take his place if he can't play.

Jonathan Ericsson injured his shoulder in practice on Sunday when he stepped on the puck and crashed into the boards. Ericsson thinks he will be able to go on Monday when the Red Wings take on the Columbus Blue Jackets but the Red Wings could call up Brian Lashoff from the minors if Ericsson is unable to go. "I just ran into the boards," Ericsson said. "The puck came across when I was going to turn and it came under my skate. I went in pretty hard. I went in shoulder-first. I feel like I've been hit by a train. I'm going to be careful until (Monday) and hopefully it should be fine."

Look for Jonathan Ericsson to be paired with Niklas Kronwall this season. This is the likely pairing heading into the regular season and it should benefit Ericsson as Kronwall is now the leader on the blueline. Ericsson has been a bit of an enigma as he has always been highly regarded but has not managed to get over the hump. "You learn so much from playing from yourself, and other players, about the game," Ericsson said. "I learned to deal with down periods. Just beating myself down, for no reason really. I just had to look ahead and get better. That's my goal every year, to be a better player every year." Look for Ericsson to get 12-15 points this season and not be fantasy relevant.

Jonathan Ericsson is having trouble staying motivated during player workouts. "I'm really bored," Ericsson said. "It gets old. You don't even know why you're on the ice, why you're waking up. Am I doing this for a reason? The motivation goes up and down. You hear something good happening, then you get motivated. And then you hear the talks break off and it's 'Why am I even on the ice?'" Ericsson probably isn't alone in his current attitude. The drop-dead date for the season is rapidly approaching and the two sides aren't even negotiating. If there's a breakthrough, things could happen quickly, but it's hard to stay upbeat about the CBA talks when there aren't any.

Jonathan Ericsson was logging roughly 30 minutes per game while playing in the lower levels of the Swedish system. Ericsson played for Vita Hasten and Soderalje. He ended up participating in seven games and his teams won all of them. He enjoyed his time in Sweden, but that kind of ice time was hard for him. "In the third period I was cramping every shift," said Ericsson, referring to his first game back. "It was a lot of ice time right away and, of course, I wasn't use to playing. I hadn't played in five months. I could barely go, and then I couldn't stretch (after the game) because I had to meet all the fans after the game, and that took an hour after the game. I was feeling it for sure. Still feeling it." Ericsson probably won't play in any more Swedish games in 2012 for tax reasons. Of course, the best case scenario is that the lockout ends and he'll be able to play for the Detroit Red Wings.

Jonathan Ericsson will play at least three games with Vita Hasten of the Swedish League. This is two levels below the Swedish Elite League but will allow Ericsson to remain in playing shape in the interim. He is due to play his first home game on the 17th of October. Ericsson will garner a bigger role on the Red Wings this season as Nicklas Lidstrom has retired. He had only 11 points in 69 games last season but did have 128 hits and a plus-14 rating.