Loui Eriksson Shows up in Contract Year

Loui Eriksson of the Boston Bruins has finally decided to show up and play some quality hockey. Coincidentally, Eriksson is also due for a new contract at end of 2015-16, after coming over in the 7-player deal in 2013 that sent Tyler Seguin to Dallas.

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Should we surprised that Loui Eriksson is off to his best start with Boston entering his third season with the B’s? Not at all! Players tend to show up and have excellent seasons when their due for a new contract, especially in the case of players such as Loui Eriksson who has struggled in comparison to numbers he produced in Dallas before coming over.

Eriksson carries a current annual cap hit of $4.25 million, which was a relatively good bargain at the time of the trade, but seems expensive now for a guy who’s only contributed 37 points in 2013-14, and 47 in 2014-15. Loui Eriksson was meant to be the prized piece coming back Boston’s way, but has underwhelmed to this point.

Loui was drafted 33rd overall in the second round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by Dallas as a European Skater out of the Swedish Elite League. He spent three years in Europe before coming to North America and joining AHL Iowa Stars in 2005-06 where he produced 60 points in 78 games played. Eriksson spent the next two seasons bouncing back and forth between AHL Iowa and Dallas. In 2006-07, he played 69 games for Dallas and put up 31 points, cementing his roster spot moving forward.

Mar 28, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Loui Eriksson (21) celebrates a goal with right wing Reilly Smith (18) during the second period against the New York Rangers at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

In his first full season in 2008-09, Loui Eriksson tallied 63 points in 82 games for the Stars. He added to that total in 2009-10 by scoring 71 points, followed up with a career-high in 2010-11 when Loui produced 73 points in 79 games. In 2011-12, he appeared in all 82 games, producing 71 points, bringing his three-year total to 215 points in 243 games. In his last season with Dallas during the lockout shortened season, Loui Eriksson produced 29 points in 48 games.

Before the Tyler Seguin deal, Loui was the best kept secret in hockey, quietly producing at a high-rate going unnoticed in a small market. Funny thing is, when you’re the main piece coming back in a blockbuster deal, the expectations tend to sky-rocket, especially if you’ve produced 70+ points.

Now, eight games into the new 2015-16 season, Eriksson has nine points for a struggling Bruins team that has been up and down to begin the year. It does however, beg to ask a few important questions.

Most fans expected a disappointing Loui Eriksson to walk into free-agency in summer of 2016 looking for a new team. Does a highly productive scoring season in 2015-16 do enough to make up for the past two seasons, that Boston would consider re-signing or offering an extension to Eriksson? Or do you consider moving him as a rental at the trade deadline, and attempt to get something back that could be around long-term to help make-up for the loss of Seguin?

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