NHL Free Agents: Loui Eriksson – Rumors, Best Fits

NHL Free Agents Loui Eriksson: Latest Rumors, FA Profile, 5 Best Fits

Signs point to Loui Eriksson re-signing with Boston opposed to becoming one of the many NHL free agents in a deep pool. After all, GM Don Sweeney opted not to trade the winger at the deadline because his intentions were to retain the only remaining piece of significance from the Tyler Seguin deal.

Boston could certainly make the necessary adjustment to make room (salary wise) for Loui Eriksson, but the Bruins need to ask themselves a few questions before committing to the pending unrestricted free agent.

Firstly, can that same money be spent on another player (or possibly two) that could have a greater long-term impact?

Second, will Eriksson’s play digress back to the level we saw leading into 2015-16. No one expected him to reach that 70+ point plateau from his Dallas days (considering the B’s play a more defensive system), but his numbers over the past few years failed to meet expectations.

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It wasn’t until he was in a contract year that he decided to produce. We’ve seen this far too many times in sports, and history suggests it won’t work out well.

Should GM Don Sweeney feel the same way, there’s a chance Loui enters the deep pool of NHL free agents in 2016.

Eriksson, 30, is a left-handed shooting right-winger with the versatility to play both sides (prefers RW). He was originally taken by Dallas 33rd overall back in 2003 as a Swedish standout.

After several years in the Swedish ranks (with a couple of seasons in the SHL) and numerous international appearances, Loui finally made the jump to North America in 2005-06 joining AHL Iowa.

He had 60 points as an AHL rookie, and followed that up with eight points in 15 games to open the 2006-07 season which prompted his NHL call-up. He posted 19 points in 59 games with the Dallas Stars that year.

Spending nearly the entire 2007-08 campaign with Dallas, Loui produced 31 points in 69 games during his sophomore season. A year later, he more than doubled that total by scoring 36 goals, 27 assists (63 points) in 82 games.

Loui Eriksson posted north of 70 points the next three years (’09-’12). He had 29 points in 48 games during the lockout shortened season of 2012-13. The following summer, Loui was traded to Boston as part of the Tyler Seguin deal.

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Eriksson underwhelmed with 37 points in 61 games in year one with the B’s. He more than doubled his goal total and increased his points with 22 goals, 25 assists (47 points) in 81 points during his second season.

As we know, in 2015-16, Loui Eriksson was one of the Bruins top players posting 30 goals, 33 assists (63 points) in 80 games. Oddly enough, the last time/only time he posted 30 or more goals was in 2008-09, producing the same total of 63 points.

In comparison with other NHL free agents, Loui Eriksson makes for the biggest risk/reward type signing. A player who seems to be the definition of inconsistency – it’s difficult to know what you’re getting for a hefty price tag.

Other GMs may want to feed off of past experiences in the NHL and on the international stage. Perhaps Eriksson had chemistry with a particular player, which makes for a more natural fit. Buyer beware regardless.

Having just completed his 10th NHL campaign, Loui Eriksson has now appeared in 723 regular season games, and has 212 goals, 292 assists (504 points) over his career. He also six goals, eight assists (14 points) in 34 postseason games.

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Loui Eriksson’s Resume:

– World Junior Stage (Team Sweden) Appearances: U16 (’01), U17 (’02), U18 (’03), U20 (’04 and ’05)
– SHL Rookie of the Year (2003-04)
– Five World Hockey Championship Appearances (’09, ’11, ’12, ’13, and ’15)
– Two Winter Olympic Appearances (2010 and 2014)
– NHL All-Star Game Appearance (2010-11)
– Named to Team Sweden at September’s Upcoming World Cup of Hockey

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NHL Free Agents: Loui Eriksson Rumors/Speculation

via Sportsnet,

Extension negotiations opened in late January and heated up in late February. Bruins president Cam Neely told reporters that talks picked up again in late April. Nothing was settled. 

“We’re not quite there on term and dollars,” Eriksson’s agent, J.P. Barry, said on Feb. 26. “We have some work to do.”

The Bruins were willing to offer four years, according to ESPN’s Craig Custance. The Kings and Ducks reportedly expressed interest in trading for Eriksson at the deadline, but Bruins GM Don Sweeney’s ask was too high. Now there are rumblings the Canucks might make a pitch.

“I’m not going to comment on other teams players right now,” GM Jim Benning said at his season-ender, “but if there’s a player who is around 30 and has a connection with our group and we think is going to be a good fit playing with our players and is going to be part of helping our young players develop then we will look at everything.”

“It’s a big decision, where I end up. So, we’ll see what’s going to happen this summer,” Eriksson told reporters after the Bruins missed the playoffs. “I had three great years here, and we’ll see what’s going to happen here this summer. That’s all I can say.”

The Flyers are one of many teams expected to take a look at Eriksson.

“I’ve been in discussions with Loui and I think I have a pretty good idea where they would like to be at, and we’ll see if we can find common ground,” Sweeney said during a May 25 conference call. “But we have had ongoing discussion on that front. As I’ve said, I’ve always respected Loui as a player. He had a fabulous year and we would love to be able to retain him.”

Rumors seem to suggest that Jim Benning would be interested in signing Loui Eriksson. Personally speaking, this would be yet another critical error on part of the Canucks GM.

Replacing Radim Vrbata with a fairly similar player whose production ceiling is only a little higher does little to help things moving forward. Unless the hope is that Brock Boeser steps up in the top six, another temporary fix is not the solution in this awkward re-build.

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Potential Contract for Loui Eriksson

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If Boston manages to re-sign him before July 1, they should be able to lock into a deal for a little under market value.

Should he manage to become one of many NHL free agents, we can expect a team willing to spend both on salary/term to obtain Loui Eriksson.

Chances are Loui will be seeking a fair-sized contract with decent term.

He’s 30-years-old, which means this could be his last opportunity to cash in on a big-ticket deal.

Projected Term: 4-6 years
Projected Salary: $5.5 million to $7.5 million dollars/year

Next: NHL Weekly Roundup: Latest News and Rumors

5 Best Fits

Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers

*Note: Los Angeles could turn to Eriksson as a consolation prize should they fail to re-sign Milan Lucic. Teams such as Calgary and NY Rangers are facing tight cap situations, but Loui would be an ideal fit if they either could find room.