Loui Eriksson May Replace Iginla on Bruins Top Line

May 12, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Josh Gorges (26) helps goalie Carey Price (31) to make a save against Boston Bruins left wing Loui Eriksson (21) during the second period in the game six of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports

Julien Sees Eriksson on Bruins First Line

The departure of Jarome Iginla to the Colorado Avalanche wasn’t a surprise given the monetary state of the Bruins following the end of their season, but regardless, a void now exists in Boston’s top-line.

Loui Eriksson, who was surrounded by rigid expectations upon entering Beantown, notched ten goals and 37 points overall in 61 regular season game last season. He didn’t impress enough to stay on the top line but delighted in spring success on the third line with his active countryman Carl Soderberg.

Coach Claude Julien perceives opportunity for the Swedish forward next year.

“Loui Eriksson is a player that can be even better than he was last year,” Julien said, per ESPN Boston. “I think we started seeing that at the end of the year, and he could be a replacement for Jarome as a possibility.

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“But at the same time, Chris Kelly will be coming back, so are we going to look for somebody to be a third-liner, or are we going to look for somebody who’s going to be replacing Iggy?”

Strapped by the cap, it doesn’t appear that players outside of the Bruins will ink a contract and become a primary contributor to the B’s goal scoring aspirations. So, Eriksson looks primed to make that jump to line No.1. more so than any other Bruin, bearing in mind his solid experience on the first line in Dallas.

In the event of Eriksson’s lineup ascent, the Bruins will have a large pool of youthful skaters–Ryan Spooner and Justin Florek among them–ready to step into his previous position.

“There are a couple of things here that we have to resolve, but at the same time, we do have some young players in Providence that are going to deserve a look,” Chiarelli said. “So, when training camp starts, I think a lot of those decisions will probably be taking place.”