Boston Bruins: Trade Or Sign Loui Eriksson
When being acquired for Tyler Seguin, Loui Eriksson was expected to produce at a similar level to the way he had in Dallas for years. Known for his two-way game, Eriksson was a consistent player on the scoresheet as well, averaging roughly 30 goals and 40 assists for 70 points a season from 2008 until 2012. The lockout shortened season wasn’t bad for Eriksson either as he scored 12 goals and added 17 assists for 29 points in 48 games.
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Loui Eriksson was unable to really take off in his first two seasons with the Bruins due to concussion issues in his first year as well as his permanent spot on the Bruins’ third line alongside fellow-Swede and former-Bruin Carl Soderberg. With top-six minutes in Boston this season, Loui Eriksson has proven that he is still a legitimate top player in the NHL, and it has shown in every statistical category.
Loui Eriksson recorded 37 points in the 2013-14 season which was his first with the team after being acquired as the center-piece of the now-infamous Tyler Seguin trade. So far in the 2015-16 season, Eriksson has already passed that total with 38 points in 45 games played. He ranks second on the team with 38 points, third in goals with 15, and he is tied with Patrice Bergeron and Ryan Spooner for first on the team with 23 assists. Eriksson is also tied for second on the Boston Bruins in terms of plus/minus rating with a +10 alongside both Patrice Bergeron as well as Matt Beleskey.
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Eriksson has been a mainstay on the Bruins’ top power play unit and it can be argued that he is one of the most crucial pieces on the unit as his net-front presence has led to him being tied for first with Patrice Bergeron for the team-lead in power play points with eight. He’s also scored two game winning goals.
While Loui Eriksson is finally starting to produce at the elite level that was expected of him following his trade to the Boston Bruins, it’s his total-game play that really showcases his value for the team. From points, and leadership to his defensive ability and penalty-killing prowess, the Boston Bruins have clearly relied on Loui Eriksson heavily so far this season. His 19:33 of average ice time per game ranks third on the team behind only David Krejci (20:17) and Patrice Bergeron (20:01). Playing in essentially one third of every single game split between even strength, penalty killing, and with the man-advantage shows that Claude Julien has a ton of trust for the Swedish winger, but the question remains:
Should the Boston Bruins re-sign Loui Eriksson to a contract extension or trade him away prior to the trade-deadline?
Darren Dreger mentioned that the Boston Bruins and Loui Eriksson, a pending UFA this upcoming offseason, have began preliminary contract extension talks. Dreger stated that he believes Loui Eriksson will be looking to cash in on a five or six year contract worth north of $6,000,000 per season. He also mentioned that he doesn’t believe the Bruins can stomach this kind of money and term, and said they could look to trade him west, specifically mentioning Nashville as they are a team with a need for offense and a lot to offer in return.
The Boston Bruins know what it’s like to experience a cap-strapped team as recently as last season, and with so many players up for contract renewal this season, Dreger’s interpretation of the Bruins perspective is easy to understand. The Boston Bruins and general manager Don Sweeney do not want to put the team in a salary cap stranglehold again, and with that in mind, Loui Eriksson‘s initial requests may be too much for the Bruins to even consider.
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If Loui Eriksson is willing to forego a big pay-day in the offseason, a contract worth roughly $5,000,000 to $6,000,000 per season for the next three to five years could be something the Boston Bruins should absolutely sign. The Bruins might be reluctant to offer anything more than five years given Eriksson’s age and concussion-history, but a deal within that range seems fair to both Boston as well as Loui Eriksson.
The Bruins can replace Loui Eriksson internally in terms of a body in the lineup, but his production is far ahead of anything the Bruins currently have on their roster or in Providence. The Bruins would be hard-pressed to find a player who can contribute as much as Loui Eriksson can, especially when considering how much someone like that would cost in the offseason through trade or as a free agent.
Next: Are The Bruins Going To Be Buyers Or Sellers at the Deadline?
If Loui Eriksson and the Boston Bruins are unable to come to an agreement prior to the trade deadline, they will need to trade him. Loui Eriksson will command a lot of return at the trade deadline despite his pending UFA status. It seems impossible to consider the Bruins letting Loui Eriksson walking away on July 1st without any return, but the possibility is there if the team remains in the hunt for a playoff position at the time of the trade deadline.
Would you sign or trade Loui Eriksson? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet @BShareCohen with your ideas!
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