Loui Eriksson
Essential info: 6-foot-2 / 183 lbs / LW / Shoots left / from Gothenburg, Sweden
Career Stats: 725 GP / 212 G / 292 A / 59 plus-minus / 156 PIM
Last Season: 82 GP / 30 G / 33 A / 13 plus-minus / 12 PIM
Current Cap Hit: $4,250,000
Projected Salary Ask: $5.5-6.5 million
PROS
If the Canucks want to go the “Gentleman Scorer” route, then Loui Eriksson fits perfectly. Eriksson is a six-time 20 goal scorer, including two seasons in which he tallied 30. He’s had excellent line mates in the past but has he ever had playmakers like the Sedins? The possibilities with such a Swedish trio are tantalizing. With the Sedins feeding him pucks and with his release, Eriksson could score upwards of 35 goals — no joke.
Eriksson is the type of intelligent player able to effectively anticipate any Sedinery. An effective powerplay guy, Eriksson could help transform the Canucks’ PP into a functional unit again.
CONS
Two things: Eriksson will be looking to cash in after a fantastic season in Boston last year, which means his salary demands will be high (and unlike the other wingers, there’s no chance of a hometown discount), and he lacks physicality in his game. On a minor note, he’s also a left-hand shot, which we’ve established isn’t ideal.
Signing Eriksson might mean only signing Eriksson and no one else, unless more cap space is made by trading current roster players.
Next: Kyle Okposo