Each day from now until July 1, the day NHL free agency begins, CSNPhilly.com producers Tom Dougherty, Jordan Hall and Greg Paone will profile some of the league's top impending free agents and project their likelihood of signing with the Flyers.
Loui Eriksson, right wing
Age: Will turn 31 on July 17
Height: 6-2
Weight: 183 lbs
Last team: Boston Bruins
2015-16 cap hit: $4.25 million
Philadelphia Flyers
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Scouting report
Want to talk about cashing in at the right time? That’s just what Boston right winger Loui Eriksson will be doing in the next few weeks on the heels of a 30-goal, 33-assist campaign with the Bruins.
The soon-to-be 31-year-old Swede sports an impressive all-around game. He has the touch to put the puck in the net and also knows how to dish it. Since coming to the Bruins from the Dallas Stars as a key component of the Tyler Seguin deal in the summer of 2013, Eriksson has potted 62 goals and added 85 assists. That’s very good production from a top-six forward.
The 10-year veteran also knows how to handle himself defensively and is known for his two-way ability. He spent 151:46 of time on the ice while shorthanded for a Bruins penalty kill that was 13th in the league this past season.
A second-round pick of the Stars in 2003, Dallas is where Eriksson made his name in the league. He spent seven seasons in North Texas, including a career-best 36-goal season in 2008-09. Points-wise, his best year came in 2010-11 when he posted 73 of them. For his NHL career, Eriksson has recorded 212 goals and 292 assists for 504 points.
Projection
Eriksson was the subject of numerous trade rumors around this past year’s deadline as the Bruins teetered on edge of the playoff picture. Even with the Eriksson’s uncertain future, the Bruins ultimately decided to hang on to him and push toward the postseason. That push was ultimately fruitless as the Bruins faltered down the stretch and watched the Flyers and Detroit Red Wings hop into the playoff party.
Now, odds are the Bruins will lose Eriksson for nothing.
Personally, I find Eriksson to be one of the more intriguing free agents on the market. He has the ability to fill a number of different roles on a team. His line of suitors will be long come July 1.
Will the Flyers be one of those suitors? I feel he would be a nice fit, but I don’t think he’s exactly what the Flyers will be looking for in free agency for a few reasons.
Sure, he’s a winger who can score, which is just the type of player the Flyers crave. But, at 31, Eriksson probably isn’t going to be in their plans. They’ll want someone younger to fill that role whether or not that player comes from outside the organization. Eriksson will probably command a long-term deal and that’s something these Flyers just shouldn’t do for a 31-year-old, especially one that will likely want a check north of the $4.25 million cap hit he’s coming off of after a 30-goal season.
It just seems more like a move the Flyers’ old regime would do — a long-term deal for an older veteran. That’s not this regime’s modus operandi. And especially not with the cap crunch the Flyers still have and the needs to ink their own like Brayden Schenn and Radko Gudas.
Eriksson will cash in this summer. But it will be with a team that has more money to spend than the Flyers. I also think it will be with more of an immediate contender — a veteran like Eriksson probably won’t want to play through a rebuild of any kind.
The Florida Panthers will have money to spend once Vincent Trochek is re-signed. They would be an interesting fit. Maybe the New York Islanders make a strong move to replace Kyle Okposo if he leaves. The St. Louis Blues will also have a need and money if Troy Brouwer and/or David Backes skip town.
Just a few suggestions that could make some sense. But don't get your hopes up to see Eriksson in orange and black.