According to Bruins fans, Eriksson has been one of their best player this year, and even when he wasn't scoring, he was very responsible in the defensive zone. The Bruins' system is also similar to the Hitchcock system, and he has the ability to be a good forechecker that can also help out our 'league best'
laughhystericallyuntilIcry
powerplay.
http://nesn.com/2014/09/bruins-player-preview-loui-erikssons-expected-role-projected-season-stats/
Worse case scenario, he gives us the ability to move things around:
Possession and Speed
Eriksson Lehtera Tarasenko
Schwartz Stastny Oshie
Steen Backes Jaskin
New Chemistry
Schwartz Lehtera Tarasenko
Steen Oshie Backes
Jaskin Stastny Eriksson
Super-duper Third
Schwartz Lehtera Tarasenko
Steen Oshie Backes
Jaskin Stastny Eriksson
Eriksson is a left-hand shot, unfortunately, but he can play both LW and RW equally, allowing many options. If Hitch can find it within himself to make match-up adjustments mid-game, Eriksson allows us to move anyone anywhere and create a mismatch.
He's an 8-year veteran, and has the ability to be lethal. Eriksson declined in his last year in Dallas, true, but he was only 27, not typically your year to begin regressing.
Yes, he is 29 now (30 in July), but with 'sheltered' minutes on a third/second line (see Boston), and with a great center to feed him (see NOT Boston), he could be back to a 50pt player. He's already trending to that on Boston, WITHOUT a great team/good center helping him. He's got a high Hockey IQ, and would put us over the top of any team in the league offensively. Think of how stupid our third line would make every other team's third line look.
Salary isn't an issue: 2 years (last year is 2015-16) at 4.25M would be easy to work around if we gave up Berglund and a Paajarvi (3.7+1.2) MAGNUS MAKES MORE THAN LaPierre.
Of course, Paajarvi might not even be needed to get him. Boston fans, despite Loui's return to form and holding their team together this year, do not seem to be showing Loui much love. He could definitely do with a change of scenery, and the Seguin trade still sits sourly in their mouths. This year, Boston fans are even talking about shopping Rask. Let's take advantage. Hopefully their GM can swallow his pride and make a move.
I'm going to copy this over to the trade forum, so that I don't feel so awful for posting this at the end of a GDT.