Well, Eriksson actually makes $4 million this year and $4 million next year -- a $3 million signing bonus and $1 million this year, and a $1 million signing bonus and $3 million salary next year.Eriksson makes 1 mil this yr. Cap hits is 6. A start of a career in front office is worth more than a mil in the right circumstance.
If Eriksson retires and the Canucks were to hire him as their head coach or General Manager at a comparable salary, that might possibly work. There aren't very many front- office postings, though, that pay anywhere near that range.
If Eriksson really were in the last year of his contract with only $1 million left that would be different, but unfortunately your version of facts is not true.