BUFFALO – Don Sweeney is in the city of Buffalo this week to watch over the best and brightest prospects up to be drafted three weeks from now, but that doesn’t stop the other parts of the GM job from getting done. Sweeney met with the agent for Loui Eriksson, J.P. Barry, and said they had some positive discussions about the Swedish winger with the July 1 free agency date now looming less than a month away.
That said Sweeney wondered aloud whether Eriksson now “had the itch” to test the free agency waters, and see what kind of contract he could command on the open market.
“I met with J.P. and his group this week, and we’ve continued to have discussions to see if we can find common ground. We’re getting closer to July 1. Does he feel the itch [to test free agency]? Maybe. But I’ve said all along I respect what Loui brings to our hockey club,” said Sweeney, who said Eriksson’s camp hasn’t given the Bruins indication they are automatically determined to hit the open market on July 1. “If we don’t find common ground with Loui then we’re going to have to replace him.
“There have been some good discussions. The onus is on us to display what level we’re willing to commit to Loui, and as he knows on the door to free agency that is important to him. It comes down to how far we want to stretch.”
The belief is the 30-year-old Eriksson is looking for a contract in the 5-6 year range that will pay him roughly $6 million per season, and he’ll find that kind of offer on the open market after posting 30 goals and 63 points this season while playing in all 82 games. Any kind of contract in the 5-6 year range for a player that’s going to be 31 years old with a concussion history is a high risk deal for the Black and Gold, and something they should take a pass on should Eriksson be unwilling to sign for 3-4 years in the $5.5 million per season.
Should Eriksson move on to another team on July 1, the focus on attempting to woo free agent Harvard captain Jimmy Vesey to Boston as a replacement winger gains in importance with players like Kyle Okposo, Steven Stamkos and Milan Lucic expected to command premium price tags on the free agent market.
Joe Haggerty can be followed on Twitter @HacksWithHaggs.