Bruins take ‘one more stab' at Eriksson deal, but not looking good

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BUFFALO – While Bruins GM Don Sweeney hasn’t completely closed the door on re-signing impending free agent Loui Eriksson, it certainly doesn’t sound like there will be any 11th hour contract breakthrough between Boston and the Swedish winger prior to July 1.

The 30-year-old Eriksson is coming off 30 goals and 63 points for the Bruins last season, and is expected to draw heavy interest from teams like the Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings should he hit the free agent market. Sweeney and Eriksson’s agent J.P. Barry will meet one more time this weekend in Buffalo to take “one more stab” at a deal, but it sounds like the term of the contract is a major sticking point in negotiations.

“We’ll see if things have changed, and take one more stab at it to see if he thinks the internal landscape is as green as we think it is, as opposed to what the other side might look like,” said Sweeney. “Obviously he’s on the cusp of maybe exploring things [in free agency], and he may see it otherwise. I’ve told you all along that we really value Loui, and what he brings to the table. We’d like to find a fit, but it may not happen.”

The Bruins last offered a four year deal to Eriksson during negotiations around the trade deadline, and it’s expected that the player is looking for something in the neighborhood of six years at roughly $6 million per season. Sweeney said that he hasn’t received any calls from NHL teams looking to acquire the exclusive negotiating rights for Eriksson, and it may be too late for that given that prospective free agents can begin meeting with interested teams on Saturday.

If the Bruins lose Eriksson for nothing prior to July 1, then Joe Morrow and Jimmy Hayes will be the only direct, or indirect, remnants of the Tyler Seguin trade made back in 2013 that are still left with the Bruins organization. 
 

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