The Vancouver Canucks intend to get back to the playoffs next season. Though many doubt they can, Loui Eriksson should give them a better chance to do it.
The Canucks have reportedly signed Eriksson to a six-year, $36 million today. He scored 30 goals for the Bruins last season, playing mostly with center David Krejdi. In Vancouver, he’s expected to skate on the first line with fellow Swedes Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin.
Eriksson turns 31 later this month, so there’s risk in signing him through 2021-22. The Canucks’ president of hockey ops, Trevor Linden, said last weekend that they’d “consider the age, consider the miles” on free-agent wingers, but they were unlikely to land a player of Eriksson’s caliber on a short-term deal. The Sedins, 35, have two years left on their contracts.
Eriksson’s departure from Boston leaves the Bruins with just Joe Morrow and Jimmy Hayes to show for the Tyler Seguin trade. They’re expected to sign a free-agent forward to replace him, reportedly David Backes.
Related: Sedin calls being ‘happy with losing’ a ‘dangerous road to go down,’