With the Canucks having paid a $6MM signing bonus to winger Loui Eriksson this month, Postmedia’s Jason Botchford suggests that his contract could soon become a movable one. The front-loaded nature of his six-year, $36MM deal means that he is owed just $14MM now with still four seasons left to play on the deal. That’s a much more reasonable cost for someone like Eriksson who has struggled in Vancouver.
However, before that could realistically happen, the 33-year-old will need to get off to a strong start next season. Eriksson has put up just 21 goals in 115 games with the Canucks and other teams will undoubtedly want to see him get at least somewhat closer to his form with Boston before really showing interest. Botchford adds that so far only the Canadiens (who are coached by Claude Julien who had him with the Bruins) have shown interest in him. Eriksson does have the ability to block a trade should Vancouver find a taker as he has a full no-trade clause for the next two seasons before it converts to a 15-team no-trade clause for the final two seasons.
More from the West:
- Back in April, Stars center Martin Hanzal underwent back surgery but was hopeful to be ready for the start of next season. That’s not going to happen, however, as GM Jim Nill told Sean Shapiro of The Athletic (Twitter link) that while Hanzal has started skating, the earliest he could return to the lineup is in late November. Last season was the 31-year-old’s first in Dallas and it was one to forget as a litany of injuries limited him to just 38 games where he collected only ten points, a career-low. Unfortunately for Hanzal and the Stars, 2018-19 is going to start off on a similar note.
- Jason Zucker’s new contract with the Wild carries a ten-team no-trade clause in the final four years of the contract, reports Michael Russo of The Athletic (subscription required). The winger wasn’t eligible for one this coming season as he’s only 26 and not of UFA age just yet.