Long-time NHL forward Loui Eriksson will continue his hockey career overseas, returning to the team that he won a championship with in 2005. Frolunda has announced a contract for Eriksson that will last the rest of the season, though even the press release cautions expectations and notes that he hasn’t played in six months.
Eriksson, 37, crossed the 1,000-game threshold last season, suiting up 73 times for the Arizona Coyotes to take his NHL total to 1,050. Because of an ill-advised contract from the Vancouver Canucks in the summer of 2016 that made him the butt of many jokes as his career was winding down, it’s easy to forget how good Eriksson was in his prime. In his third year in the league, he scored 36 goals and 63 points with the Dallas Stars, only to follow it up with three straight 70+ point campaigns.
In fact, for the stretch between 2008-09 and 2011-12, Eriksson was 21st in league scoring while also receiving Selke Trophy votes as one of the best defensive forwards in the league. He was a true star at that point, even if it is kind of difficult to remember now.
Today, he returns to the organization that developed him and the SHL team he played with during the 2004-05 lockout season. As he explained in his introductory presser, he’ll also be reunited with Joel Lundqvist, team captain, and former teammate at several levels, including the Stars.