Loui Eriksson was introduced to the Boston media on Monday -- via conference call -- and said his first order of business as a Bruin is to make up for a lacklustre season.
His words, not ours.
“It was a weird year,” the former Stars alternate captain said of last season, as per CSNNE. “I played on a lot of different lines and never really got that full confidence.”
“I’m looking forward to getting ready and having a good season [in Boston].”
Eriksson had a decent 2013 campaign -- 29 points in 48 games, averaging over 20 minutes per game -- but his points-per-game average dipped to 0.60, his lowest since 2007-08.
Why? Well, perhaps the revolving door in Dallas finally caught up to him.
The Stars were hardly a model of consistency during Eriksson’s time with the organization. He played under three head coaches in four years (Dave Tippett, Marc Crawford, Glen Gulutzan) and was in line to have a fourth when Lindy Ruff took over in late June.
Roster-wise, turnover was high as well.
Eriksson’s breakout campaign -- 2008-09, when he scored a career-high 36 goals -- came on a Stars team featuring Mike Ribeiro, Brad Richards, Steve Ott, Brenden Morrow and James Neal.
None of those guys lasted in Dallas past the 2011-12 season.
Along the way (from ’09-'12), the likes of Jamie Langenbrunner, Adam Burish, Michael Ryder, Jaromir Jagr and Sheldon Souray all came and left.
Needless to say, Eriksson is ready to join a team with a little more stability and presence.
"[Boston’s] a good hockey town. I’ve heard good things about the whole city,” he explained. “I’ll be ready to play there, and it will be awesome.”