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Under Pressure: Loui Eriksson

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“Under Pressure” is a preseason series we’ll be running on PHT. For each team in the NHL, we’ll pick one player, coach, GM, mascot or whatever that everyone will be watching closely this season. Feel free to play the song as you read along. Also feel free to go to the comment section and tell us we picked poorly.

For the Boston Bruins, PHT selects ... Loui Eriksson.

Trading anonymity for scrutiny

It’s strange to call a one-time All-Star “underrated,” but the label seems appropriate for Eriksson. Well, it did with the Dallas Stars at least, as the slick Swede hasn’t seen playoff action since 2007-08.

The 28-year-old can probably kiss anonymity away now that he’s a member of the Boston Bruins, though (just ask Nathan Horton). That’s especially true since his name will always be linked to Tyler Seguin’s thanks to a trade that will surely be judged and re-judged with harsh hindsight.. With all due respect to the other assets changing hands, many will frame the swap as Eriksson vs. Seguin.

It’s not easy being compared to a second overall pick, something Eriksson is about to find out.

Plenty of firepower

A big part of that move is that Seguin’s ceiling is potentially tantalizing at just 21, but at this moment, the move is very fair to the Bruins ... on paper, at least.

Before the streak-ravaging 2013 season, Eriksson was quietly developing a reputation as one of the league’s steadiest snipers. He scored 36 goals in 2008-09 and had at least 26 goals the following four seasons. His 12 tallies in 2013 won’t knock your socks off, but he still collected a respectable 29 points in 48 games. It’s not just goal-scoring, either, as he generated three straight 71+ point seasons from 2009-10 to 2011-12.

All of that implies that the Swede will fit in gloriously in Boston, especially since people rave about his two-way play.

But does he have enough punch?

Many will wonder if he has enough “sandpaper” in his game, however.

In 48 games last season for Dallas, Eriksson registered just six hits; that’s the same as Jaromir Jagr did before being traded to Boston and less than Ray Whitney delivered in 32 games. Seguin had 25 in Boston.

Hitting isn’t everything, especially when it comes to players who practice sound positioning like Eriksson does. Still, if his scoring dries up, you can bet the word “soft” will regrettably fly around.
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There’s nothing Eriksson can do about how well Seguin does or doesn’t play in Dallas, but Beantown could sour on him quickly if he endures the wrong kind of big, bad season.

For all of our Under Pressure series, click here.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins