The Boston Bruins have less than two weeks to come to terms on a new contract with Loui Eriksson before he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.
The Bruins and Eriksson’s camp have been in conversation quite regularly, but it doesn’t seem like a deal is close, according to the player’s agent.
“Don (Sweeney) and I have been in regular communication,” Eriksson’s agent J.P. Barry told ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun. “We were expecting a new offer from the club at some point but we haven’t received one yet. I’m sure we will speak again prior to the draft about their intentions.”
Boston already made several sweeping changes at last year’s draft when they shipped Milan Lucic to Los Angeles and Dougie Hamilton to Calgary. But another year out of the postseason will likely see the team tweak the roster some more. The question is will Eriksson be one of those players on his way out of town?
The Bruins won’t look very good if they make him leave for nothing. While the B’s were battling for they playoff lives in February, not only did GM Don Sweeney keep all his potential free agents, but he also traded draft picks for rental players like Lee Stempniak.
At the same time, Boston’s priority will almost certainly be to add a mobile defenseman (or two) to their back end. Can they acquire the defenseman they’re looking for and pay Loui Eriksson? That remains to be seen.
Boston has roughly $20 million in cap space, according to General Fanager. That’s a pretty good chunk of change, but they only have nine forwards, four defensemen and one goalie under contract for next season (excluding prospects).