Loui Eriksson

The idea of an underrated hockey player in the NHL almost always comes from either possessing a skill that can't always be quantified with traditional statistics or from playing in what could be classified as a non-traditional market. Loui Eriksson has been a player who qualified in both of those categories for years, and subsequently his name has always popped up on "most underrated" lists or in discussions on the topic. One of those details about Eriksson is no more; after being traded from the Dallas Stars to the Boston Bruins, there won't be any more stories written about how he doesn't get the attention he deserves. How well he can blend in and thrive with his new team will be a key part of determining if the Bruins are able to repeat as Eastern Conference champions and participate in the Stanley Cup Final for a third time in four seasons. Eriksson has been a productive offensive player, even an elite one at times for the Stars. He scored 36 goals in 2008-09 and had at least 70 points in each of the three seasons after that. What has set him apart from other 70-point producers is his defensive ability. Any discussion of the top defensive forwards in the League is going to center around, well, the center position. Centers have the most responsibility, and winning faceoffs helps a team avoid playing defense. Jonathan Toews, Patrice Bergeron, Pavel Datsyuk and Mike Richards are frequently mentioned among the top defensive forwards. How a wing impacts a team's defense is tougher to quantify, but Eriksson has earned the reputation as one of the best at his end of the ice. With Nathan Horton gone to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Jaromir Jagr off to the New Jersey Devils, and Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley part of the package to land Eriksson, the Bruins will obviously need him to score. His particular set of skills will be welcome in Boston. Where Eriksson fits is something Julien and the Bruins will hash out at training camp. Pairing him with Bergeron would have Boston fans who are into advanced statistics salivating at the possibilities. It is possible Julien would like more responsible play on David Krejci's line, or that Milan Lucic and Jarome Iginla are too similar to play together. Either way, Eriksson is likely to play right wing on one of the team's top lines. He is listed at left wing on most hockey websites, but he's been a versatile forward with the Stars. He's also been "underrated," but that is going to change.