Report: Eriksson rejected trade to Canucks’ rival

Fans and media analysts have been speculating for weeks now on the future of Vancouver Canucks forward Loui Eriksson. The 33 year old forward still has three seasons left on a six year, $36 million deal that pays him a team-high $6 million per season. With a pricey extension for restricted free agent Brock Boeser still to be handed out at some point this offseason, it’s clear that the Canucks will have to shed salary someway. Given that Eriksson is GROSSLY overpaid, there’s speculation that he’ll be traded at some point.

Some have even speculated that Eriksson could be shipped to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for another overpaid veteran in Milan Lucic. Canucks general manager Jim Benning and Lucic have a history together from their days with the Boston Bruins and, of course, Lucic is a Vancouver native. In fact, it appears that a deal between the two clubs may have been close, but Eriksson chose to block the move by enacting his no trade clause. Check out this report from Canucks insider Dan Murphy:

It’s unclear exactly what the nature of the deal was between the Canucks and Oilers, but obviously it never got close to being official due to Eriksson enacting his no-trade clause. Still… the Canucks will have to do SOMETHING with Eriksson this offseason. Trade? Bury him in the AHL with the Utica Comets? One way or another, the other shoe will drop.