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Meltzer's Musings: Eriksson, QMJHL Finals, Reading Royals, Portland |
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1) Several readers have asked me for my opinion of impending unrestricted free agent winger Loui Eriksson, who had a strong bounceback season for the Boston Bruins this year (30 goals, 63 points) while dressing in every game.
I don't know if he will make it to July 1, as Eriksson reportedly remains in negotiations with the Bruins on a contract extension. Strictly in hockey terms, he would be a nice addition to the Flyers -- or any team with whom he signed. At age 30, he is in latter part of his prime and would command a multi-year open market deal with a significant bump on his current $4.25 million cap hit.
In terms of his game, I have always likened Eriksson, whom I watched on nearly a game-by-game basis when he played for the Dallas Stars, as being sort of middle-class man's Simon Gagne at Gagne's Flyers peak. Eriksson is a very solid two-way player with an ability to make and finish plays and well above-average defensive skills with a quick defensive stick and solid positioning. As a result, he can play in any game situation.
Eriksson has had issues in his career with multiple concussions, and it set him back for awhile in Boston even after he returned to the ice. However, he's played 163 of 164 possible games over the last two seasons and regained his confidence and scoring touch.
Eriksson, a Lady Byng Trophy finalist this season, has never been much of a physical player. His skating ability, while fine, is not of quality of the speedier Gagne during his NHL heyday. As with Gagne, Eriksson is pretty laid back in his demeanor. There are times where Eriksson will fade into the woodwork offensively and become a little too much of a perimeter player. Most of the time, however, he uses his quickness and hockey smarts to be an effective player in all three zones.
At one point in his career, during the latter stages of his Dallas years, in became fashionable to deem Eriksson the most underrated forward in the NHL. He got called underrated so much, however, that the term no longer fit by the time he had his third straight 70-plus point season.
2) QMJHL: The Rouyn-Noranda Huskies earned a 4-2 win over the Shawinigan Cataractes on Wednesday in Game One of the QMJHL President Cup Final. Flyers defense prospect Philippe Myers was a force in the game, recording a goal and an assist, four shots and two credited hits. He was plus-two at even strength.
3) ECHL: The Flyers' ECHL affiliate, the Reading Royals, took a two games to one lead on the Wheeling Nailers in the Eastern Conference semifinal round of the Kelly Cup playoffs with a 4-1 win at Santander Arena on Wednesday night. In their 10 playoff games to date, the Royals are 6-0 when scoring first and 0-4 when giving up the first goal.
4) I was saddened to hear the news that the Florida Panthers will be moving their American Hockey League farm team from Portland, Maine to Springfield, Massachusetts next year, after Portland Pirates were recently sold. As a result, Portland will be without an AHL team.
As with the other places that have served as the home of the Flyers' AHL farm team over the years, parts of the Flyers' franchise tapestry were sewn in Portland before becoming entwined in Philadelphia.
In 1977, the late Ed Snider founded the Maine Mariners in the AHL as the Flyers' farm team. The team enjoyed considerable success with its core of Flyers' prospects and well-selected minor league veterans, winning the Calder Cup in back-to-back season (1977-78 and 1978-79) and reaching the finals in 1980-81 behind rookie goaltender Pelle Lindbergh as well as in 1982-83.
A host of future Flyers and other NHL team notables passed through Portland on their way to the NHL, while some players settled there permanently. Apart from the late Lindbergh, the ranks of Mariners alumni include the likes of Pete Peeters, Bob Froese, Rick St. Croix, Dave Poulin, Dave Brown, Tom "T.J." Gorence, Glen Cochrane, John Paddock, Al Hill, Drew Callendar, Blake Dunlop, Dennis Patterson, Len Hachborn, Terry Murray, Frank Bathe, Mike Busniuk, Norm Barnes, the late Dave Hoyda, Steve Coates, Andy Brickley, Jerome Mrazek.
The Flyers changed their AHL affiliation for one season to Springfield (1983-84) and then began a long partnership with the Hershey Bears that lasted until the creation of the Phantoms for the 1996-97 season.
Portland soldiered on, winning another Calder Cup in 1983-84. The franchise became a New Jersey Devils affiliate and then relocated to become the Utica Devils in 1987. The same year, a new version of the Maine Mariners (affiliated with the Boston Bruins) started up in Portland. The franchise ran through 1991-92.
For one year, Portland was without an AHL team. The Baltimore Skipjacks moved to Portland in 1993, and the franchise ran through the 2015-16 with a host of different NHL parent teams over the years.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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