After Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney decided to hold on to winger Loui Eriksson at the NHL trade deadline, the two sides are in a position - at least in theory - to negotiate a long-term agreement to keep the nine-year veteran with the organization.
Eriksson said Tuesday he's happy to still be with the Bruins and that a contract extension is certainly possible.
"It's definitely nice to be still here," Eriksson said, according to Matt Kalman of NHL.com. "It was kind of a stressful day (Monday) and not really knowing what's going to happen. I'm just happy to be here. It's a lot easier for me and my family to stay here and finish the season and try to make this team make the (Stanley Cup) playoffs and be a good team. So I'm really happy to be still here."
Added Eriksson, "Now we have some more time to negotiate and maybe get something done and like I said, all I can do now is just to play games and try to win games and help this team."
The 30-year-old is in the midst of a productive season for the Bruins, with 23 goals and 28 points through 63 games. Those numbers, however, are boosting his bid to secure a big-money contract, something the Bruins seem unwilling to commit to at this point.
