BOSTON — The Bruins broke up their potent Swedish connection this July when they shipped Carl Soderberg to Colorado. Loui Eriksson, Soderberg’s linemate for much of last season, was sad to see his fellow countryman go.
“Of course,” Eriksson said Friday after completing his first on-ice practice of Bruins training camp at TD Garden. “We had some really good games together, and he was a good friend to me. We had some chemistry, and I just wish him the best in Colorado now. I think it will be a little bit different for him there, so I’m just wishing him the best there. Now, it’s a different team, and hopefully some different linemates here we’re going to try out and see how everything’s going to play out.”
Soderberg, who was traded to the Avalanche for a 2016 sixth-round draft pick, played in all 82 games last season, tallying 13 goals and 31 assists. He was just one of several Bruins jettisoned over the summer, with Milan Lucic, Dougie Hamilton, Reilly Smith, Matt Bartkowski, Daniel Paille and Gregory Campbell all joining him on the train out of Boston.
It was the first significant roster shakeup since the Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 2011, but given the team’s disappointing finish last season — failing to reach the postseason for the first time since 2007 — it did not come as a surprise to Eriksson.
“That’s usually what happens when you don’t make the playoffs,” the winger said. “There’s always going to be some changes, and we (made) some big ones. I think the team looks good right now, and hopefully we can have a good training camp here.”
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
