Filip Eriksson Is Having a Breakout Season In SHL

In Eriksson’s most recent game against his former team, the Vaxjo Lakers, he scored 2 goals and an assist on Saturday to lead Lulea to a 5-2 victory. Given that it was his old KHL team, there may have been some extra motivation for Eriksson to perform well, and he did a great job doing just that. 

His first point of the game came late in the 2nd period after Eriksson won a puck battle along the boards, in which he immediately found his teammate, Isac Hedqvist, open right in the slot, who put Lulea up 2-0. This play showed some board strength that many didn’t know Eriksson had in his game. The fact that he can win his battles along the wall could allow him to eventually push to be an NHL player, as he isn’t just all finesse and can show some fight in the corners. It will likely be harder for him in the NHL to win board battles, but he seems to have the tools to make it work.

Late in the 3rd period, Eriksson ripped a shot from the right circle on the power play that beat the Lakers’ goaltender cleanly to put Lulea up 4-1 with 5:22 left in the game. This was just another example of why he can be a top winger on the power-play long-term in the SHL. However, chances are Eriksson will want to at least try to test his skills at an NHL Training Camp in the near future.

Eriksson’s 2nd goal of the game was scored on an empty net with just 1:06 left in the game, after he positioned and skated into the perfect spot to receive the pass for the easy goal. An empty net goal is not the flashiest goal he could have, but just the fact that he’s trusted enough to go out there and help close out a game is a great sign that his 2-way play is also very solid. 

Following his 3-point game on Saturday, Eriksson officially passed his career total of 12 points in 69 SHL games before this season. Eriksson is having a major breakout season in the SHL. 

If he continues to look as good as he has had with Lulea this season, he may follow in the footsteps of Oliver Kapanen, and Adam Engstrom by signing his entry-level contract this summer, but will still have a clause that says if he doesn’t make the NHL, he must return to honor his contract in the SHL, rather than go to the AHL. In all honesty, that may be the best move for the 20-year-old’s development next season if the Habs do see him as part of the team’s plans.

The fact that he’s over a point per game so far this season is really impressive, considering the SHL is a very hard league to actually put up a lot of points. It is especially impressive that he is doing this at just 20 years old. As Eriksson’s season progresses, it seems less like him having a hot streak and more like he is now officially a premier points getter in the SHL.

Have you been paying attention to Eriksson’s progression during his breakout SHL season?