from Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province,

Loui Eriksson is signed for at least a year longer than any team should be comfortable with, maybe two.

He will turn 31 in a couple of weeks and is coming to a team which is supposed to be getting younger and faster.

Eriksson will do nothing to help the Canucks achieve either of these goals.

He will, however, make the Canucks better. Instantly....

He’s not a perfect fit for the twins. He shoots left and it’s the right shot forwards who have had the most success with the Sedins.

But he’s worked with them before, really well, in international play. He’ll work the boards. He’ll jam into corners. He’ll get to the front of the net....

It’s why he could be a better bet to be playing well and healthy in four years than Milan Lucic, even though he’s three years older.

Eriksson would have been the Canucks second choice if Lucic had any interest at all in this team. He didn’t.

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