JOEL ERIKSSON EK - Center - 22 - $1.487MM Cap Hit - RFA in 2021-2022
LAST UPDATED 8/6/19
Although he struggled to stay healthy in his most recent season and his rookie year was plagued by offensive inconsistency, Joel Eriksson Ek is really coming into his own as an NHL player. Despite not finding his offensive game just yet at the NHL level, Eriksson Ek has a track record of success at lower levels of hockey and scored reasonably well in Sweden's top men's league. Eriksson Ek is a very smart player who sees the ice well, allowing him to take advantage of his strength and above-average skating to create time and space with the puck. He won't win an Art Ross, but he can capably contribute offense when he's given the opportunity to and has definite 40-50 point upside going forward. His offense, though, is not why Eriksson Ek is in the NHL. Eriksson Ek is an elite defensive prospect who has already proven much of that side of his game to be effective at the NHL level. Although he isn't the strongest faceoff taker, Eriksson Ek has an exceptional defensive stick, and that combined with his above-average size and high-end hockey IQ allows him to be a very responsible defensive center. He can capably kill penalties and handle high-leverage defensive situations quite well. He's a versatile, hard-working do-it-all center who should anchor Minnesota's third line for years to come, similar to how Lars Eller was the criminally underappreciated engine behind Washington's bottom-6 during their Stanley Cup run. Eriksson Ek is the defensive force Eller is, only with more offensive upside than Eller ever had as a Capital.
Although he struggled to stay healthy in his most recent season and his rookie year was plagued by offensive inconsistency, Joel Eriksson Ek is really coming into his own as an NHL player. Despite not finding his offensive game just yet at the NHL level, Eriksson Ek has a track record of success at lower levels of hockey and scored reasonably well in Sweden's top men's league. Eriksson Ek is a very smart player who sees the ice well, allowing him to take advantage of his strength and above-average skating to create time and space with the puck. He won't win an Art Ross, but he can capably contribute offense when he's given the opportunity to and has definite 40-50 point upside going forward. His offense, though, is not why Eriksson Ek is in the NHL. Eriksson Ek is an elite defensive prospect who has already proven much of that side of his game to be effective at the NHL level. Although he isn't the strongest faceoff taker, Eriksson Ek has an exceptional defensive stick, and that combined with his above-average size and high-end hockey IQ allows him to be a very responsible defensive center. He can capably kill penalties and handle high-leverage defensive situations quite well. He's a versatile, hard-working do-it-all center who should anchor Minnesota's third line for years to come, similar to how Lars Eller was the criminally underappreciated engine behind Washington's bottom-6 during their Stanley Cup run. Eriksson Ek is the defensive force Eller is, only with more offensive upside than Eller ever had as a Capital.
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