PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Frölunda chose to dump Loui Eriksson and it caused strong reactions.
Now the SHL club and sporting director Fredrik Sjöström explains why.
– We understand that not everyone likes this, he tells SportExpressen.
In the middle of the season connected Louis Eriksson to Frölunda and after a slow start, he developed into a real key player during the spring. The 37-year-old was then clear that he wants to continue playing another season in Gothenburg.
Dumps Eriksson
But then came the shock news that Frölunda chooses not to extend the contract and thus dumps Eriksson, who played over 1,000 NHL games in his career. He is of course extremely disappointed after the news and with the supporters have expressed their anger on social media.
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Now Frölunda and above all the sports director choose Fredrik Sjöström to open up and explain the decision behind letting Loui go.
– We had, as we always have with the players after the season, “exit talks”, where we go through and evaluate the season and talk to the players. Then and there we said we needed to think a little bit about what we wanted to do and we told Loui to do the same, considering he was out after the season and said he had some thoughts and didn’t know if he was going to continue . Then we had a little dialogue and I talked to his agent, says Sjöström in an interview with SportExpressen.
– But quite a lot of things happen after the season and there we have started to put some pieces of the puzzle together, which led to a decision where we felt that we will go a different way. It wasn’t an easy decision, certainly not, but we think Loui did a great job – especially in the playoffs where he played really good hockey for us.
READ MORE: The fans’ tokil against Frölunda dumping Loui Eriksson – vents the fury: “Pissing straight in the face”
Frölunda answers
The club’s action against Eriksson is based on Frölunda wanting to rejuvenate the squad for the next SHL season.
– We have x number of places and we have a number of young players that we now feel we want to release and give the opportunity to compete for places in the team. Such things have been weighed in, there is no talk of that matter. Having said that, it was a very difficult decision and we understand that this is concerning. Loui is a popular player in every way and he is also popular in the team and among the coaches. But we have had to make other tough decisions as well. It’s just the way it is, it’s not the most fun part of one’s job, admits Sjöström in the interview.
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Frölunda’s sporting director can also understand the supporters’ disappointment and this decision arouses strong opinions.
– It is clear that you understand that there will be reactions and, as I said, Loui is a very valued person and player, so it is clear that we understand that not everyone likes this decision. At the same time, it is a process to build a team and there will be a new team for next season. Sometimes not all the pieces of the puzzle fit, says Fredrik Sjöström to the evening newspaper.
What do you think of Frölunda’s decision about Loui Eriksson? Share the article and have your say!
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