Dallas Stars part ways with 2018 draft pick Albin Eriksson

The Stars didn’t signal ahead Albin Eriksson to an entry-level contract by Wednesday’s 4 p.m. deadline, forfeiting their rights to the 2018 second-round draft pick. Eriksson will turn into a free agent.

Eriksson was chosen forty fourth in 2018, and have become the very best draft pick by the Stars to not signal since 2004 second-round pick Johan Fransson didn’t earn an NHL contract.

Eriksson, 21, was projected to be a lanky goal-scorer with his 6-5 body, however struggled to provide any offense whereas enjoying professionally in Europe, going two seasons and not using a aim. In 2019-20, he had zero targets and three assists in 29 SHL video games. In 2020-21, he had zero targets and 4 assists in 36 SHL video games.

This season, Eriksson performed in Finland’s Liiga, ending with 5 targets and 5 assists in 38 video games.

Eriksson signed a contract with BIK Karlskoga in Sweden’s second division for subsequent season.

Draft picks going unsigned is a fairy frequent process across the league. Last yr, the Stars let the rights to fifth-round pick Nick Porco lapse. Curtis Douglas didn’t check in 2020. In 2019, they let 4 prospects go away the pool.

Later this summer time, 2019 sixth-round pick Benjamin Brinkman’s rights are anticipated to run out.

It’s simply considerably uncommon to see a draft pick chosen within the second spherical go unsigned. The Stars have already signed the 5 first- or second-round draft picks for the reason that Eriksson choice, a crop that features Thomas Harley, Mavrik Bourque, Wyatt Johnston, Logan Stankoven and Artem Grushnikov.

With Bourque, Johnston and Stankoven on their method — plus Ty Dellandrea, Riley Damiani and Antonio Stranges within the pipeline — the Stars have loads of depth amongst ahead prospects that would contribute quickly.

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