We chose a completely different path.
Louis Ericsson, 37, was very disappointed after being snubbed by Frolunda.
Sporting director Fredrik Sjöström understands the reaction but believes the club wants to go a different way.
– I don’t think it’s strange that he’s disappointed, says Sjöström.
After coming through the fall, he was finally making a successful comeback in a Frölunda jersey for returning Loui Eriksson. But next year there would be no club match for the longtime NHL veteran and in Göteborgs-Posten he expressed his disappointment after being awarded the peerage.
Looking at my performance, I’m very disappointed. I was very clear about what Frölunda means to me as a player. I gave 110 percent all this year, of course. He told the newspaper that I accept their decision and wish the team good luck – but for that I don’t have to respect the decision.
A disappointment understood by sporting director Fredrik Sjöström.
– He’s a good man, and I don’t think it’s strange that he’s frustrated. It’s the normal reaction. We made our side clear and what we thought and that’s where we’re at now,” Sjöström tells Sportbladet.
“Not an easy decision
Long story short – why isn’t there a Loui sequel?
– With all the team building, we look at how many places we have and what to bring. It was not an easy decision for us, it was very difficult. Loui is highly regarded as a player and as a person. We sat and thought for a long time and in the end had to make a decision and then chose a completely different path. That’s what we chose and we have some young players that we want to give them a chance.
Louis Ericsson said shortly after the final whistle in the semi-final exit against Växjö that he was not sure about continuing his career. But desire quickly arose after that and the two sides held a dialogue during the spring.
– Louie told us we needed to think and we hadn’t quite decided how we felt moving forward, and I told Louie he needed to think about how he felt – and we’ve been talking since. But as Lowe later told the media, he was charged and was keen to continue, says Sjöström.
Isn’t it too bad for Frölunda?
No, we were clear about that. He’s been good during the season but we have to build a team and we only have X places.
Younger players get the chance
Sjöström says many younger players will get the chance this fall and mentions Otto Steinberg, David Edstrom, Noah Hassa, Isaac Born and Noah Dwyer-Nelson.
– They’ll have to fight for their places and fight, it’s not something that’s just going to be given. But we feel there has to be some atmosphere and opportunity for them and then it’s a bit of a tough decision. Then there were some other players that we chose not to include and we brought in some new players and maybe there will be additional players. You have to make your own choices but we understand that with someone like Loui this would of course be a big deal. Given his strong background and career, we realize he’s going to be a bit bigger with the other guys.