Almost crazy land nuts, 12th year defenseman Tim Erixon(3) decides it’s time to return home signing a two-year deal with Vaxjo Lakers of the SHL, a league he spent the first three years of his pro career in with one-time junior club Skelleftea IK.
The high draft pick leaves after signing a pair of minor league contracts and a return to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season, although he found himself on the wrong side of more than a few healthy scratches due to his veteran status and played only 28 times.
He leaves after 331 AHL games scoring 22 goals and 143 assists with a +44 rating and 93 NHL appearances (2-12-14).
The 28-year old did decently enough through 4 big league deals but at this point in his career will likely flourish in Sweden.
Tim Erixon(44) Pittsburgh Penguins
New York Rangers‘ rookie defenseman Tim Erixon(44) is trying to make the most of his 3rd recall from Connecticut Whale this season.
He’s appeared in 16 NHL games but has yet to register a point.
He leads the AHL in assists by rookie defensemen with 30 in 43 games.
Originally a Calgary Flames‘ 1st round pick in the 2009 draft (#23 overall), he refused to sign with the team and was traded to the Rangers on draft day 2011. He made their opening night roster out of training camp.
He was already playing professional hockey in Sweden before coming to North America as a 20-year old.
His life has come full circle, as his dad Jan Erixon played 10 seasons for the Blueshirts from 1983 – 1993.
Tim was born in the U.S. but grew up in Sweden when his family moved back home after his dad retired.
Original story: 3/22-12
He would finish his first season with 18 games and two assists for the Rangers and stick at that 30 assists mark in the AHL.
Maybe a little out of nowhere, he would get dished during the summer to Columbus Blue Jackets as part of the Rick Nash trade.
He started his sophomore campaign with affiliate Springfield Falcons but once he was called up near the start of the second half of the season, finished the season with the parent club.
2013/2014 was the lockout for the big league, so he went straight to the farm team and stayed there until the show was ready to start.
He started on the opening night roster but was on a yo-yo chain between teams for much of the short run and would rejoin the Falcons for their playoff push.
He ended up having a career year in the minors scoring 5 goals and 33 assists for 38 points in 40 games, then added another tally and helper in 5 postseason contests.
Given a one-year extension to continue he would once again make the roster out of training camp but after 19 games and his first NHL goal and new mark set for points at 6, he was traded to Chicago Blackhawks.
In and out of the lineup he lasted only 8 games before being reassigned back down but before that could happen was scooped off the waiver wire by his third team of 2014/2015 Toronto Maple Leafs, where he would finish the year but not before adding another goal to his totals.
He inked another extension but that only lasted a week and he found himself as another piece to a blockbuster deal that would send him to Pittsburgh Penguins with Phil Kessel.
Entering his 8th pro season (3 in Sweden with Skelleftea), the still super-young 24-year should find his place with the new squad as they are very thin on the blue line and will definitely be able to use him.
