By the age of 20, Eriksson felt he was ready for the fast-paced NHL, and in 1995-96, he moved to North America and played 75 games for the Adirondack Red Wings as an AHL rookie while playing in one game with the parent club in Detroit.

Eriksson was drafted 22nd overall in the 1993 NHL entry draft by the Detroit Red Wings and 1996-97 split his season with the Wings and the team's AHL affiliate in the AHL. In 1997-98, Eriksson secured a full-time roster spot with the Red Wings and drew praise for his plus-21 rating, tops among all rookies. In the playoffs, helping the Red Wings win their second consecutive Stanley Cup.

Late in the 1999 season, Eriksson was traded with a first-round draft pick to the Chicago Blackhawks for three-time Norris Trophy winner Chris Chelios. In 72 games between the two teams, Ericksson scored 20 points and in 1999-00, established a career high 28 points.

After only 13 games into the 2000-01 season with the Blackhawks, Eriksson was traded to the Florida Panthers for Jaroslav Spacek. He went on to play 60 games for the Panthers before signing as a free agent with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the summer of 2001.

Eriksson went on to play two seasons in the Maple Leaf organization before joining the Columbus Blue Jackets organization in October of 2003. As a Blue Jacket, Eriksson would split his time with the club and its AHL affiliate in Syracuse.

After stops in HV 71 Jonkoping of the Swedish League and Magnitogrosk of the Russian League, Eriksson returned to North America to compete in 12 games with the Syracuse Crunch in 2005-06.

In 2006-07, Eriksson returned to the NHL and became a regular in the Columbus Blue Jacket line-up appearing in 79 games. After a single season in Columbus, the Blue Jackets opted not to resign Eriksson who found himself a new home with the Calgary Flames in July, 2007.

On March 3, 2010, the NHL trade deadline, Eriksson was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for Miika Wiikman and a seventh round draft pick.

Courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame