Being a reporter on the trade deadline is never an easy thing. It is tougher for those players who are discussed in the rumor mill.

Ask any athlete what their feelings are on being on the block around the trade deadline, and you’ll hear a variety of responses. Quotes that range from wanting to get out of town to hoping to stay with their current team are analyzed exclusively. Sources who try to feed reporters about the latest trade talk are often questioned about their accuracy.

From heated arguments — like Jonathan Drouin — to the ‘just business’ talks — in this case, Loui Eriksson — or someone who is looking to play closer to home — such as Travis Hamonic — there is certainly plenty to discuss.

Eriksson’s situation is not unusual. A player in the last year of his current contract will want to cash in on a long-term deal. Eriksson, who, at the age of 30, is having his best year in Boston since coming over from the Tyler Seguin trade on July 4th, is looking for a lucrative deal in the off-season. GM Don Sweeney is looking to upgrade his defense, thus making it even more enticing to package Eriksson for a young blue-liner.

On the other hand, Sweeney does value Eriksson. At least enough where the two are talking about a new contract though the gap in dollars and sense appears to be too significant at this stage.

Ongoing contract discussions between Loui Eriksson and the Bruins. It’s believed a significant gap remains in both term and $. #TradeCentre

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 24, 2016

The question if you’re Sweeney: do you break off negotiations and try to get something in return for Eriksson now? Or do you stay the course and still attempt to negotiate a deal before Loui hits the market on July 1 and risk not getting any assets back whether it would be players or future draft picks?

Those questions will be front and center in the next few days. What shouldn’t change is how Eriksson is approaching the questions being asked by the media.

“I haven’t really focused on everything around – the things that are going around right now with the team and the trade deadline and everything. I’m just trying to focus on my game and try to play good,” Eriksson said after scoring twice against the Blue Jackets in the Bruins’ 6-4 loss on Monday.

The quiet Eriksson, whose name hasn’t been put in the trade rumor mill before this season — even in the Seguin trade — has provided the standard response when answering reporters on this topic.

The way he’s handled himself, whether it’s with the media or interacting with his teammates, proves that Eriksson is a true professional. All he can worry about at this time is helping the Black and Gold stay afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

“Yeah, a little bit challenging,” Eriksson said about playing under the circumstances. “But like I said, I’m just trying to play my game and not worry that much about what’s going on around on the outside. So all I can do is just play.”

Just play, he has.

Over his last ten games, Eriksson has nine points. He ranks as the team’s second-leading point producer (48, tied with David Krejci) and goal scorer (23) and is the only Bruin to dress in all 61 games this season. His average of 19:36 of ice time is third among B’s forwards behind Krejci and Patrice Bergeron.

Of course, there is a big risk in trading Eriksson for the short-term. Whether it would be a trade or promotion within, someone would have to take his spot on the second line with Krejci and David Pastrnak. His departure would also leave a big hole on the B’s first power play unit, where the Swede has tallied eight goals on the man advantage, good for second behind Bergeron.

Eriksson’s teammates certainly know what he brings to the table both on and off the ice.

“Sometimes different guys taking things a little differently; it depends on how close you are with him, and if you play together on a line,” Krejci told CSNNE’s Joe Haggerty. “Obviously, it would be sad, but our GM is trying to do what’s best for our team. So we’ll see what happens.”

Contract extensions for Torey Krug (a pending RFA at the end of the year), David Pastrnak, (whose entry-level deal expires after next season) an expected big payday for Brad Marchand (a UFA after next season) and the uncertainty of next year’s salary cap makes it unlikely for Eriksson to re-sign. The question for Sweeney is whether he keeps him in the short-term to help the retooling B’s in their quest to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

After 3 p.m. on February 29th, Eriksson will finally answer questions with a little more certainty regarding his short-term future, wherever he winds up. Until then, he is providing ‘grace under fire.’