Former Utah HC Defenseman Victor Soderstrom Indicators in Europe – The Hockey Writers – Utah Hockey Membership

Coaching camp rosters had been launched Tuesday for the Utah Hockey Membership and many of the former Arizona Coyotes and Tucson Roadrunners gamers had been on the roster. Nonetheless, former prime defensive prospect Victor Soderstrom was not included after information broke on Sunday that the defenseman can be heading to Brynas of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). The 2019011th total choose has had a fall from grace after being top-of-the-line prospects on the blue line for some time with the Coyotes. 

Soderstrom’s Profession So Far

Soderstrom began his profession with Brynas in 2017-18. The defenseman performed with the J20 staff earlier than graduating to the SHL staff in his draft yr. Soderstrom scored seven factors in 44 video games however was praised for his defensive play earlier than the rest, enjoying in opposition to gamers generally twice his age.

On the 2019 Draft, the Coyotes traded as much as the eleventh choose and chosen Soderstrom. Though enjoying decently in a talented league, the selection was deemed a attain as gamers like Alex Newhook, Cole Caufield, Matt Boldy, and Thomas Harley had been nonetheless accessible. Former basic supervisor John Chayka known as him a core participant who would assist the staff for a very long time.

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After another season with Brynas, Soderstrom made the bounce to North America. The defenseman break up time between the NHL and the American Hockey League (AHL), primarily enjoying with the Roadrunners. In his 4 video games with the Coyotes, he scored his first and up to now, solely purpose within the NHL. 

For the subsequent three seasons, Soderstrom break up time between the Roadrunners and the Coyotes, primarily enjoying within the AHL. His longest stint within the NHL was 30 video games within the 2022-23 season. Final season, he solely performed three video games with the Coyotes and 62 video games with the Roadrunners.

With the offseason acquisitions of Mikhail Sergachev, John Marino, Ian Cole, and Robert Bortuzzo, the blue line is all of the sudden very crowded. It hurts much more while you consider Maveric Lamoreux and Dmitry Simashev who’re at the moment forward of Soderstrom on the depth chart. The Swede hasn’t turned out as an efficient producer both, which has harm his probabilities at making Utah’s roster.

What Can Utah Do With Soderstrom?

Soderstrom opted to return to Sweden this offseason by signing a two-year cope with Brynas. Nonetheless, if the defenseman desires to make a comeback within the subsequent two seasons, it must be with Utah. His rights shall be retained by the staff till he reaches unrestricted free agent (UFA) standing. Nonetheless, Utah may have some choices with him.

The primary possibility is to clearly hold him and try to suit him within the lineup. This selection shall be laborious since loads of the blue line is locked as much as long-term offers. Sergachev, Marino, and Sean Durzi shall be in Utah for the long term. Juuso Valimaki and Michael Kesselring’s offers are expiring inside the subsequent couple of seasons, nevertheless it’ll be stunning in the event that they don’t return. 

That leaves Cole and Bortuzzo as the one spots that could possibly be changed. Nonetheless, Lamoreux shall be with the Roadrunners this season and has already impressed the group on this season’s rookie camp. Simashev is a few season or two from coming over to North America, and he’ll be getting precedence above virtually anybody. Meaning heading to Utah most likely received’t be within the fold.

Utah may commerce Soderstrom to a different staff. A staff just like the Anaheim Geese or the Chicago Blackhawks, who’re rebuilding groups, can provide the defenseman a spot of their lineup. Nonetheless, do these groups need to commerce for him? It brings up the query of what’s Soderstrom value. His worth is at an all-time low after some disappointing seasons within the Coyotes group. You could possibly see an analogous commerce to the Jan Jenik deal, the place two groups swap struggling prospects. Apart from that, the Swede isn’t going to command a lot in the marketplace.

That leaves the third and probably possibility: go away Soderstrom in Sweden. Utah will lose his rights in a few years, and he’ll be capable of signal wherever he desires. It’s not remarkable for gamers to go over to Europe to raised their sport after which come again over for an opportunity to make an impression within the NHL. It could possibly be an analogous scenario with Soderstrom, who shall be one of many prime gamers for Brynas. 

The relationship between Soderstrom and Utah is all however over. Whereas the staff will keep the defenseman’s rights for the subsequent two years, it’s all however sure that he won’t ever play a sport for Utah. It’s definitely disappointing for followers who hoped he would present why Chayka traded as much as get him again in 2019. Nonetheless, whereas Soderstrom’s NHL profession is over proper now, it wouldn’t be stunning if he makes an attempt a comeback at a future cut-off date.