Former first-rounder demands a trade: Refusing to report
Contract negotiations between the Utah Hockey Club and former first-round pick Victor Söderström have stalled, making it increasingly likely that the defenseman will leave for Europe.
Söderström, one of the remaining restricted free agents in the NHL, expressed frustration last season after playing just three games with the Coyotes, a sharp decline from the 30 games he appeared in during the 2022-23 campaign.
While the initial plan seemed to be for Söderström to stay in North America, that no longer appears to be the case, according to reports from Aftonbladet's Hans Abrahamsson and Tomas Rose, Utah is reluctant to part ways with the 2019 first-round pick. Still, Söderström, though preferring to continue his NHL career, seems unwilling to sign a new deal with the club and is now exploring overseas options.
According to Abrahamsson and Rose, several Swiss League and SHL teams have expressed interest in 23-year-old Victor Söderström. Still, his former team, Brynäs IF, is close to finalizing a deal. While Söderström might be leaving money on the table by choosing this path, he would have the opportunity to return to the program where he initially developed before being drafted by the Arizona Coyotes.
Last season, Söderström played a career-high 62 games with the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners, tallying nine goals and 23 assists. Despite this, it didn't lead to a promotion, especially given Utah's recent blue-line additions of Mikhail Sergachev, John Marino, and Ian Cole, further diminishing his chances of securing a roster spot this season. Additionally, as Söderström is now waiver-eligible, any NHL contract would require him to clear waivers before being assigned to the minors, potentially making him available to other teams. For now, it seems like he'll return to Sweden, with Utah retaining his rights as the contract impasse continues.
An opportunity for Patrik Allvin and the Canucks?
When the team started retooling, Allvin clarified that they'd target players in their early 20s whose careers had not gone as hoped. Soderstrom fits that profile; his contractual situation marks him as an ideal target for the Canucks.
The team's defensive play drastically improved with Adam Foote and Sergei Gonchar on their coaching staff. Given their need for an agile puck-moving defenseman, taking a low-cost bet on Victor Soderstrom might be precisely what the Canucks need as they head into training camp.
Credit: MarkerZone News
Utah Hockey Club first-round pick demands a trade: may refuse to report to the NHL
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Should the Canucks make a play for Victor Soderstrom? | ||
| Yes | 111 | 69.8 % |
| No | 48 | 30.2 % |
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