Former first round draft pick requests a trade as he refuses to report to team
Contract negotiations between the Utah Hockey Club and former first-round pick Victor Söderström have stalled, making it likely the defenseman will head to Europe.
Söderström, still a restricted free agent, grew frustrated last season after playing only three games with the Coyotes, a big drop from the 30 games he played in 2022-23. While the plan was for him to stay in North America, reports from Aftonbladet's Hans Abrahamsson and Tomas Rose suggest otherwise.
Utah is hesitant to let go of Söderström, but he appears unwilling to sign a new deal and is now exploring options overseas. Several teams from the Swiss League and SHL are reportedly interested, with Söderström's former club, Brynäs IF, close to a deal. Returning to Brynäs would give Söderström a chance to rejoin the program that helped develop him before he was drafted by Arizona.
Last season, Söderström played 62 games with the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners, scoring nine goals and adding 23 assists. However, recent blue-line signings by Utah have reduced his chances of earning a roster spot this season. Additionally, because he's now waiver-eligible, any NHL contract would require him to clear waivers before being sent to the minors, potentially allowing other teams to claim him. As the contract standoff continues, it seems likely that Söderström will return to Sweden, with Utah still holding his rights.
Source:Craig Morgan on X
Source: HockeyDBVictor Soderstrom Stats
| POLL | ||
14 SEPTEMBRE | 93 ANSWERS Former first round draft pick requests a trade as he refuses to report to team Will Victor Soderstrom remain in the NHL this season? | ||
| Yes | 26 | 28 % |
| No | 67 | 72 % |
| List of polls | ||
