First-round draft pick of the Utah Hockey Club wants out: may play in Europe

Another one of the remaining NHL restricted free agents is Utah Hockey Club defenseman Victor Soderstrom. Soderstrom is unhappy with how last season played out, with him playing in only three games with the Arizona Coyotes after he had played 30 during the 2022-23 season.

It seemed earlier that Victor Soderstrom would stay in North America this season, but that is apparently not a given anymore. According to Aftonbladet reporters Hans Abrahamsson and Tomas Rose, Utah is not keen on losing their first-round pick from 2019. Although signing an NHL deal is Soderstrom's preferred alternative, it seems like he does not want to go that path with Utah at this stage, and is thus looking elsewhere overseas.

Victor Soderstrom played 62 games with the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners during the 2022-23 season, posting career highs with nine goals and 23 assists. But these milestones only seemed to make him no more likely to get called up. With Utah recently adding Mikhail Sergachev, John Marino, and Ian Cole, it will be an even harder roster spot to get into for Soderstrom.

Of course, that assumes Victor Soderstrom is now waiver-eligible. If he had signed an NHL contract, he'd have to clear waivers to get back down to the minors, where any other team could claim him. Instead, it appears Soderstrom will cross the Atlantic Ocean once more for at least next season. The restricted free agent will remain with his rights belonging to Utah, prolonging the current standoff.

Abrahamsson and Rose added that a number of teams from the Swiss League and SHL have also expressed interest in the 23-year-old, but that his old club, Brynas IF are close to completing the deal. Signing in Brynas, Victor Soderstrom may pass on some money that could have been earned elsewhere, but he would go back to the spot where he developed before being drafted by the Coyotes.

Source:
Craig Morgan on X

Source: Elite Prospects
Victor Soderstrom Stats