The Utah Hockey Club is facing uncertainty regarding Victor Soderstrom, their former first-round pick who recently became a restricted free agent. There’s speculation about his future, including the possibility of a trade or a move to Europe for the upcoming season. However, Utah HC is keen on retaining him and is actively trying to negotiate a new contract. As of July 24th, no concrete progress has been reported in these negotiations, leaving the situation unresolved.
During a recent segment of ‘Sekeres and Price,’ Irfaan Gaffar discussed potential targets for the Vancouver Canucks to strengthen their defense, mentioning Victor Soderstrom as a player of interest. This suggests that despite the uncertainty surrounding his contract status with Utah HC, Soderstrom remains a notable name in discussions about potential trade targets for other teams like the Canucks.
“Irf: I got a name.
Sekeres: Yeah?
Irf: Victor Soderstrom.
Sekeres: Oh wow.
Irf: The Arizona Coyotes moved up in the draft here in Vancouver in 2019 to pick him at 11 overall—23 year-old right shot defenceman. I think looking for a new home. Now, whatever the Arizona/Utah organization wants or what it’s going to take to try and make that work remains to be seen, but that’s a name I would keep an eye on, and I’d be interested in.”
Since arriving in North America in 2021, Victor Soderstrom has primarily played in the American Hockey League with the Tucson Roadrunners. Additionally, he has seen NHL action, totaling 53 games with the now-disbanded Arizona Coyotes. During the 2023-24 season, the 23-year-old defenseman recorded 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists), accrued 34 penalty minutes, and posted a minus-eight rating across 62 games for Tucson. In his brief stint with the Coyotes, spanning three games, Soderstrom did not register any points.
Considering the Vancouver Canucks’ ongoing quest to bolster their defensive lineup, acquiring a player like Victor Soderstrom could prove intriguing. Despite his youth and still acclimating to the North American game, Soderstrom might benefit from a change of scenery and a clearer path to NHL opportunities as he continues to develop. Working under coaches like Rick Tocchet and Adam Foote could provide significant developmental benefits for Soderstrom moving forward.
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— CanucksNewsSummaries (@VCanucksNews) July 23, 2024
