Victor Soderstrom could stay in Sweden after a breakout season, leaving the bruins with a trade chip who may never report.
A trade that’s already raising quiet doubts in Boston
The Bruins made a move this week that, on the surface, looked routine.
Simple enough.
But now? There’s real doubt he ever pulls on a Boston jersey.
Soderstrom just came off a terrific year in Sweden. He didn’t just play well, he owned it. Skating for Brynäs IF, he notched 37 points in 49 games, posted a +28 rating, and won the Salming Award as the league’s top defenseman.
That’s no small thing.
And that success may have shifted his focus away from North America for good.
His development path was never a straight line
It’s been a weird road for the 23-year-old blueliner. Drafted 11th overall by Arizona in 2019, the expectations were sky-high. He came over after some time in Sweden, looked decent with Tucson in the AHL—ten points in 32 games—and even picked up a pair of assists in his first few NHL appearances.
Then the stall began.
The Coyotes gave him 16 games one year. Zero points. The kind of stat line that doesn’t get you a longer leash. Yet down in the AHL, he kept producing—19 points in one stretch, 32 in another. It never quite translated upstairs.
After the Coyotes’ relocation to Utah, Soderstrom went back home.
Blackhawks had him, briefly
Chicago brought him in during the 2024-25 season. You’d think it was with some intention to get him back on NHL ice. Instead, he was flipped to Boston. Quietly. No pressers. No real reaction.
And that’s the thing, when a team trades a player just after a dominant year in Europe, it usually means something’s off. Either they weren’t sold… or they knew he wasn’t coming back.
Boston has reasons to hope, but no guarantees
So here’s where Boston stands: they hold his rights. That’s it. Whether or not Soderstrom chooses to come back is anyone’s guess. But if the Bruins are betting on anything, it’s their roster makeup.
There’s a strong Swedish presence, Hampus Lindholm is a leader. Elias Lindholm could re-sign. Fabian Lysell is knocking on the door. That kind of core can help a guy transition. Sometimes, that matters more than systems or coaching.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Worth the swing, but don’t hold your breath
The Bruins didn’t give up much. It’s a small swing. If Soderstrom decides to stay overseas, no one’s losing sleep over it.
But if—if—he does come back and brings his SHL form with him? That’s a serious boost to Boston’s blue line. Especially for what they paid.
Until then, though, it’s just paper. And paper doesn’t win games.
