The Ottawa Senators will be moving on from backup goaltender Marcus Hogberg, as GM Pierre Dorion explained today. The team has already informed Hogberg of their decision to not qualify him this offseason, making him an unrestricted free agent.
It certainly makes some sense that the Senators would be moving on, almost regardless of Hogberg’s play. The team has seemingly found its goaltender of the future in Filip Gustavsson, who posted a .933 save percentage in nine games down the stretch and still have Matt Murray locked up for the next three seasons at a $6.25MM cap hit. Add in the re-signed Anton Forsberg and a recovering Joey Daccord and the goalie room in Ottawa is already quite full.
Still, perhaps there is more to unlock in the 26-year-old Hogberg. Selected 78th overall in the 2013 draft, the 6’5″ behemoth was a star in Sweden, posting a .931 save percentage in his final season for Linkoping HC. That 2016-17 season was followed by a trip to North America, where things haven’t quite clicked to this point.
In 42 NHL appearances, Hogberg has just an .894 save percentage and seemed to often lose his net when moving out to cut down an angle. Professional shooters were beating him too often at the NHL level, but there have been more bouts of confidence and success at the minor leagues. Perhaps another team will believe they can tweak some things and get an NHL goaltender out of Hogberg, but it won’t be in Ottawa.
it’s a shame. he’s an ok 2/3 but that Murray contract is a diaster.
His angles are way off. He needs a goalie coach who knows the NHL game.
This kid seemed to be the next in line to be a starter in Ottawa a few years ago…I watched him a lot this year…I’m not sure if he could’ve stopped a beach ball…at least the tan on his neck is looking good from all the red light exposure
Sign with the caps learn from his countryman Lundquist