Linus Soderstrom

Linus Soderstrom Loaned To HV71

August 18, 2017 at 10:05 am CDT | by Gavin Lee Leave a Comment

Though it was expected that Linus Soderstrom would not come to North America right away, the New York Islanders made it official today when they loaned Soderstrom back to his Swedish club, HV71. The 20-year old goalie will try to build on his outstanding rookie season in the SHL, where he put up a .943 save percentage and won the league championship.

Soderstrom signed his entry-level contract in May after being drafted by the Islanders back in 2014, and now ranks as one of the top goaltending prospects in the world. His size and mobility will give him a real opportunity for success in the NHL, and it could come earlier than most goaltenders. Soderstrom is on just a one-year deal with HV71, and though there is no reason to rush his development he’s shown enough that he could come across in 2018-19.

The Islanders have struggled in goal for some time, and though they’re obviously not a lock to make or succeed in the NHL, Soderstrom and fellow prospect Ilya Sorokin could make up one of the best young duos in the league. Sorokin unfortunately signed a three-year extension recently in the KHL, meaning it will still be some time before a move to North America is even considered.

Ilya Sorokin Not Thinking About NHL Future

May 22, 2017 at 9:12 am CDT | by Gavin Lee Leave a Comment

When the New York Islanders signed Linus Soderstrom earlier this month to his entry-level contract, they were avoiding the months of uncertainty they will now face with fellow goaltending prospect Ilya Sorokin. Both selected in the 2014 draft, Soderstrom and Sorokin have found incredible success in the SHL and KHL respectively, putting up ridiculous save percentages at extremely young ages.

Sorokin just finished his second World Championships with Team Russia, taking home another bronze medal while remaining perfect during his short stints in the tournament. Just 21, he has yet to take the mantle of starter though it looks like that may lie in his future. In the KHL this year he followed up a Goaltender of the Year award in 2015-16 with another All-Star appearance, and another solid .929 save percentage. He’s clearly one of the best young Russian goaltenders in a long time, and has an NHL future waiting for him if he wants it.

That’s where it gets tricky for the Islanders though, as Sorokin again told reporters at the end of the tournament that he was focused on his final contract year in the KHL, and hasn’t even considered a move to North America yet. On May 5th, it was announced that he had re-negotiated his deal to pay him more for this season after putting up such incredible numbers. His current deal will expire at the end of April 2018, giving the Islanders just a few weeks to get him under contract.

Since Sorokin was drafted in 2014, New York would lose his exclusive negotiating rights after June 1st of 2018, four years from when he was selected. While his intent isn’t clear, things can often change for prospects as they get closer and closer to the prospect of free agency. Should he ever make it to the open market every team in the league would be knocking on his door, a likely incentive to just wait a few more weeks. There is also the idea that the KHL would likely make him one of the highest-paid goaltenders in the league, trying to keep their talent at home for as long as possible. Though the Islanders sacrificed just a third-round pick on him in 2014, seeing his progression would make it extremely painful to lose him to free agency.

So now, though they don’t have to worry about Soderstrom the Islanders will have to keep an eye on Sorokin and try to persuade him to sign a deal next season. With uncertainty in the crease beyond 2020—if you can call an aging Thomas Greiss certain in the first place—the team would love to be able to pencil Sorokin in as a long-term option. If he’s serious about waiting until after his contract expires to even consider a move, they’ll have to work quickly to convince him.

New York Islanders Sign Linus Soderstrom To ELC

May 11, 2017 at 2:45 pm CDT | by Gavin Lee Leave a Comment

The Islanders have locked up one of Sweden’s top goaltenders, inking prospect Linus Soderstrom to a three-year entry-level deal. While Soderstrom isn’t expected to come over to North America right away, getting him signed is an important step for the Islanders as they continue to build their future between the pipes.

Soderstrom, 20, put up an incredible .943 save percentage as a rookie in the Swedish Hockey League this season, going 18-4 for HV71. His playoff numbers while slightly worse, were still a sparkling .922 save percentage and 2.11 GAA. His play—along with that of fellow Islanders’ prospect Ilya Sorokin—should excite Islanders fans as they look to the future.

Drafted in the fourth round, Soderstrom is part of what is turning into an excellent looking crop for the Islanders in 2014. Along with Sorokin (3rd round), the Islanders added Josh Ho-Sang and Michael Dal Colle in the first round and Devon Toews in the fourth. All five players have a chance to make the NHL at some point, though only Ho-Sang has made it thus far. Soderstrom is big, talented and athletic and will likely continue his development in Sweden next season.

East Notes: Oshie, Beleskey, Sorokin, Soderstrom

March 21, 2017 at 6:05 pm CDT | by Brian La Rose 1 Comment

Capitals GM Brian MacLellan has spoken with representatives for right winger T.J. Oshie regarding a contract beyond this season, notes Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post. However, given the number of key potential unrestricted free agents the team has (not to mention the looming expansion draft), it’s unlikely that a deal will get done between now and the end of the season.

Oshie is in his second season in Washington and there’s a strong case to be made that he’s having the best season of his career. Through 58 games this season, he has a career high 29 goals along with 20 assists. Accordingly, he could wind up being the top free agent to hit the open market, something our Zach Leach took a closer look at over the weekend.

Other unrestricted free agents of note that the Caps have in July include defensemen Karl Alzner and Kevin Shattenkirk as well as wingers Justin Williams and Daniel Winnik. The team already has a little more than $50MM committed to next season per CapFriendly and also have several key restricted free agents to re-sign, including center Evgeny Kuznetsov, winger Andre Burakovsky, and defenseman Dmitry Orlov.

Elsewhere around the East:

In his latest mailbag, CSN New England’s Joe Haggerty wonders if the Bruins may revisit the idea of dealing winger Matt Beleskey in the summer. The 28 year old has struggled considerably in his second season with Boston, collecting just eight points (3-5-8) through 41 games this season, hardly the type of production they were expecting when they signed him to a five year, $19MM contract in the summer of 2015. The Bruins are likely heading for a long-term extension with David Pastrnak this coming offseason and could certainly benefit from clearing out Beleskey’s contract. He is only a year removed from a career best 37 point season so while his market may be low, there could still be some interest around the league.
Islanders goalie prospect Ilya Sorokin is expected to remain in the KHL next season, reports Newsday’s Arthur Staple (Twitter link). Their third round pick (78th overall) in 2014, Sorokin has been one of the top goalies in the KHL the last two seasons and posted a stellar 1.69 GAA and a .929 SV% in 39 regular season games this season. As for fellow goalie prospect Linus Soderstrom, a 2014 fourth rounder (95th overall), Staple adds that New York may sign him but allow him to remain in Sweden for one more year. Soderstrom posted a sparking 1.34 GAA and a .943 SV% in 22 games in the SHL this season. As internationally-drafted prospects, the Islanders have four years from their draft class to sign each player so there is no imminent deadline to get something done.

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