New York Islanders Sign Linus Soderstrom To ELC
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
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.