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Victor Soderstrom Signs Two-Year Deal In SHL

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Sunday: TSN’s Chris Johnston reports the deal is finalized and Soderstrom will join Brynäs on a two-year agreement. It will mark the first time since the 2019-20 season that Soderstrom has suited up for the Swedish squad. The Utah Hockey Club will retain his signing rights as a restricted free agent should he choose to return to North America after the end of the contract.

Saturday: Should the deal get finalized, it will be a two-year agreement for Soderstrom in Brynäs, Abrahamsson and Rose report.  There is no word if the deal contains an NHL out clause should Utah move Soderstrom’s NHL rights.

Thursday: One of the remaining restricted free agents around the NHL is Utah defenseman Victor Soderstrom.  He has made it known that he wasn’t a fan of how things went last season when he only got into three games with the Coyotes after playing in 30 in 2022-23.

While the plan seemed to be for him to remain in North America for the upcoming season, that may not be the case anymore.  Aftonbladet’s Hans Abrahamsson and Tomas Rose report that Utah is not inclined to part with the 2019 first-round pick.  Meanwhile, while Soderstrom’s preference would be to sign an NHL deal, it appears as if he’s unwilling to do so with Utah at this time, resulting in him looking into overseas options.

Abrahamsson and Rose note that quite a few Swiss League teams and SHL squads have shown interest in the 23-year-old with his old team in Brynäs believed to be finalizing a deal with him.  In doing so, Soderstrom will be leaving some money on the table compared to other offers out there but it would allow him to return to the program he spent several years in before being drafted by Arizona.

Last season, Soderstrom played in 62 games with AHL Tucson, notching nine goals and 23 assists, both career-bests at that level but it didn’t seem to help his fortunes for a recall.  Now, with Utah overhauling its back end with the additions of Mikhail Sergachev, John Marino, and Ian Cole, securing a roster spot to start the season will be even more difficult.

It’s worth noting that Soderstrom is now waiver-eligible so had he signed an NHL deal, he’d have had to go through waivers to return to the minors, giving other teams an opportunity to add him.  Instead, it appears as if he’ll return home at least for the upcoming season.  Utah will retain his rights as a restricted free agent and the stalemate between the two sides will continue for the foreseeable future.

Big Hype Prospects: Benak, Demidov, Barlow, Eliasson

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The hockey world has one final hurdle to get through before the hustle-and-bustle of the regular season – presently shrouded by the start of the college football and NFL seasons. To cut through that cloud, we’ll once again borrow the Big Hype Prospects series from MLB Trade Rumors and break down some of the prospects getting attention heading into the 2024-25 season.

Four Big Hype Prospects

F Adam Benak, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
2024 USHL Preseason: 6 GP, 1 G, 5 A, 6 TP

The USHL Pre-Season was bound to be headlined by Youngstown Phantoms tender Adam Benak – a starring Czech prospect and client of prolific NHL agent Allan Walsh. He brings a wealth of experience, most notably scoring eight points in eight games at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and 24 points in 26 games with the Czech U18 team through friendlies and tourney play.  But even knowing that precedent, his start in the USHL has been shocking. Benak got the primary assist on the first goal of Youngstown’s pre-season – and while it was his only point of game one, he managed five points (1 G, 4 A) in Youngstown’s second pre-season game. Granted it was against a Green Bay lineup clearly not at full strength, but Benak nonetheless played at a step above everyone else, showing power in his strides and confidence on the puck. He worked best with winger Jack Hextall – Youngstown’s starring tender from the 2008 birth year. Hextall is still adjusting to junior-level physicality, but thrived in the tempo and space that Benak was able to create. His next game will be Youngstown’s season opener on September 18th, but Benak’s ability to control possession shined through in his pre-season action. There’s no telling how high on 2025 Draft boards the undersized, but highly-skilled centerman could climb if he carries that momentum into the regular season.

F Ivan Demidov, SKA (KHL)
2024 KHL Regular Season: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 TP

The start of the KHL season has brought the first look at Ivan Demidov, now the Montreal Canadiens’ newest top prospect. He’s served that title well, making SKA’s KHL roster with dominant pre-season performances, and – perhaps more impressively – admirably filling a third-line role through the year’s first two games. SKA has gained notoriety for how they’ve deploy their star teenagers over the last few years, though it seems Demidov is playing above that ire through the early going. There’s no denying Demidov’s prowess. He’s dominant on the puck, showing control at top speeds and using his body to defend possession while driving the net. He’ll be near the top of the shortlist when it comes to exciting prospects to follow this season – especially if he continues earning routine ice time in SKA’s lineup.

F Colby Barlow, OHL
2023 OHL Regular Season (Owen Sound): 50 GP, 40 G, 18 A, 58 TP

Early year speculation has Colby Barlow as near-certainly bound for a trade away from the Owen Sound Attack. Where he’s headed hasn’t yet come clear, but it seems the Winnipeg Jets first-round pick will have a chance to join a stronger roster after scoring six fewer goals and 15 fewer assists last season, compared to the 2022-23 season. He still managed a 40-goal season, speaking to his assured scoring and offering intriguing upside for the winners of Barlow’s trade sweepstakes. Pre-season trades led other top NHL prospects like Matthew Savoie and Conor Geekie to bountiful seasons last year, with both players turning pro this summer. Now, it could be the precedent to a big year for Barlow, hopefully providing momentum into his transition into Winnipeg’s pro flanks.

D Gabriel Eliasson, OHL
2023 J20 Nationell Regular Season: 36 GP, 1 G, 5 A, 6 TP

Gabriel Eliasson is hard to ignore. Literally – he’s 6-foot-7, 216-pounds. But he caught scouts attention for more than just his size – also flashing impressively fluid skating, strong puck control, and – above all else – an old-school style of headhunting. Eliasson seemed to study at the Jacob Trouba school of hitting-defensemen, earning a total of 200 penalty minutes through 65 total games last season, split between league and international play. He’s a high upside bet – with the size and control to play high levels, but lacking poise. Still, the Ottawa Senators were willing to gamble on Eliasson early, taking him 39th-overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. Now, reports claim that Eliasson is headed to the OHL, rather than making his expected move to the USHL’s Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and the Big Ten’s University of Michigan. Eliasson was selected by the Niagara IceDogs in the most recent CHL Import Draft, though additional info suggests he could be traded when Import trades open on September 25th. Fans will have to wait in anticipation for that move, though the thought of Eliasson in the OHL is certainly an interesting one. His reckless abandon would have been well-matched in Cedar Rapids, while the OHL could better encourage the fluid play-driving that makes his skillset so unique. While Eliasson may not be a star at the heights of his peers on this list, his unique frame and heavy hitting will make him an exciting name to follow – whether it be in the OHL or USHL.

Mattias Norlinder Signs Two-Year Deal In Sweden

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As expected, former Canadiens defense prospect Mattias Norlinder will continue his career in his native Sweden. The 24-year-old inked a two-year deal with MoDo Hockey of the Swedish Hockey League yesterday, per a club announcement.

Montreal didn’t issue a qualifying offer to Norlinder when he was set to become a restricted free agent earlier this summer, relinquishing his NHL signing rights. But the team still had interest in retaining the blue liner as late as last week, when his agent told Swedish media that the Habs had made Norlinder an offer to return.

Norlinder declined a return to Montreal, though, instead choosing to return to the organization where he spent most of his development. Citing a desire for more offensive freedom, he reportedly reached an agreement with MoDo earlier in the week.

However, the deal wasn’t finished because they lacked the funds to sign him. After a short crowd-funding campaign, they garnered enough cash to land him.

The Canadiens brought Norlinder into the organization with the No. 64 overall pick in the 2019 draft. They let him bake for two more seasons in Sweden with MoDo and Frölunda HC before signing him to his entry-level contract during the 2021 offseason.

Montreal loaned Norlinder back to Frölunda in the SHL for 2021-22, which is when the first cracks in an otherwise solid development path up to that point began to emerge. The smooth-skating defender had been a reliable two-way presence to start his professional career overseas and had the point totals to back it up. However, he managed just two assists in 21 games with Frölunda during his first season under contract with the Habs.

The Canadiens recalled Norlinder from his loan after Frölunda’s season ended, giving him his first taste of NHL action. He was limited to 12:18 per game through six contests but managed to record his first and only NHL point and an assist, as well as a +2 rating, 2 PIMs, two shots, three blocks, and four hits.

Norlinder never got a recall after that initial NHL stint. He spent the final two seasons of his ELC strictly in the minors on assignment to the AHL’s Laval Rocket, where he struggled to the tune of nine points and a -14 rating in 50 games last season.

He’ll now look to rebuild his value with a resurgent offensive campaign. If he wants to return stateside, doing so could still land him NHL interest when his contract with MoDo runs out in 2026.

Atlantic Notes: Swayman, Morello, Norlinder

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Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman is one of the top remaining restricted free agents with the calendar set to flip to September tomorrow.  Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald suggests that it’s not time yet for any side to be concerned that a deal isn’t in place.  He noted that it took until the eve of training camp for David Pastrnak to sign his post-entry-level contract and it stands to reason that at this point, Swayman’s camp will be looking to use that as a possible pressure point as well.  It was recently reported that Swayman was seeking a long-term agreement around the $8.5MM mark while Boston was coming in at a little over $6MM.  That’s quite a gap to try to bridge so it wouldn’t be surprising to see this one drag out to the start of camp if not even a little longer than that.

Elsewhere in the Atlantic:

  • Still with the Bruins, prospect Jonathan Morello has decided on his new college commitment. After decommitting from Clarkson, PuckPreps reports (Twitter link) that the 18-year-old will play for Boston University when he begins his college career.  Morello was a fifth-round pick by Boston back in June, going 154th overall after a solid showing with OJHL St. Michael’s where he had 57 points in 50 games during the regular season while adding 21 more in 11 playoff contests.  He will play for USHL Dubuque this season.
  • Despite non-tendering Mattias Norlinder earlier this summer, the Canadiens have made an offer to bring the defenseman back, his agent Claes Elefalk told Aftonbladet’s Hans Abrahamsson and Tomas Ros. Norlinder was a third-round pick by Montreal back in 2019 but aside from a six-game NHL stint, he has played exclusively in the minors since coming to North America in the 2021-22 campaign.  Last season, the 24-year-old had nine points in 50 games with AHL Laval.  Norlinder is believed to have an offer on the table from SHL Modo; he played in their junior system for several years before being drafted.  It’s expected that he will make a decision on where to sign next week.

West Notes: Lindstein, Podkolzin, Chmelevski

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When the Blues signed prospect Theo Lindstein back in March, they gained assignment rights on him as a first-round pick, meaning they could have assigned him to their AHL affiliate.  However, the blueliner confirmed to Gefle Dagblad’s Daniel Sandstrom that he will remain with SHL Brynas for the 2024-25 season and will not attend training camp with St. Louis next month.  Lindstein was the 29th overall pick in 2023 after playing a regular role for them in the SHL.  Brynas was relegated to the second-tier Allsvenskan last season where he had 15 points in 49 games plus four more in 13 qualification games to get them back up to the top level.  Because Lindstein clearly won’t play in ten or more NHL games this coming season, his contract will slide and still have three years remaining on it heading into 2025-26.

Elsewhere out West:

  • In an interview with Cherkas Atlant (video link), Canucks winger Vasily Podkolzin admitted that he was surprised to receive his two-year, $2MM contract extension in mid-April. The 23-year-old spent the bulk of last season in the minors with AHL Abbotsford and wasn’t overly productive when in Vancouver, collecting just two assists in 19 games.  That had the 2019 first-round pick expecting to be traded at some point but instead, he’ll get a chance to lock down a full-time roster spot in the fall.  Notably, Podkolzin is now waiver-eligible so it seems likely he’ll at least stick at the back of their roster after training camp.
  • Speaking with Sport-Express’ Ivan Bohun, Sharks RFA forward Sasha Chmelevski indicated that he still intends to return to the NHL despite signing a three-year extension with Salavat Yulaev in late April. The 25-year-old has 24 career NHL appearances under his belt where he has 10 assists but he elected to return home where he has been quite productive.  Last season, Chmelevski picked up 27 goals and 29 assists in 67 games, leading to some speculation that San Jose might be able to trade his rights.  Chmelevski thinks a trade could have been an option but clearly, one never materialized.  Once this contract ends in 2027, Chmelevski will be 28 and an unrestricted free agent and it appears that will be when he attempts to return to North America.

Snapshots: NCAA Recruitment, Colorado, Lekkerimäki

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The NCAA commitment window opened to the 2008 birth year on August 1st, bringing another wave of top young players to the collegiate level. International recruits have so far headlined this year’s class, with five Europeans and 13 Canadians already announcing their commitments. Among the notable international commits is hefty centerman Caleb Malhotra, who went eighth overall to Kingston in this year’s OHL Draft, but solidified his plans to play outside of the OHL with a commitment to Boston University. Malhotra is emerging as a top Canadian in the 2008 birth year – even despite battles with injury this season. He played in just 48 games, though he still did enough to score at a point-per-game pace and earn a five-star rating from PuckPreps, who praised his mobility and puck skills.

Malhotra – the son of longtime Vancouver Canucks center Manny Malhotra – is a cerebral playmaker, who knows how to use his frame and stickhandling to create space. With a college commitment out of the way, he’s now set for the Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL. Malhotra is undeniably one of the BCHL’s top recruits and will now look to vindicate the expectations around him, and quickly bounce back from injury, by finding scoring quickly at the juniors level. If all goes well, he’ll enter BU with the same lofty expectations.

Other notes from around the league:

  • The AHL’s Colorado Eagles have announced they’ve hired Kim Weiss as a video coach and Matt Zaba as a goalie coach. Weiss moves to the pro level after becoming the first female coach in D-III history this season, serving behind the bench of her alma mater Trinity College. Trinity won their conference championship under Weiss’ guard – earning her a ring after losing in the NAHL’s 2023 Robertson Cup semifinals with the Maryland Black Bears. Zaba is also moving from American juniors, having spent the last seven seasons as the goalie coach for the USHL’s Tri-City Storm. He’s built up multiple NHL prospects over that span, including Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Filip Larson, Calgary Flames prospect Arseni Sergeyev, and Vegas Golden Knights prospect Isaiah Saville. He’ll now join that trio at the AHL level – coaching in familiar territory after starting his career at Colorado College. Zaba is also an alum of one NHL game, 66 AHL games, and 31 ECHL games – though much of his personal playing career was spent in Austria and Italy.
  • The Vancouver Canucks are facing a list of lineup questions as training camp approaches, shares Thomas Drance of The Athletic, who highlighted the right-wing role next to Jake DeBrusk and Elias Pettersson as the team’s most glaring hole. Drance mentioned Nils Hoglander as an early favorite for the role, though he’ll face pressure from new signee Daniel Sprong. However, Drance also noted that star prospect Jonathan Lekkerimäki could be a dark horse to round out what should be Vancouver’s scoring line. Lekkerimäki won the SHL’s ’Rookie of the Year’ award last season, after posting 19 goals and 31 points in 46 games with Örebro HK. He signed his entry-level contract and moved to the AHL after Örebro’s early playoff exit – adding two points in six more games with the Abbotsford Canucks. Lekkerimäki is an effective scorer, with an eye for the offensive zone and hard snapshot – though his size has some worried about how he’ll adjust to the next step. It seems he’ll have a chance to answer that bell at training camp, as he fights for a significant role out of the gates.

Red Wings Notes: Sandin Pellikka, Three-Goalie System, Kahn

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One of Detroit’s top prospects is defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka.  The 19-year-old was the 17th overall pick in 2023 and signed his entry-level deal back in May, giving the Red Wings more options with where to assign him for next season.  However, the blueliner indicated that his preference was to remain in Sweden for 2024-25, a plan the team has no issues with according to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.  Sandin-Pellikka had a productive showing last season with SHL Skelleftea, recording ten goals and eight assists in 39 games.  He added seven more points in 14 playoff contests while seeing his ice time jump to over 22 minutes a night and if he can stay in that type of role for next season, the decision to stay in that league will likely prove to be the right one.

More from Detroit:

  • Last month, GM Steve Yzerman indicated his preference wasn’t to carry three goalies again next season. However, he then went and added Cam Talbot and Jack Campbell in free agency while Ville Husso and Alex Lyon are still under contract, suggesting they’ll go with three netminders again in 2024-25.  Connor Earegood of The Hockey News highlights one of the drawbacks of that approach as it pertains to roster management, suggesting that the third goalie could cut off an opportunity for one of their younger players to make the roster in training camp.  Assuming their remaining RFAs re-sign, the Red Wings could have all 23 roster spots occupied by returnees, free agent additions, or prospects who are now waiver-eligible.  They still have a few months to potentially open up a spot if they want to create an open roster spot for players to battle for.
  • After spending the last three seasons as Detroit’s Director of Hockey Operations, Aaron Kahn has been promoted to Assistant GM while retaining his previous title as well, relays Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now. He joins Shawn Horcoff and Kris Draper as those with an AGM title.  Detroit is Kahn’s first stop in the NHL after a four-year collegiate career as a goaltender.

International Notes: Butcher, Currie, Trivigno, Bednard

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After spending the last two years buried in the minors, a veteran NHL free agent is heading overseas for the first time in his career. Defenseman Will Butcher, who made the NHL All-Rookie Team and finished ninth in Calder Trophy voting in 2017-18, has signed a one-year contract with Kazakhstan’s Barys Astana of the KHL, per a team announcement.

Butcher began 2023-24 on a two-way contract with the Penguins, posting seven points in 14 games for AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before being traded to the Wild in January. He didn’t receive a call-up to Minnesota after the move, instead finishing the season with nine points in 24 games on the farm with AHL Iowa. The 29-year-old reached the UFA market on July 1.

The 2013 fifth-round pick of the Avalanche last suited up in the NHL for the Sabres in 2021-22, where he posted eight points and a -10 rating in 37 games in a bottom-pairing role. Despite attending the University of Denver, Butcher opted not to sign in Colorado after graduating in 2017 and instead landed with the Devils as a free agent.

Viewed as one of the top college FAs in quite some time after captaining the Pioneers to a national championship, Butcher was a power-play force in his rookie campaign in New Jersey with 44 points in 81 games, but he was never able to rediscover that kind of offense. He carried decent possession metrics at even strength even when his point totals dipped, but NHL teams quickly soured on his undersized 5’10”, 190-lb frame.

Other recent international signings of note:

  • Former Oilers forward Josh Currie, who spent last season in the AHL with the Belleville Senators on a two-way deal with Ottawa, has signed with German club Kölner Haie, per a press release from the team. It’s the Canadian’s second stint overseas after suiting up with the KHL’s Metallurg Magnitogorsk in 2021-22 and 2022-23. Currie last suited up in the NHL with the Penguins for one game in 2020-21 and had five points (two goals, three assists) in 21 games worth of call-up action with Edmonton in 2018-19. The 31-year-old has been productive in the AHL, racking up 240 points in 383 games in parts of seven seasons.
  • Left winger Bobby Trivigno has found a home overseas after being non-tendered by the Rangers last month, landing a two-year deal with Brynäs IF of the Swedish Hockey League. New York signed the 25-year-old as a free agent out of UMass in 2022, but he didn’t see an NHL call-up over the course of his entry-level contract. The diminutive but energetic winger produced 12 goals and 45 points in 117 games with AHL Hartford.
  • Former Panthers goalie prospect Ryan Bednard is heading to England with the EIHL’s Nottingham Panthers, per a team announcement. Bednard, 27, was a fifth-round pick of the Cats in 2015 and signed his entry-level deal after a successful three-year stint at Bowling Green but never got a chance in the NHL. He was non-tendered in 2021 and has bounced around on AHL and ECHL contracts since. The Michigan native spent most of last season with the ECHL’s Greenville Swamp Rabbits, with a .911 SV% and a 20-12-0 record in 33 games.

Top Questions Facing The 2025 NHL Draft Class

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The summer has hit its snag, with new staff hires and final additions headlining an otherwise stalled free agency. But plenty of excitement awaits the hockey world in the 2025 NHL Draft – the latest feature in a string of five strong draft classes between 2023 and 2027. 2025 contributes a long list of top forward prospects and unique defenders, though how draft day will shape up next year is still all but certain. Let’s dive into the top questions facing what’s sure to be an exciting class.

Who Comes After James Hagens?

The 2025 class doesn’t feature the runaway first-overall prospect that 2023 and 2024 did – but Boston College centerman James Hagens has done plenty to prove his case early on. He’s shown all of the pace and skill of a blue-chip prospect, leading last season’s U18 NTDP roster with 102 points across 58 games, 13 more points than any of his teammates. He’ll now succeed Will Smith as the centerman between Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard – giving Hagens the ideal setting to stamp his place at first overall.

But the list of who will come next runs long. Swedish centerman Anton Frondell has proven an early favorite, after fighting his way to a pro debut in the HockeyAllsvenskan, on the back of powerful and mature playmaking. He’ll be challenged by Hagens’ successors at the NTDP, Conrad Fondrk and Will Moore, as well as top Russian Ivan Ryabkin. All three could also lose way to a strong defender class, especially if pro teams fancy the size of Sascha Boumedienne or the smooth passing of Logan Hensler. Even then, all of these players could lose out to perhaps the biggest uncertainty of the year…

Who Is Canada’s Top Forward?

Even with an American vying for first overall, CHL hockey headlines the 2025 NHL Draft. Their class is headlined by top-tier prospects Michael Misa and Porter Martone; perhaps the two current favorites to go second overall. Misa earned exceptional status for the OHL in 2022 and quickly vindicated it with a historic rookie year, scoring 56 points in 45 games, the highest scoring pace of any exceptional-status rookie in OHL history. He won the league’s Emms Family ‘Rookie of the Year’ Award that season, even despite a six-week absence due to a fractured tibia, and followed the performance up with 75 points in 67 games this season.

Misa is the flashy pick for top Canadian, though Martone has fought his way into the debate on the back of very hard-nosed and tireless hockey. His work ethic headlines his game, even despite Martone having the fine skills to beat the OHL’s finest. He scored 71 points in 60 OHL games this season – a higher pace than Misa – and managed a dazzling 17 points in seven games at the World U-18 Championships, while captaining Team Canada to a gold medal. Martone’s leadership qualities, special teams upside, and 6-foot-3 frame could all prove more favorable to NHL teams looking for projectable skills.

Behind Misa and Martone is a litany of promising talent – including Malcolm Spence, Cole Reschny, Cameron Schmidt, Caleb Desnoyers, Roger McQueen, Justin Carbonneau, Jake O’Brien, Jordan Gavin, and Emile Guite. Each of the high-scoring CHL forwards boasts plenty of unique upside, from Spence’s ability to perform in the spotlight to O’Brien’s all-three-zones ability. They’ve all found their way into first round consideration next year, and could each join the heights of Martone and Misa with another big step next year.

Which Defender Emerges On Top?

The 2024 class was defined by a lost list of strong defenders, but teams who missed a chance at the bounty will find plenty of consolation next year. It’ll once again be a stylistic bout, with Sascha Boumedienne offering hefty and powerful drive, Logan Hensler boasting smooth skating and hard passing, and the pair of Charlie Trethewey and Luka Radivojevic battling for title of top offensive defenseman.

Boumedienne and Hensler are set for a collegiate faceoff, with the former joining the high-offense Boston University while the latter looks to become the top prospect at the University of Wisconsin. The two settings couldn’t be more opposed, with BU retooling a championship-caliber team with top prospects while UW looks to find their footing under new head coach Mike Hastings. That creates very different training grounds for top draft prospects, with Boumedienne seeming to gain and edge in surrounding cast but Hensler clearly set for a starring role.

Radivojevic, the son of former NHL defender Branko Radivojevic, stands as a particularly interesting prospect as well. He’s flashed fantastic athleticism and awareness on the puck, even while facing the challenges of a skinny 5-foot-10, 160-pound frame, recording a strong 33 points in 43 games in Sweden’s U20 league this season. He’s opted to not join Team Slovakia at the upcoming Hlinka Gretzky Cup, instead fully preparing for his first professional season with the SHL’s Örebro HK, after playing his first six pro games last year. He’ll be seeking both his first SHL point, and high draft standing, on a stout Örebro lineup.

And while the year’s top defender seems featured in this group of four, Canada’s Kashawn Aitcheson, Reese Hamilton, or Louis-Alex Tremblay could each fight to steal the title. They headline a defense class that’s certain to face plenty of scrutiny, juxtaposed by an endless list of talented forwards.

AHL Notes: Weissbach, Penguins, Wolf Pack

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Free agent forward Linus Weissbach has signed with Frölunda HC of the SHL. Weissbach was a Group-VI UFA with the Sabres, effectively moving to unrestricted free agency after not receiving a qualifying offer from the team before July 1st.

This move returns Weissbach to his hometown of Göteborg, Sweden, where Weissbach grew up through the Frölunda pipeline. He made his debut with the organization’s top club in 2016, though he only played in one game before moving to North America and pursuing a four-year career with the University of Wisconsin. He graduated college in 2021 and has since spent the last three seasons with the Rochester Americans, accumulating 117 points across 191 games in the minor leagues. But despite consistent production and a stout role in Rochester’s top-six, Weissbach was never the top option for a call-up, losing standing to more robust minor leaguers like Lukas Rousek and Brett Murray, and more recently bumped out by prospects like Jiri Kulich and Isak Rosen.

With that logjam only increasing after Buffalo’s successful 2024 NHL Draft, Weissbach will change his focus to pursuing a career with his hometown club. Frölunda’s sporting director Fredrik Sjöström shared his excitement for the move, saying, “We have lost two offensively skilled players in [Malte Strömwall] and [Jere Innala]. We wanted to bring in offensive skill and “Weiss” is just that. He is a skilled forward with good speed and plays like a pattern breaker. He fits what we wanted. We’ve been on him for a while and knew we needed to wait for some other parameters before he could choose us (Linus has been a free agent in North America). But he did and we are happy about that, says Fredrik Sjöström, sports director.”

Other notes out of the minor leagues:

  • The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have added Nick Luukko as an assistant coach. Luukko, 32, has spent the last three seasons as the head coach and Director of Hockey Operations for the ECHL’s Jacksonville Icemen, leading the team to the postseason in each year, though they never made it past the second round. He earned the role with Jacksonville just two seasons after ending his own playing career – which spanned 274 ECHL games – after just one season as an ECHL assistant coach. He’ll now fast-track to the next level, joining a Penguins organization in the midst of cycling out much of their org chart.
  • The Hartford Wolf Pack have hired Brendan Burke as a goaltending coach. Burke has spent the last two seasons as a goaltending coach for his former youth and junior hockey teams – the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes and Portland Winterhawks. He earned an NHL Draft selection with Portland in 2012-13, hearing his name called in the sixth round by his hometown Phoenix Coyotes. Burke is the son of legendary NHL goaltender Sean Burke, who is now serving as Vegas’ Director of Goaltending.

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