This upcoming season will be a huge one for defenseman Victor Söderström as he looks to make his mark on the Arizona Coyotes.
This upcoming season will be a huge one for defenseman Victor Söderström as he looks to make his mark on the Arizona Coyotes.
One of the Arizona Coyotes most promising young defenseman is Victor Söderström.
The 22-year-old was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft by the Coyotes. Söderström came to Arizona during the 2020-21 season playing mostly for the Coyotes AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners where he had two goals, eight assists and 10 points in 32 games.
Over the past two years, Söderström has split his time between the Roadrunners and Coyotes but played a career high 30 games in the NHL this past season tallying a total of nine assists.
Next season is Söderström’s time to take the leap and become a regular on the Coyotes’ roster. His strong skating skills and ability to produce offensively are what made him a top-15 pick and something he is still trying to translate to the NHL.
“A puck-moving and fast-paced blueliner who loves to create offense,” Cam Robinson of Dobber Prospects wrote about Söderström prior to the 2019 draft. “Enjoys controlling the pace of play. Quick outlets, sharp edges and nice vision.”
If Söderström can play at a consistent level and carve out a permanent role on the Coyotes, the opportunities for the young defenseman are endless.
As one of the faster defenseman on the Coyotes, Söderström could be of use on the team’s power play if coach Andre Tourigny feels the he is ready to take on that role.
There is no better time for Söderström to prove that he deserves a regular spot in the NHL than this year. It will be a critical season in seeing what sort of potential Söderström has going forward.