Carl Söderberg

Carl Söderberg
Söderberg with the Boston Bruins in 2014
Born (1985-10-12) 12 October 1985 (age 39)
Malmö, Sweden
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 209 lb (95 kg; 14 st 13 lb)
Position Centre
Shot Left
Played for Malmö Redhawks
Linköpings HC
Boston Bruins
Colorado Avalanche
Arizona Coyotes
Chicago Blackhawks
National team  Sweden
NHL draft 49th overall, 2004
St. Louis Blues
Playing career 2003–2023

Carl Johan Söderberg (born 12 October 1985) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey forward. He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the second round, 49th overall, of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, and has previously played with the Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Arizona Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

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Sweden

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Söderberg played as a youth with hometown club, the Malmö Redhawks. While showing an offensive prowess in the Under-18 Allsvenskan he first played in the J20 SuperElit level with the Redhawks in the 2001–02 season, appearing in nine games. In the following season, he was a regular in the J20 placing second amongst the Redhawks in scoring with 35 points in 28 games.

In the 2003–04 season, Söderberg was dominant in the J20, helping Malmö to a silver medal finish by leading the league with 48 points in 27 games.[1] During the season, he was elevated to make his professional debut in the Elitserien with the Malmö Redhawks, contributing with two points in 24 games. Soderberg showing size and skill was drafted in the second round, 49th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues.

Söderberg with Linköping HC in November 2012.

Söderberg continued to play between the J20 and Elitserien in the 2004–05 season. While playing in limited minutes, Söderberg added 5 assists in 38 games in the SEL. During the year he accepted a loan spell to the HockeyAllsvenskan with Mörrums GoIS IK, contributing with 11 points in 14 games. Unable to help Malmö avoid relegation from the Elitserien at season's end, Söderberg became an impact player at the Allsvenskan level in the following 2005–06 season with the Redhawks, scoring at point-per-game pace with 39 points.

Upon helping Malmö return to the top division on the first time of asking, Söderberg was signed to a lucrative three-year entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues on 1 June 2006.[2] Söderberg moved to North America over the summer, and appeared in his first training camp with the Blues. Söderberg was to be assigned to the Blues American Hockey League affiliate, however struggling to adapt to his new country and dealing with homesickness, refused and was returned on loan to continue with Malmö in the SEL.[3]

In the 2006–07 season, Söderberg was amongst the club's leading scorers in a break out season in the SEL with 30 points in 31 games before he sustained a serious injury in receiving a high-stick to his left eye, suffering a detached retina.[3] The injury left Söderberg legally blind in his left eye.[4] With the injury ruling him out for the remainder of the season and unable to practice in the off-season, Söderberg was traded by the Blues to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Hannu Toivonen on 23 July 2007.[5]

With the intent to continue his recovery in Sweden with Malmö, Söderberg was loaned by the Bruins for the remainder of his entry-level contract. Learning to adapt to being left with 20–80 vision in his left eye, Söderberg compensated with greater use of other senses to seamlessly continue his scoring acumen in the HockeyAllsvenskan. At the conclusion of his NHL deal, and with the Bruins retaining his rights, Söderberg opted to remain loyal with his hometown club in Malmö, who were also threatened bankruptcy, for a further two seasons.[6]

After 10 seasons within the Redhawks organization, with the club unable to earn promotion from the HockeyAllsvenskan, Söderberg in order to advance his career agreed to a one-year deal with Linköpings HC of the Elitserien on 1 April 2011.[7] In the 2011–12 season, Söderberg made an instant impact with Linköpings with eight points in six games and was promptly given an improved three-year contract extension on 28 September 2011.[8] He completed the season with 35 points in 42 games, placing second among forwards, unable to help the club propel into the post-season. Söderberg improved on his successful first season with Linköpings, leading the club in scoring with 60 points, and the league with 31 goals in 54 games. In the post-season, he was given a 7 match suspension, reduced to 4, for a hit on former NHL player Per Ledin on 14 March 2013.[9] He was limited to 6 games in the post-season, ending his Elitserien career.

NHL

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Boston Bruins

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Upon Linköpings exit in the post-season, with the ambition to embark on an NHL career, Söderberg settled a protracted dispute with the Swedish Ice Hockey Association. He was released by Linköpings HC and was signed by the Boston Bruins to a three-year, one-way contract on 13 April 2013.[10] After he was granted a visa, Söderberg joined the Bruins for the homestretch of the 2012–13 season. He made his NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins on 20 April 2013.[11] In only his second game with the Bruins, Söderberg assisted on the first goal (scored by Jaromír Jágr) of a 3–0 win over the Florida Panthers on 21 April, for his first NHL point.[12]

He scored his first NHL goal later in the year, on 31 October, beating Jonas Hiller as the first Bruins goal of a 3–2 home shootout victory over the Anaheim Ducks.[13]

Colorado Avalanche

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On 25 June 2015, just prior to becoming an unrestricted free agent on 1 July, Söderberg was traded by the Bruins to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Boston's own sixth-round pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft previously traded to Colorado.[14] The next day, on 26 June, he subsequently signed a five-year, $23.75 million contract with the Avalanche, which includes a full no-trade clause for the first two years and a limited no-trade afterward.[15][16]

Arizona Coyotes

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On 25 June 2019, with a year remaining on his contract, Söderberg was traded by the Avalanche to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Kevin Connauton and a 2020 third-round draft pick.[17] In the 2019–20 season, Söderberg played in a top-nine forward role season with the Coyotes, notching 35 points in 70 regular season games. His 17 goals shared third among Coyotes' skaters. Söderberg helped the Coyotes qualify for the post-season recording a goal and an assist in nine games, before suffering a first-round series defeat to former club, the Colorado Avalanche.

Chicago Blackhawks

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As a free agent from the Coyotes, Söderberg was signed approaching the delayed 2020–21 season on a one-year, $1 million contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on 26 December 2020.[18]

Return to Colorado

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At the trade deadline on 12 April 2021, Söderberg was traded by the Blackhawks back to the contending Colorado Avalanche in exchange for prospects Josh Dickinson and Ryder Rolston.[19] Appearing in a bottom six role with the Avalanche, Söderberg collected 2 assists through the final 11 regular season games. Beginning the playoffs as a healthy scratch, Söderberg drew into the lineup in the third game of the opening round series against the St. Louis Blues registering an assist. Helping the Avalanche sweep the Blues, Söderberg later scored his first goal in his return to Colorado during the second round series game 3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on 4 June 2021.[20] Unable to retain his role through the series, Söderberg finished as a healthy scratch in the 6 game defeat to the Golden Knights, ending with 2 points in 4 games.

Return to Sweden and retirement

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As an impending free agent, Söderberg effectively opted to conclude his career in the NHL after nine seasons and 597 games, returning to his native Sweden and signing a two-year contract with his hometown club, the Malmö Redhawks of the SHL, on 17 June 2021.[21]

After two seasons in Malmö, Soderberg announced his retirement on 1 August 2023. [22]

International play

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Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Germany/France

Söderberg was first selected for the Swedish team at the International stage for the 2003 IIHF World U18 Championships in Russia. He contributed with 2 goals in 6 games before reaching the quarterfinals and suffering an 8–1 defeat against Canada, to finish in fifth place. When the 2005 World Junior Championships came to the United States, Soderberg was again selected to the Swedish squad. Sweden went out to the host nation in the quarterfinals with an 8–2 drubbing. Soderberg contributed offensively as the team's second-best scorer with six points in six games.

On 6 September 2008, Söderberg made his senior national team debut featuring in a friendly match against Finland. On 9 April 2013, Söderberg reached a multi-year agreement with the Boston Bruins and secured his release from his Swedish team, Linköpings HC. On 11 April 2013, however, the Swedish Ice Hockey Association (SIHF) blocked the release of Söderberg to the NHL in an attempt to secure his position on the Swedish national team for the upcoming 2013 IIHF World Championships being co-hosted by the country. In the following days, Söderberg refused to play for Sweden.

Söderberg finally made his return to the national team after he was selected to take part in the revamped 2016 World Cup of Hockey in Toronto, Ontario at the Air Canada Centre.[23] He made his senior debut in the opening round robin game in a 2–1 victory over Russia on 18 September 2016.[24] In four games he contributed with 1 assist before suffering a shock semi-final defeat to Team Europe.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2000–01 MIF Redhawks J18 Allsv 3 1 1 2 0 — — — — —
2001–02 MIF Redhawks J18 Allsv 13 9 20 29 18 2 0 1 1 0
2001–02 MIF Redhawks J20 4 0 2 2 2 5 0 1 1 4
2002–03 MIF Redhawks J18 Allsv 4 6 3 9 25 — — — — —
2002–03 MIF Redhawks J20 28 17 18 35 22 6 2 4 6 8
2003–04 MIF Redhawks J20 27 23 25 48 30 6 1 2 3 10
2003–04 MIF Redhawks SEL 24 1 1 2 8 — — — — —
2004–05 Malmö Redhawks J20 12 13 6 19 43 3 2 1 3 12
2004–05 Malmö Redhawks SEL 38 0 5 5 8 — — — — —
2004–05 Mörrums GoIS IK Allsv 14 5 6 11 8 — — — — —
2005–06 Malmö Redhawks Allsv 39 15 24 39 45 10 5 3 8 2
2006–07 Malmö Redhawks SEL 31 12 18 30 14 — — — — —
2007–08 Malmö Redhawks Allsv 32 15 29 44 16 10 7 7 14 2
2008–09 Malmö Redhawks Allsv 45 18 41 59 26 — — — — —
2009–10 Malmö Redhawks Allsv 51 20 31 51 53 5 0 1 1 0
2010–11 Malmö Redhawks Allsv 52 12 34 46 18 — — — — —
2011–12 Linköpings HC SEL 42 14 21 35 20 — — — — —
2012–13 Linköpings HC SEL 54 31 29 60 48 6 1 1 2 27
2012–13 Boston Bruins NHL 6 0 2 2 6 2 0 0 0 0
2013–14 Boston Bruins NHL 73 16 32 48 36 12 1 5 6 2
2014–15 Boston Bruins NHL 82 13 31 44 26 — — — — —
2015–16 Colorado Avalanche NHL 82 12 39 51 32 — — — — —
2016–17 Colorado Avalanche NHL 80 6 8 14 22 — — — — —
2017–18 Colorado Avalanche NHL 77 16 21 37 26 6 0 2 2 2
2018–19 Colorado Avalanche NHL 82 23 26 49 26 12 0 2 2 8
2019–20 Arizona Coyotes NHL 70 17 18 35 18 9 1 1 2 2
2020–21 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 34 7 8 15 14 — — — — —
2020–21 Colorado Avalanche NHL 11 0 2 2 4 4 1 1 2 2
2021–22 Malmö Redhawks SHL 52 22 19 41 47 — — — — —
2022–23 Malmö Redhawks SHL 52 14 12 26 18 — — — — —
SHL totals 293 94 105 199 163 6 1 1 2 27
NHL totals 597 110 187 297 210 45 3 11 14 16

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2003 Sweden WJC18 5th 6 2 0 2 4
2005 Sweden WJC 6th 6 4 2 6 4
2016 Sweden WCH 4th 4 0 1 1 4
2017 Sweden WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 10 0 1 1 2
Junior totals 12 6 2 8 8
Senior totals 14 0 2 2 6

References

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  1. ^ "2003–04 SuperElit statistics". eliteprospects.com. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Soderberg gets 5 million krona a year". sydsvenskan.se (in Swedish). 2 June 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  3. ^ a b Amalie Benjamin (5 December 2013). "Carl Soderberg now contributing to Bruins". Boston Globe. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  4. ^ "Coyotes' Soderberg thriving despite blindness in left eye". USA Today. Associated Press. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Bruins acquire center Carl Soderberg". Boston Bruins. 23 July 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  6. ^ "Boston Bruins make five roster moves". Boston Bruins. 8 October 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
  7. ^ "Soderberg and Hitachi to LHC" (in Swedish). Linköpings HC. 1 April 2011. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  8. ^ "Carl Soderberg signs a new contract". Linköpings HC. 28 September 2011. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  9. ^ "A total of 7 match ban for Soderberg" (in Swedish). Swedish Hockey League. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  10. ^ "Bruins sign Swedish forward Carl Soderberg – NHL.com – News". nhl.com. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  11. ^ "Bruins fall in return to ice". CBS Sports. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  12. ^ Switaj, Caryn (21 April 2013). "Moving in the Right Direction – Loose Ends". Boston Bruins. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
  13. ^ Kalman, Matt (31 October 2013). "Bruins tie game late, defeat Ducks in shootout". NHL.com. NHL.com. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  14. ^ "Bruins trade Soderberg to Avalanche for 2016 pick". National Hockey League. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  15. ^ "Avalanche signs Soderberg". Colorado Avalanche. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  16. ^ "Colorado Avalanche sign Carl Soderberg to five-year deal". ESPN. 26 June 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  17. ^ "Avalanche trade Carl Soderberg to Coyotes". The Sports Network. 25 June 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  18. ^ "Blackhawks agree to terms with Carl Soderberg". Chicago Blackhawks. 26 December 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  19. ^ "Avalanche acquires Carl Soderberg". Colorado Avalanche. 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Vegas rally late to overcome Avalanche". ESPN. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  21. ^ "Carl Söderberg comes home" (in Swedish). Malmö Redhawks. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  22. ^ Svensson, Johan (1 August 2023). "Carl Söderberg slutar – lägger ner hockeykarriären" [Carl Söderberg retires – ends his hockey career] (in Swedish). Expressen. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  23. ^ "Team Sweden releases roster". National Hockey League. 28 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  24. ^ "Team Sweden edges Team Russia in opener". National Hockey League. 18 September 2016. Archived from the original on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
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