The Bruins added a couple of pieces at the trade deadline, and it sounds like they’re getting very close to adding one more.
Multiple reports say the B’s are close to adding Swedish center Carl Soderberg to the mix. Soderberg, who the B’s acquired the rights to from St. Louis in a 2007 trade for Hannu Toivonen, is reportedly close to inking a deal with Boston. The club has said all along that it wanted to get Soderberg in the mix after his Swedish Elite League playoff series wrapped up, which is what happened recently.
The New England Hockey Journal’s Kirk Luedeke tweeted Monday night that a deal was done between the Bruins and Soderberg. Luedeke followed that up Tuesday morning by saying the B’s and Soderberg had agreed to a three-year deal.
However, getting Soderberg to agree to a contract is only part of the battle for the Bruins. The B’s also need to buy out Soderberg from his SEL club, Linkoping, which includes getting the IIHF to approve the deal. However, Dominic Tiano of the OHL Writers points out that if the Bruins buy out the contract, the SIHF wouldn’t be able to deny Soderberg his release. Tiano also tweeted that the “only way a refusal can be granted is if player has a valid [professional] contract, owes the team [money] or equipment or is under suspension by IIHF rules.
CSNNE.com reports the Bruins are “very close” to landing Soderberg, confirming the last real hurdle in getting the deal done remains squaring things away with Soderberg’s SEL club and the IIHF.
The 27-year-old forward was a second-round pick in 2004 and stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 207 pounds. He led the SEL in points this season, using 31 goals and 29 assists to combine for 60 points.
Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said last week that he was hopeful the club could get Soderberg into the mix for the playoffs. If he signs before the end of the regular season, he’ll be eligible for the playoffs.
