Carl Soderberg isn’t officially a member of the Bruins yet, but it’s sounding more and more like that’s going to happen very soon.
TSN’ reports the Swedish forward is very close to joining the Bruins. According to TSN, Soderberg and the Bruins have agreed to a three-year contract and Soderberg’s Swedish team, Linkoping, has granted him his release. The deal is reportedly worth $600,000 this season and $1 million per season the next two years.
Soderberg could be in Boston by this weekend once the deal is approved, according to TSN.
“He’s just kind of taken off,” B’s general manager Peter Chiareli said Wednesday morning on 98.5 The Sports Hub. “He’s always been a high-profile prospect. He had a bit of a downturn in his career because of the injury and because of whatever happened in North America. But he’s a good player, big strong kid, shoots the puck, protects the puck, good two-way player. He’s played on the Swedish national team with [Gabriel] Landeskog and [Patric] Hornqvist, had a strong line.
“Once he gets up and running, he’ll help us at some point, if we end up signing him.”
Soderberg has played center in his career, but the Bruins are likely to start him at the wing if and when he finally does join the club.
“I think we’d like to try him on the wing first and see if he’s comfortable there,” Bruins president Cam Neely said Tuesday on 98.5 The Sports Hub. “Obviously playing center at this level is not as easy as it may appear, with the coverage down low and in both corners. That part of the game takes some time, but who knows how quick a study he may be. Right now our thoughts are to see how he does on the wing.”
