Carl Soderberg’s time in Boston appears to have come to an end.
The Boston Globe reported over the weekend that the Bruins would not be re-signing the Swedish center. Soderberg’s agent, J.P. Barry confirmed the report to WEEI.com.
The Bruins are already tight against the NHL salary cap, and it’s become apparent they won’t be able to offer Soderberg a contract that indicates fair market value for the 29-year-old. There’s still a chance, as the WEEI.com report points out, that the Bruins could trade Soderberg’s rights before free agency. That would allow that trading team a chance to negotiate with Soderberg before he hits free agency. The Bruins likely would get draft pick compensation for Soderberg’s rights.
Soderberg originally was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the second round of the 2004 NHL entry draft. He was traded to the Bruins for goalie Hannue Toivonen in 2007, and it was unclear at that point whether he’d ever come over from Sweden.
Soderberg finally made the jump in 2013 and debuted with the Bruins during the lockout-shortened 2013 season. He ultimately played in 161 games for the B’s, scoring 29Â goals and adding 65 assists while primarily anchoring Boston’s third line.
It would make sense that 23-year-old Ryan Spooner would step in and center the Bruins’ third line behind veteran centers David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
