Statistics cannot fully measure the growth, professionally and personally, of one of the Arizona Coyotes’ top prospects, Victor Soderstrom.
The 20-year-old from Sweden has spent the vast majority of this hockey season at Tucson, the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate. Save for two games with the Coyotes in January before he was sent down to get the game action and experience he needs as a young player, Soderstrom has been a Roadrunner.
He scored his second goal of the season in Thursday night’s Roadrunners loss to the Colorado Eagles, 4-2. Soderstrom has six points in 26 games in Tucson.
It can’t be easy to be a former first-round draft pick who started the season with the Coyotes before having to accept a move to the minors. But Soderstrom has learned to make the best of it.
“It was tough. I played two games there with the Coyotes and there’s where you want to be, obviously. You want to play in the best league in the world, the NHL, of course,” Soderstrom said from Tucson. “It was tough to get the call that you’re going down here, but at the same time I’m having fun down here and I’m developing. I think I’ve developed a lot since I came here and our coaches are doing a good job to develop players. It’s a good spot to be at.”
Before this season, Soderstrom had never played for a club outside of homeland. He has represented Sweden internationally, but coming to the U.S. was something brand new.
With COVID still impacting sports, Soderstrom’s early pro hockey experience isn’t what it truly could be. He spent the first few weeks in Arizona on his own prior to his 20th birthday, missing family and friends and not playing in front of fans at Tucson, until his girlfriend was able to join him and help ease the transition into the American lifestyle.
“I’d say that’s the toughest part, not being able to have your family visiting you,” Soderstrom said.
It’s also taken some time to adjust to the hockey. In North America, the size of the ice is smaller than the Olympic-sized rinks Soderstrom is accustomed to in Europe.
It’s safe to say Soderstrom will be back for next season’s Coyotes training camp after beginning the 2021 campaign on Arizona’s taxi squad and getting a brief look in games against the Vegas Golden Knights, the first two NHL games of his career. With four veteran defensemen on track to hit free agency, the Coyotes seem likely to have a spot or spots to fill on the roster.
An early-season injury to Coyotes captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson opened the door for the Coyotes to look at other defensemen on their taxi squad and at Tucson. Soderstrom was among those brought up.
“We talked about at the beginning of the year you have to be flexible, you’re going to have to be able to use these guys,” Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet said. “Now it’s about establishing yourself as an NHL player. That’s the next step for these guys.”
ICE CHIPS
— The Coyotes headed out on the road for a critical three-game trip, with the Los Angeles Kings first up on Saturday night. Arizona has a one-point lead for fourth place and the last playoff spot in the West Division, has played three more games than the fifth-place St. Louis Blues.
“It’s about belief. It’s about a lot of things,” Tocchet said. “Let’s just take the next game. A lot of people will be watching for next year or your careers or for the team. So make sure that you leave it on the ice. That’s what it comes down to. It doesn’t matter what other teams do if you don’t win hockey games.”
The Coyotes have nine games left in the regular season.
“The game plan’s there. You ‘ve just got to go in and embrace this challenge,” Tocchet said. “Don’t be scared of it and go attack that pressure situation, don’t shy away from it, that’s what you’re looking for guys to do.”
— Gila River Arena opened its doors as a COVID-19 vaccination site on Thursday, and people streamed into the building Friday as Coyotes practice was happening on the ice. After getting their shot, fans were given the opportunity to sit in section of seats and watch practice during the few minutes of rest and observation needed after being administered a vaccine.
Up next
Coyotes update: It’s simple. Win, and get a little help from those teams playing the St. Louis Blues. That’s the best pathway to a playoff spot for the Coyotes, who haven’t been winning of late with seven losses in their last eight games. Arizona (20-22-5) is 11-4-2 against California teams this season and 9-4-0 in their last 13 games at the Staples Center.
Get in touch with Jose Romero at Jose.Romero@gannett.com. Find him on Twitter at @RomeroJoseM.