Just less than 24 hours after acquiring his negotiating rights in a pre-draft trade from the Boston Bruins, the Colorado Avalanche signed forward Carl Soderberg to a long-term deal. The Bruins received a sixth round pick for him.
Soderberg looks like he will not be testing the free agent market any time soon, as Colorado signed him to a five-year deal worth $23.75 million with a no-trade clause in the first two years and limited no trade clause after that. Soderberg was set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Soderberg had a productive season last year scoring 13 goals, recordings 31 assist, and a plus minus of plus 10. This was a little set back from 2013-14 season where he produced 16 goals and 32 assists. Soderberg did not live up to Boston's expectations for him when they acquired him in a trade with the St. Louis Blues back in 2007 for goalie Hannu Toivonen. Soderberg was drafted in 2004 by St. Louis but played in Sweden and did not play in the NHL until the 2012-13 season. Another reason why they traded him was because Soderberg wanted too much money from Boston.
Even though Soderberg is heading into his fourth season and is 29 years old already, there is still an upside to him. He is a great faceoff center, a good two-way forward, can produce offensively and defensively, and is also good on the power play. Put him on your top six and he will produce some good numbers for your team.
Colorado is getting a potential top-six center in Soderberg and they can put him on the second line. Signing him to this long extension likely means center Ryan O'Reilly is on his way out pretty soon. Soderberg will help out the Avalanche power play, and getting out of the pressurised environment of Boston might turn out to be a good thing for him.
"We are pleased to have Carl signed to a long-term deal," Avalanche president and general manager Joe Sakic said. "He is a solid two-way forward who is big and strong on the puck. He is versatile, can play center or wing, and his addition will also benefit our power play."