The season is quickly approaching, which means it’s time to look towards the future. We do that every year with the Five For Howling 25 Under 25, ranking the Coyotes’ best players under 25. For this year’s rankings, I am joined by James Reeve (@JamesRJReeve), Mike Gould (@miketgould), Haynes Evans (@HaynesPEvans), and Matthew Jacobson (@TheAZSportsGuy).
Victor Söderström
2022-23 League: AHL (Tucson Roadrunners), NHL (Arizona Coyotes)
Games Played: 44, 30
Goals: 2, 0
Assists: 19, 9
AHL Playoffs Games Played: 2
AHL Playoffs Goals: 0
AHL Playoffs Assists: 0
Highest Rating: 8
Lowest Rating: 13
After being drafted 11th overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Victor Söderström was the Arizona Coyotes’ top defensive prospect. He may not be that anymore, but Söderström seems to be getting closer to being a full-time NHL defenseman.
Victor Söderström returned to Sweden after being drafted, played another season in SHL, and represented his country at the World Juniors. He made his North American debut during the 2020-21 season, which saw him play 32 games with the Tucson Roadrunners, four games with the Coyotes, 12 games back in Sweden with HockeyAllsvenskan team AIK, and represent his country again at the World Juniors.
After splitting the 2020-21 season between Europe and North America, Söderström has played exclusively in the States. He has also been consistently getting more games with the big club, culminating in a career-high 30 games last season. And while progress is good, you have to imagine that the Coyotes hoped for more from their first-round pick.
While Söderström is only 22, it is becoming a little concerning that he hasn’t made himself a full-time NHL player. There are expectations on players selected in the first round, especially when you see players selected in subsequent drafts start to play. There is a chance that could change this upcoming season.
Along with Söderström, the Coyotes have seven other players who could serve on the blue line. Matt Dumba, Sean Durzi, Josh Brown, Troy Stecher, Juuso Välimäki, and J.J. Moser all seem like locks to make it, which means Söderström’s biggest competition is the newly signed Travis Dermott. Both players are on two-way deals, so either could realistically go to the minors, although Dermott makes a lot more in the AHL and Söderström does not have to clear waivers, so he needs to prove he belongs in the NHL to stay at camp.
This is a big season for Söderström. He is in the final year of his ELC and is looking at his next contract, which should motivate him. And while it is a cramped blue line now, nobody has been signed past this year, so Söderström can easily earn a long-term full-time job.