Carl Söderberg

Carl Johan Söderberg (born 12 October 1985) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the second round, 49th overall, of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, and has also spent time in the NHL with the Boston Bruins.

Playing career

Sweden

Söderberg played as a youth with hometown club, the Malmö Redhawks. While showing an offensive prowess in the Under-18 Allsvenskan he first played in the J20 SuperElit level with the Redhawks in the 2001–02 season, appearing in 9 games. In the following season, he was a regular in the J20 placing second amongst the Redhawks in scoring with 35 points in 28 games.

In the 2003–04 season, Söderberg was dominant in the J20, helping Malmö to a silver medal finish by leading the league with 48 points in 27 games. During the season, he was elevated to make his professional debut in the Elitserien with the Malmö Redhawks, contributing with 2 points in 24 games. Soderberg showing size and skill was drafted in the second round, 49th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues.

Söderberg continued to play between the J20 and Elitserien in the 2004–05 season. While playing in limited minutes, Söderberg added 5 assists in 38 games in the SEL. During the year he accepted a loan spell to the HockeyAllsvenskan with Mörrums GoIS IK, contributing with 11 points in 14 games. Unable to help Malmö avoid relegation from the Elitserien at seasons end, Söderberg became an impact player at the Allsvenskan level in the following 2005–06 season with the Redhawks, scoring at point-per-game pace with 39 points.

Upon helping Malmö return to the top division on the first time of asking, Söderberg was signed to a lucurative three-year entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues on June 1, 2006. Söderberg moved to North America over the summer, and appeared in his first training camp with the Blues. Söderberg was to be assigned to the Blues American Hockey League affiliate, however struggling to adapt to his new country and dealing with homesickness, refused and was returned on loan to continue with Malmö in the SEL.

In the 2006–07 season, Söderberg was amongst the club's leading scorers in a break out season in the SEL with 30 points in 31 games before he sustained a serious injury in receiving a high-stick to his left eye, suffering a detached retina. With the injury ruling him out for the remainder of the season and unable to practice in the off-season, Söderberg was traded by the Blues to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Hannu Toivonen on July 23, 2007.

With the intent to continue his recovery in Sweden with Malmö, Söderberg was loaned by the Bruins for the remainder his entry-level contract. Learning to adapt to being left with 20-80 vision in his left eye, Söderberg compensated with greater use of other senses to seamlessly continue his scoring acumen in the HockeyAllsvenskan. At the conclusion of his NHL deal, and with the Bruins retaining his rights, Söderberg opted to remain loyal with his hometown club in Malmö, who were also threatened bankruptcy, for a further two seasons.

After 10 seasons within the Redhawks organization, with the club unable to earn promotion from the HockeyAllsvenskan, Söderberg in order to advance his career agreed to a one-year deal with Linköpings HC of the Elitserien on April 1, 2011. In the 2011–12 season, Söderberg made an instant impact with Linköpings with 8 points in 6 games and was promptly given an improved three-year contract extension on September 28, 2011. He completed the season with 35 points in 42 games, placing second among forwards, unable to help the club propel into the post-season. Söderberg improved on his successful first season with Linköpings, leading the club in scoring with 60 points, and the league with 31 goals in 54 games. In the post-season, he was given a 7 match suspension, reduced to 4, for a hit on former NHL player Per Ledin on March 14, 2013. He was limited to 6 games in the post-season, ending his Elitserien career.

NHL

Upon Linköpings exit in the post-season, with the ambition to embark on a NHL career, Söderberg after settling a protracted dispute with the Swedish Ice Hockey Association, was released by Linköpings HC and rewarded the Boston Bruins patience by agreeing to a three-year, one-way contract on April 13, 2013. After he was granted a visa, Söderberg joined the Bruins for the homestretch of the 2012–13 season and made his long awaited NHL debut against the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 20, 2013. In only his second game with the Bruins, Söderberg assisted on the first goal (scored by Jaromír Jágr) of a 3–0 win over the Florida Panthers on 21 April, for his first NHL point.

He scored his first NHL goal later in the year, on 31 October, beating Jonas Hiller as the first Bruins goal of a 3–2 home shootout victory over the Anaheim Ducks.

On 25 June 2015, just prior to becoming an unrestricted free agent on 1 July, Söderberg was traded by the Bruins to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Boston's own sixth-round pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft previously traded to Colorado. The next day, on 26 June, he subsequently signed a five-year, $23.75 million contract with the Avalanche, which includes a full no-trade clause for the first two years and a limited no-trade afterward.

International play

Söderberg was first selected for the Sweden at the International stage for the 2003 IIHF World U18 Championships in Russia. He contributed with 2 goals in 6 games before reaching the quarterfinals and suffering a 8-1 defeat against Canada, to finish in fifth place. When the 2005 World Junior Championships came to the United States, Soderberg was selected to the Swedish squad. Sweden went out to the host nation in the quarterfinals with a 8-2 drubbing. Soderberg contributed offensively as the team's second best scorer with 6 points in 6 games.

On 6 September 2008, Söderberg made his tentative Senior debut featuring in a friendly match against Finland. On April 9, 2013, Söderberg reached a multi-year agreement with the Boston Bruins and secured his release from his Swedish team, Linköpings HC. On April 11, 2013, however, the Swedish Ice Hockey Association (SIHF) blocked the release of Söderberg to the NHL in an attempt to secure his position on the Swedish national team for the upcoming 2013 IIHF World Championships being co-hosted by the country. In the following days, Söderberg refused to play for Sweden.

Söderberg finally made his return to the National team after he was selected to take part in the revamped 2016 World Cup of Hockey in Toronto, Ontario at the Air Canada Center. He made his senior debut in the opening round robin game in a 2-1 victory over Russia on September 18, 2016. In four games he contributed with 1 assist before suffering a shock semi-final defeat to Team Europe.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International