Boston Bruins Take a Flier on Victor Soderstrom, Addressing Right-Shot Defense Needs
The Boston Bruins made a notable move on Friday night, acquiring the rights to defenseman Victor Soderstrom in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. In exchange, Boston sent a 2025 seventh-round draft pick and prospect Ryan Mast to Chicago, signaling their intent to bolster the right side of their defensive corpsโa position that has become a clear organizational priority.
Victor Soderstrom, 24, was originally selected 11th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2019 NHL Draft. Despite the high draft pedigree, Soderstrom has struggled to secure a steady NHL role, appearing in just 53 games over four seasons.
His most significant NHL stint came during the 2022-23 campaign with Arizona, where he played 30 games, contributing nine assists while averaging over 16 minutes of ice time per game.
Though his NHL tenure has been somewhat limited, Soderstromโs recent performance overseas paints a brighter picture. Opting to spend the 2024-25 season in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), he posted an impressive 37 points (9 goals, 28 assists) in 49 games for Brynรคs.
His efforts did not go unnoticed, earning him the prestigious Bรถrje Salming Trophy, awarded to the SHLโs top defenseman. This accolade highlights Soderstromโs potential to develop into a reliable, puck-moving defender capable of contributing at a high level.
Bostonโs willingness to part with a seventh-round pick and a young prospect like Ryan Mast underscores the value they see in Soderstrom. Mast, a 6-foot-5 defenseman, was a sixth-round pick by the Bruins in 2021 and spent the 2024-25 season with the Providence Bruins in the AHL.
While Mast showed size and promiseโappearing in 37 games and tallying five assistsโhe was held out of the Calder Cup Playoffs lineup entirely, suggesting he remains a longer-term project.
The Bruins face a notable gap on the right side of their defense after trading Brandon Carlo to the Toronto Maple Leafs earlier this year. With Charlie McAvoy and Andrew Peeke the only returning right-shot defensemen under contract, Bostonโs depth in this area is thin. Henri Jokiharju, another right-shot blueliner, is set to become a free agent, further emphasizing the need to add talent on the right side.
Soderstrom, currently a restricted free agent, will need to sign a new contract with Boston. However, given the scarcity of cost-effective, high-upside right-shot defensemen available in free agency, the Bruinsโ gamble on him is a sensible one. If he can translate his SHL success to the NHL level, he could push for a third-pairing spot out of training camp and help stabilize Bostonโs defensive depth.
The Bruinsโ acquisition of Victor Soderstrom is a low-risk, potentially high-reward move that addresses a pressing need. With the right development and opportunity, Soderstrom could become a valuable piece in Bostonโs blue line puzzle moving forward.