Victor Söderström was appointed the best defender of the Swedish Hockey League for the 2024-25 season. As a result, he received the Börje Salming trophy.
In 2019, he was chosen 11th in the general classification of the entry into the NHL by the coyotes of Arizona, but, five years later, he signed a two -year contract to play with his hometown, Brynäs Gävle, which has just been promoted to the SHL. He continued to have a spectacular season, recording 37 points in 49 regular season games while Brynäs finished surprisingly first.
“I certainly do not regret anything”, Söderström is quoted on the club website. “It is a slightly different path to take because I am still young and my goal is still a lot to do it in the NHL.”
This could happen next season when Södersröm, now 24, was exchanged from Utah HC At Chicago Blackhawks on the NHL trade deadline, and He indicated at the time that he sought to have his NHL rights move.
Victor Söderström did not want to abandon the NHL so early, but it seems that he did not see a path to this dream run through Salt Lake City. Playing this season for Brynäs if in the SHL, he learned on Friday – the NHL trade deadline – that his NHL rights had been exchanged from UTAH HC to Chicago Blackhawks as well as the rights of Shea Weber – which did not play since 2021 and which is essentially withdrawn – in exchange for a choice of fifth round.
But first things, because Brynäs has a series of semi-final against Skellefteå Aik from Friday. The skellefteå range includes Axel Sandin-Pellikka And Jonathan Pudas, the two previous winners of the Prize.
“I love to come to the ice every day,” continued Södersröm. “The fact that twinning with Charles-Edouard d’Astous worked so well has of course meant a lot.”
Of Astous, a 26 -year -old Canadian who was Top defender in the Finnish Liiga last seasondominated Söderström by two points this year and also apparently Interested in NHL teams.
According to the Brynäs website, the jury for the price described Soderstrom as:
An elegant player on the ice that was one of the biggest contributors to the record season by the newcomer bycom in the SHL. Extremely qualified, and also a first -rate point scorer as a defender. Trained the best pair of league defenders during the season with Charles-Edouard d’Ambus.
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The Best defender Prize in the best Sweden League was appointed according to Börje Salming in 2008, the same year, the legendary defender was appointed to the IIHF team. Salming died in 2022 of complications related to ALS.
Börje’s older brother Stig Salming was present when Söderström received the Salming trophy. The two Salming brothers were also defenders of Brynäs.
“Börje would have liked it,” said Stig Salming.
Previous winners of the Salming Trophy
2024-25Victor Söderström, Brynäs
2023-24Axel Sandin-Pellikka, skellefteå
2022-23Jonathan Pudas, skellefteå
2021-22Maja Nylen-PersSson, Brynäs
2020-21Nils Lundkvist, Luleå
2019-20No winner because of the COVVI-19 pandemic
2018-19Erik Gustafsson, Luleå
2017-18Lawrence Pilut, HV71
2016-17Henrik Tömmernes, Frölunda
2015-1Niclas Burström, Skellefteå
2014-15Tim Heed, skellefteå
2013-14
Patrik Hersley, Leksand
2012-13
Magnus Nygren, Färjestad
2011-12
Mattias Ekholm, Brynäs
2010-11
David Rundblad, skellefteå
2009-10
Magnus Johansson, linköping
2008-09
Markus Ragnarsson, Djurgården
2007-08
Mikko Luoma, HV71
