Arizona Coyotes: Where will Barrett Hayton and Victor Soderstrom play?

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Victor Soderstrom

That brings us to the 19-year-old Swedish defenseman, drafted 11th overall in the 2019 draft. The right-handed defenseman has spent two seasons with Brynas IF Gavle of the Swedish Hockey League. He managed to tally 9 goals, 14 assists for 23 points in 79 games, not bad for a 17-18-year-old playing in a league with an average age of 26. Soderstrom also competed in the 2020 WJC, playing in seven games with a goal and five assists.

He has impressed every level he’s competed at and will look to continue that into the 2021 season. The Coyotes have loaned the young defenseman to AIK of Hockey Allsvenskan in Sweden. Soderstrom has six points in 12 games and is a plus-5.

Though being drafted later than Hayton, Soderstrom has been playing in professional leagues since he was 17. His play has matured at a rapid rate, and he seems as close to NHL ready as any prospect the Yotes have.

That being said, I believe that along with Hayton, Soderstrom should be able to thrive and dominate in the A. Getting top pairing minutes, an anchor on the PP, and also get some work on the penalty kill. This option still gives the Coyotes the opportunity to bring both players up later in the season if it is obvious that they are ready for the NHL.

We will see where the season takes us, whenever the season actually starts. It will be interesting to see what the Coyotes decide on these two young, hopefully cornerstone pieces for their franchise.