Utah Hockey Club defense prospect Victor Söderström has signed a two-year contract with Brynäs IF in the Swedish Hockey League, The Athletic hockey insider Chris Johnston confirmed Sunday afternoon.

Söderström, 23, appeared in just three NHL games with the Arizona Coyotes during the 2023-24 regular season, collecting no points. He also skated in 63 AHL contests with the Tucson Roadrunners, racking up 32 points (nine goals, 23 assists).

After relocating from Tempe, AZ to Salt Lake City earlier this year, the Utah franchise tendered Söderström a qualifying offer back in June to retain his rights as a restricted free agent. Barring a trade, he will remain a Utah prospect until he turns 27.

Under previous general manager John Chayka, the Coyotes originally selected Söderström with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. The Gävle, Sweden product showed flashes of high-end skill during his tenure in Arizona but struggled to overcome the deficiencies presented by his 5’11”, 184-pound frame.

Söderström made his NHL debut with the Coyotes in the 2020-21 season, collecting a goal and an assist in four games. But he never scored another goal with the club after that, managing just nine assists in 49 NHL games over parts of the next three seasons.

By bringing in Mikhail Sergachev, John Marino, and Ian Cole to play regular roles on their blue line in the 2024-25 season, Utah also blocked Söderström’s path to a full-time NHL job. The club also has 25-and-under options Sean Durzi, Juuso Välimäki, Michael Kesselring, and Vladislav Kolyachonok on defense.

With Brynäs, Söderström will return to the environment in which he developed as a player prior to making the jump to North America with the Coyotes. Söderström spent half a decade growing in the Brynäs system before attempting to make a go of it in the NHL.