Each day from now until July 1, the day free agency begins, Tom Dougherty and Tim Riday will profile some of the NHL's top impending free agents and project their likelihood of signing with the Flyers.
Carl Soderberg, center
Age: 29
Height: 6-3
Weight: 216
Last team: Boston Bruins
2014-15 cap hit: $1 million
Scouting report
A responsible two-way forward, Soderberg has a high hockey IQ and the ability to play both center and wing. He has a pass-first mindset but can still chip in goal here and there. He could stand to be more aggressive given his 6-3 frame but that's not really his game.
St. Louis grabbed Soderberg with its second-round pick (49th overall) in the 2004 NHL draft. After owning his rights for three years, the Blues eventually traded the Malmo, Sweden native to the Boston Bruins for Hannu Toivonen on July 23, 2007.
Soderberg finally made the leap across the pond in April of 2013, when he signed a three-year, one-way contract with the Bruins. He recorded an assist in just his second game in the NHL, setting up future Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr on Boston's first goal in a 3-0 win over the Florida Panthers.
In parts of three seasons for the Bruins, Soderberg has registered 29 goals and 65 assists in 161 games.
Dougherty's projection
I don't see Soderberg as the type of forward general manager Ron Hextall is going to pursue this summer. Hextall stressed 200-foot players, and Soderberg is certainly that but the Flyers need to add skilled wingers. That doesn't mean they should look at guys who don't play in their own end, it just means they need to add guys who more capable in the offensive zone. I see Soderberg as a third-line player. If the Flyers weren't stuck with R.J. Umberger, it's a whole different story. But as long as Umberger is here, I don't see them going after a player like Soderberg.
NHL
Riday's projection
Soderberg's versatility will make him a highly sought after free agent this summer. He played mostly on Boston's checking line while drawing tough defensive assignments and still managed to produce his fair share of offense over the past two seasons.
I'm all for adding depth, so I think it would be wise for Flyers GM Ron Hextall to sniff around on Soderberg. He has great size, can kill penalties and would give new coach Dave Hakstol several options with his forward lines.
Thing is, Soderberg is line for a pay raise and there will be quite a handful of suitors lining up for the Swede's services. Much like Matt Beleskey, teams could overvalue Soderberg and offer him more than he's worth.
If that's the case, don't expect Hextall to get into a bidding war. Keep in mind, the Flyers could always bring back Ryan White and Chris VandeVelde to fill roles on the third and fourth lines.