Carl Soderberg
Center, 6-foot-3, 216 pounds
Make no mistake, the soft-spoken Soderberg was well-worth the 2016 sixth-round draft pick the Avalanche sent to Boston to acquire his rights last June. The durable 30-year-old Swede played in all 82 games — and in all situations — and posted career-highs in assists (39) and points (51). Granted, his first season with Colorado was just the third full year of his NHL career, but Soderberg’s sample size is big enough to realize he is a coveted two-way center who can play on any line. Legally blind in one eye, Soderberg was the Colorado chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association’s Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy winner and national nominee for the Avalanche player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
WATCH:
Highlight: Soderberg had a goal and three points in a 6-3 win at San Jose on Dec. 28 — in a game he was named No. 1 star.
Lowlight: Seemingly every Avs player had a bad night Oct. 14 against visiting Boston, but Soderberg was shotless and minus-4 in the 6-2 loss at the Pepsi Center.
Future: His $4.75 million annual cap hit takes him through the next four seasons, until age 34, and his strong defensive play and passing ability should allow him to continue to be an effective player throughout that span. And at some point, he’s bound to be given a nickname and not always be called Carl.
Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or @mikechambers
