9-Year NHL Veteran Announces Retirement

A former second-round draft pick by the St. Louis Blues who enjoyed a nine-year run in the National Hockey League has decided to hang up the skates. Carl Söderberg made the announcement in Sweden, at the age of 37.

Forward Carl Soderberg has retired from professional hockey at age 37. He played for the Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Arizona Coyotes, and Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL. Congrats, @CarlSoderberg. #NHLBruins #GoAvsGo #Yotes #Blackhawks

— NHL News & Rumors (@MPitkins) August 1, 2023

The forward last played in the NHL in 2020-21, a season split between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Colorado Avalanche. He had played four previous seasons for the Avs, including his one time cracking the 20-goal barrier in 2018-19 (23 goals, 26 assists, 49 points). 

Soderberg, as a 21-year-old in Sweden, suffered a horrific career-threatening eye injury that he says required up to 10 surgeries, and even left him legally blind in one eye. But incredibly, he overcame that challenge, and several years later made his way over to the NHL. 

Soderberg began his career in North America in 2013 with the Boston Bruins, and immediately got to play in the Stanley Cup Finals. "It was a bit special that the first thing I did in the NHL was play in a Stanley Cup final. It was a fantastic experience," says Soderberg, remembering his career highlights. 

After leaving the NHL in 2021, he played his last two seasons back in his home country of Sweden, for the Malmo Redhawks of the SHL. He totaled 67 points in 104 games there over the past two years. 

In 597 NHL games, he notched 297 points, on 110 goals and 187 assists. 

Battling through such a serious setback as a young player, it was a tremendous career for Soderberg. 

Photo: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports