Being a high first round draft pick gives a player some rope during his development, but it guarantees him nothing in the long run. Some guys make it almost immediately, others wash out completely. And still others embark on a long and winding road to find their niche.

Victor Soderstrom, now in his first opportunity with the injury-riddled Bruins’ defense corps, hopes he is in this third category.

The 24-year-old Swede was taken 11th overall in the 2019 by the Arizona Coyotes, before the likes of Matt Boldy, Spencer Knight and Cole Caufield. But from 2020 through 2024, he yo-yoed between Arizona and the ‘Yotes AHL facility in Tucson, seeing 53 NHL games and 170 in the minors.

After the ‘23-24, he decided to head home and eventually signed with his former club, Brynas.

The reason for go

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