8th year center Johan Sundstrom(28) played the last pair of seasons for the only team in his home country, Sweden he’s ever known, Frolunda Indians running up some career high points (38) last season and a new best goals (17) two campaigns ago, while winning the 2016 SHL Championship and two Champions League titles with an impressive, overall +30 rating.
The still super-young 24-year old, who will turn just 25 before the start of the new season, is set to join only his third team, Avangard Omsk of the KHL for 2017/2018.
We expect him to do well with his new squad but may take a year to get situated if he can do well enough to stick.
Johan Sundstrom(28) Frolunda
After three seasons of mostly playing in the minors and restricted free agent status approaching Johan Sundstrom(28) has decided to return home to the team he started with Frolunda of the SHL, accepting a two-year deal.
His numbers in the AHL were diminishing after a fairly strong rookie season and may have already been in discussions of where his future with the team was going.
He did get his opportunity to play 11 games in the show late during 2013/2014 but only recorded one assist and although he was a late cut from his last training camp, he failed to impress enough on a deep pool of youngsters to earn another recall.
With his fairly large power forward sized build, the 22-year old seemed to want to play more of a scorers game than mixing it up in corners or front of the net and that probably troubled the higher ups.
Johan Sundstrom (28)
New York Islanders‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#50 overall), Swedish-born center Johan Sundstrom(28) starts his pro career like so many other first year players in the AHL due to the lockout.
Now that it’s settled, the 6’3″ 195 lbs. rookie forward will likely attend the big guys training camp but could find himself back on the farm with Bridgeport Sound Tigers for more seasoning.
He’s currently second in team scoring with 9 goals and 14 assists in 34 games and is a +7 plus/minus on what is on most nights a team that’s tough to beat.
The 20-year old is signed to a three-year entry level deal that if it’s not this season, there’s even a better chance in his sophomore pro campaign that he’s going to be an NHL regular. He’s already played two seasons in the Swedish Elite League.