Florida Panthers prospect Linus Eriksson was part of Sweden’s 5-2 win over USA Blue at the World Junior Summer Showcase in Minneapolis on Sunday.
Wearing #14, Eriksson centered Eddie Genborg and Melvin Fernstrom on Sweden’s second line. The trio did not figure in the scoring.
Ivar Stenberg’s hat trick was the difference in the game.
Eriksson and the Swedes will take on USA White, who beat Finland 5-2, today.
The Chicago Blackhawks signed Arvid Soderblom to a two-year, $5.5 million contract, avoiding arbitration with the 25-year-old goalie. Soderblom recorded a 10-18-7 record with a 3.18 GAA and .898 save percentage in 36 games (33 starts) last season, setting career highs in both wins and games played.
The Buffalo Sabres avoided a salary arbitration hearing with Conor Timmins by signing the newly acquired defenseman to a two-year, $4.4 million contract. Buffalo got Timmins and defenseman Isaac Belliveau in a trade that sent blueliner Connor Clifton to the Pittsburgh Penguins on June 28. He finished last season with a career-high three goals and 15 points in 68 games split between Pittsburgh and Toronto.
Nikita Alexandrov re-upped with the St. Louis Blues, signing a one-year, two-away deal worth $775K. The 24-year-old forward put up 21 goals and 28 assists in 48 games with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds last season.