Former First-Round Pick Leaves the NHL at 25
A former first-round draft pick, who came into his draft year with some hype, has decided to head back to Europe, signing a contract for two years in the Swedish Hockey League. HV71, which plays in Jonkoping, has announced the signing of Henrik Borgstrom for the next two seasons.
The Start
Borgstrom was drafted into the NHL by the Florida Panthers in 2016. He was the 23rd overall pick.
Despite being a noticeable name at the 2016 draft, Borgstrom failed to impress offensively with the Panthers. and spent a lot of his first two years in the league playing in the AHL. When it came time for a new contract as a restricted free agent, Borgstrom held out on Florida and instead signed in his home country of Finland. His rights were traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in May of 2021, and he signed a new two-year agreement with the team about a month later. It would not work out, though.
Borgstrom was given 52 games in the NHL with Chicago in 2021-22, but managed just three goals and seven points. At the end of the season, he was placed on unconditional waivers, and bought out of the remaining year on his deal.
Another Chance
Now a free agent, Borgstrom signed a two-way deal with the Washington Capitals for last season. He got just one game in an NHL jersey, spending the rest of the year in the AHL with the Hershey Bears. Borgstrom won the Calder Cup with the Bears just a few days ago.
Source: HV71.se
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