Swedish club attempting to crowdfund the signing of a former Canadiens prospect

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Cooper Godin
September 2, 2024 (6:46 PM)

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Mattias Norlinder with the Montreal Canadiens.

Photo credit: NHL.com

A Swedish Hockey League club are crowdfunding the signing of a former Montreal Canadiens prospect Mattias Norlinder.

Earlier this summer, the Montreal Canadiens decided not to issue a qualifying offer to four players including Mattias Norlinder, who they selected in the third round back in 2019.

There are multiple reasons why the Canadiens came to this decision including their logjam on defence with up-and-coming prospects like Lane Hutson, David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux and Adam Engstrom. Norlinder at times looked a bit lost playing in the American Hockey League and wasn't adapting well to the North American game.

In recent days, Norlinder has been linked with a move back to Sweden to join MoDo Hockey, where he began his professional career and came up through their youth system. In order to afford the signing, MoDo Hockey is has started crowdfunding and so far, seem well on their way to make Norlinder their newest addition, with a goal of 1 million Swedish Krona.

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In a social media post on Monday, MoDO Hockey announced that so far, they've raised over 400,000 Swedish Krona in only ten hours, which works out to be just under $40,000 USD.

Norlinder's agent Claes Elefalk told Aftonbladet recently that the Montreal Canadiens have offered his client a contract.

Note: the following was translated from Swedish.

"He has received the request (from Modo) but he wants to think a little more as the Montreal Canadiens have also asked if he wants to extend, says Elefalk, who adds that a decision is expected to come next week."

Norlinder, 24, appeared in 50 games for the American Hockey League's Laval Rocket during the 2023-24 season where he registered nine points (two goals, seven assists), 26 penalty minutes and was a minus-14. The Kramfors, Sweden native has six games of NHL experience under his belt, all of which came with Montreal during the 2021-22 season.

While crowdfunding the signing of Mattias Norlinder seems like a unique opportunity to connect the fans and the club, it brings about many questions about the financial stability of MoDo Hockey. If they're unable to afford to sign Norlinder and need to crowdfund, that's a bit concerning for both the short-term and long-term future of the club.

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POLL
2 SEPTEMBRE \| 133 ANSWERS Swedish club attempting to crowdfund the signing of a former Canadiens prospect Do you think MoDo Hockey will sign Mattias Norlinder?
Yes	81	60.9 %
No, he'll return to Montreal	52	39.1 %
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