Blackhawks president of hockey operations and general manager Stan Bowman provided an update on center Carl Soderberg's situation Tuesday, one day before the Hawks' season opener in Tampa Bay. The 35-year-old forward didn't make it to training camp due to immigration issues.
"Soderberg finally got his visa, traveled to Chicago, beginning his quarantine," Bowman told Blackhawks media on a Zoom call. "He’s not going to be on the road trip as a result, [would] just be wrapping up quarantine, so we’ll let him settle in here, serve his seven-day quarantine, be ready to join the team when we come back from Florida."
Bowman and the Hawks signed Soderberg to a one-year, $1 million contract on Dec. 26.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Chicago sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Soderberg, who recorded 35 points (17 goals, 18 assists) in 70 games last season for the Arizona Coyotes, was signed after Blackhawks center Kirby Dach suffered a right-wrist fracture during an exhibition game at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The former Coyote will likely factory in up the middle for Chicago's second or third line once he's ready to jump into games.
The Blackhawks begin the season on the road, beginning Wednesday, with four games in Florida: two against the Lightning and two against the Panthers.