By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter / X @BlackAndGold277
The tenure between forward Oskar Steen and the Boston Bruins organization officially came to an end today with the announcement out of the Swedish Hockey League that the former Farjastad player was heading home. The 5′-10″ 195-pound versatile forward signed a five-year deal returning to the club that helped develop his skills to become a 2016 National Hockey League Entry Draft selection of the B’s organization.
The Karlstad, Sweden, native was given permission from the B’s organization for him and his agent to pursue contract talks from other teams ahead of the July 1st free agent frenzy. Steen was with the Bruins organization for several years, appearing in 60 NHL games with 4-4-8 numbers to his role as a depth forward in the American Hockey League, with the Providence Bruins having better success, posting 53-63-116 totals in 221 career games. Despite popular opinion about size and agility, Oskar provided a tremendous asset to the B’s organization and a role many glazed over when filling out the developing depth in the minor-pro levels.
Steen was a Group Six free agent this year, and in his role in the last season under contract, it was apparent that both sides would be moving apart this offseason. Especially with the recent free-agent signings of forwards Riley Tufte, Cole Koepke, Jeffery Viel, and others who might not make it out of NHL training camp this fall, there was no room to retain Steen’s services. There’s certainly an emphasis on player size and ability moving forward in today’s NHL and developmental systems, and it seems the Bruins organization is addressing that factor with the recent additions to the team via the NHL Entry Draft and this summer’s free agency.
Steen quoted in an official Farjestad BK article below that he’s excited about the opportunity to return home and join his former SHL team, along with the difference between living and playing professionally between North America and Scandinavia. “Yes, a lot. You have lived in the USA for five years, and it is a big difference to Sweden and a big adjustment. You have grown as a person, and over there it is a different mentality when it comes to dealing with things. But it will be fun to come home and play for the team, friends and everyone who is at Färjestad. The club is very close to my heart and it will feel special when you get to go into a packed home arena in Karlstad again. It just feels so good, concludes Steen.”
Best of luck to Oskar and his family in this next professional hockey endeavor. Always a solid option for that break glass in an emergency scenario that’s a forgotten role in the minds of many hockey fans. To most, its make the NHL, or you’re irrelevant in the hockey world.
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