Leafs defenseman makes the decision to leave North America
We have now officially entered the final month before free agency opens up and with the Leafs having a very long list of pending UFAs and RFAs to make decisions on, the list will start to shrink on its own as some players will look to depart the organization and signing pro deals overseas. Such is already the case for one Leafs blueliner.
Per an official news release from Farjestad, Leafs/Marlies blueliner Carl Dahlstrom has already signed a deal with Farjestad in the SHL for next season. Dahlstrom had missed the majority of the 2022-23 season after suffering an injury in a Leafs preseason game back in September. He made it into just 8 regular season games for the Marlies this season and 7 playoff games.
Dahlstrom had this to say about his departure from the Leafs organization:
"I have longed to feel that really genuine team feeling. It's nice to have stability - to know that you will be in one place for a long time. It's easy to feel unsettled over there (in North America) because there can be a trade or you could be put on waivers. I got to experience both things over there. Therefore, it will be nice, not only for my partner and my dog but also for myself, to know where we will be."
Dahlstrom's deal with Farjestad will span three seasons, which will give him that desired stability that he spoke of in his statement regarding the decision to leave North America.
Dahlstrom had spent the last two seasons as a depth defenseman with the Leafs/Marlies.
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