The NY Islanders Will Reportedly Sign Goaltender Marcus Hogberg Out of Sweden

The NY Islanders' organizational depth at goaltender may be getting a bit deeper next season, as a report out of Sweden claims the team will sign Marcus Hogberg.

Holberg has played the last three seasons in Sweden's SHL with Linkoping HC after spending four years with the Ottawa Senators organization. He was one of the SHL's top netminders this season, posting a 2.51 GAA, and a .914 SV%.

Drafted in the third round by the Senators in 2013, during Hogberg's time in the NHL, he secured 9 wins in 42 appearances with a 3.39 GAA and .894 SV%.

A return to North America was not expected for Hogberg, recently signing a new deal with Linkoping, keeping him in Sweden until 2028 - but with an opportunity arising, the 29-year-old is ready to make the jump back across the pond.

"Of course it feels good to get this chance again," said Hogberg through translation of the Linkoping HC website. "I wasn't really prepared for something like this to appear, but I'm very happy and excited to test my wings on the extreme world elite again. At the same time, it has been difficult and a tough decision to make. Linköping Hockey Club means everything to me. Everyone who works in and around the club, all the supporters, all the partners, my teammates – it's like an extra family for me. I have so many people I want to thank who have been instrumental in making me the goalkeeper and person I am today."

Hogberg's destination was a secret, but Johan Svensson of the Sanny and Svensson Podcast claims, "Incidentally, I heard that it is the New York Islanders that he is going to."

With Ilya Sorokin beginning the first year of his 8-year extension and Semyon Varlamov signed for the next three seasons, Hogberg will likely spend most of his time with the Bridgeport Islanders in the AHL. Ken Appleby's contract is set to expire, seeing Hogberg share the crease with Jakub Skarek. Henrik Tikannen and Tristan Lennox appear as if they'll start the season in the ECHL with the Worcester Railers.

This is the second European-based player that the Islanders have shown interest in, as earlier this month, LeMatin.ch reported they have been taking a long look at Andrea Glauser of Lausanne HC in the Swiss NL.

In 2022, Lou Lamoriello signed James Paliafito as the Director of European Pro Free-Agent and College Free-Agent Scouting. Paliafito spent the seven years prior with the Toronto Maple Leafs and is responsible for bringing names like Ilya Mikhayev, Alexander Barabonov, and Nikita Zaitsev to the NHL.

It appears Paliafito is hard at work again, as the Islanders will need to find some bargain contracts with the team being pressed against the salary cap ceiling again next season.