After failing to earn an NHL call-up for the first time in three seasons, Belleville Senators defenceman Filip Roos appears to have put his NHL dreams on hold—for now. Färjestad BK of the SHL recently announced that they’ve signed Roos to a two-year contract.
Roos played 68 games for AHL Belleville this season, hoping to catch Ottawa’s attention. He recorded 17 assists over those 68 games, but the Sens never came calling. With unrestricted free agency now looming, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound Swedish defenceman has opted to begin a new chapter back home.
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“I’m really looking forward to it. It’s still been a good season (in Belleville), but it’ll be fun to come home and start with a new team, which I’m really excited about,” Roos said on his new team’s website.
Roos’ arrival in the NHL is similar to Finnish defenceman Nikolas Matinpalo. Both 26, the two undrafted defencemen played pro hockey in their home countries for several seasons before NHL opportunities came their way.
But Matinpalo is a right shot and Roos is a lefty. Matinpalo got a chance in Ottawa this season after the right side of their blue line had trouble staying healthy.
Roos broke into the NHL in his first season in North America (2022–23), appearing in 17 games for the Chicago Blackhawks. The following season, he played just four NHL games for the Hawks before signing a one-year, two-way contract with Ottawa last summer.
At the time, after the Sens parted company with left-handers Jakob Chychrun and Erik Brannstrom, Roos and his agent probably saw an opportunity here.
But unlike the injury wreckage on the right side, Senator lefties Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot, and Tyler Kleven missed only seven games this season combined, so there weren’t many opportunities.
Färjestad BK is thrilled that Roos is coming home.
“We have had our eyes on Filip for a long time and we believe that he, with his qualities, will strengthen our defense in a good way,” Färjestad BK general manager Rickard Wallin said in a club statement.
Steve Warne
The Hockey News – Ottawa
(Image credit: Belleville Senators//Freestyle Photography
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