Rhett Rakhshani Signs With Swedish Team

(above) Rhatt Rakhshani will play in Sweden next season
DU alum Rhett Rakhshani led the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in scoring the past two years, but he won't take a chance at a third. 

 HV71 of Sweden's top league announced Tuesday that it has signed Rakhshani to a one-year contract. 

The New York Islanders will retain NHL rights to the right winger, who would have become a restricted free agent July 1. 

 In just two full seasons with Bridgeport -- and in neither did he actually play a full season, limited to 66 games two years ago by call-up and injury, and 49 games last year to knee and head injuries --Rakhshani is still the team's 10th all-time leading scorer. He had 20 goals and 29 assists last year in 49 games after scoring a rookie-record 62 points the year before.

8 comments:

dggoddard said...

Sounds like a similar situation when Brock Trotter signed with the team in Latvia.

It would appear that like Gauthier, Trotter, Connor James and many others, Rhett doesn't have the size to be a 3rd of 4th line banger or the top level gear to make it as a top six forward.

If he has a big year in Sweden perhaps he can land a two-way NHL contract.

Anonymous said...

That's exactly it. Great college player, but not enough footspeed to stick in the NHL.

Rhett can make a very nice living in Sweden, with a $250K contract , a free car and a free apartment (not to mention the hotties). If he stayed in Bridgeport, he'd get $75K in AHL money.

Anonymous said...

This buys the Islanders an extra year to see if he develops a little more in Sweden.

Anonymous said...

Good luck to Rhett. Sounds like an awesome way to spend a year. If he did that well at Bridgeport, I'm sure he still has a good shot at making the Islanders if he has a good year in Sweden.

vizoroo said...

Good Luck to Rhett! Hope he does well.

vizoroo said...

Rhett will play with a top level team in the SEL. HV71 has won 2 of the last 4 SEL Championships.

Anonymous said...

Yawn......glass jaw.....big mouth. Perfect for Europen hockey.

Anonymous said...

Im shocked at this one I thought he would be an NHL all star by now they way he talked..