The New York Rangers have placed Malte Stromwall on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a mutual contract termination, according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet. Stromwall had been demoted to the ECHL this season, after struggling in his return to North American hockey last year.
Signed in the spring of 2016, Stromwall was coming off an outstanding campaign in the Swedish Allsvenskan, scoring 42 points for AIK. At the time, it seemed like a shrewd depth pickup for the Rangers to find an undrafted offensive player. All the better that Stromwall was familiar with the North American game, having played two seasons for the Tri-City Americans of the WHL. He had found success in his final year of junior, but struggled back in Europe when playing in the SHL.
The diminutive forward will likely return to Sweden to play, after recording two points in two games for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. Riding buses in the East Coast league is likely not what he expected when he inked a contract with the New York Rangers.