Sometimes European free agents don’t work out in the NHL. That’s the case with David Ullstrom, who spent last season in the Arizona Coyotes organization but is heading back to the KHL. Ullstrom has signed a contract with Dinamo Riga, the league’s Latvian team, for 2019-20. He is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1 when his one-year deal with the Coyotes expires.
Ullstrom, 30, signed a one-year, two-way contract last spring with the Coyotes after an excellent season for HV71 in the Swedish Hockey League, but failed to crack the NHL roster. He was injured to start the season, and eventually spent the year in the minor leagues with the Tucson Roadrunners. In 29 AHL games he recorded 23 points, but will be heading back overseas after not receiving any time with the Coyotes.
Originally a fourth-round pick of the New York Islanders back in 2008, Ullstrom did play parts of two seasons in the NHL but never made a huge impact. His skating ability for a 6’4″ forward is excellent, but it has led to much more success in the KHL than in North America. That’s where he’ll continue his career, though it is not out of the question that he could look for another NHL opportunity at some point in the future if a team is willing to take a chance on him.