Fansided

Chicago Blackhawks Expected to Part Ways with Viktor Stalberg

By Josh Hill

Apr 30, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Viktor Stalberg (25) skates with the puck against the Minnesota Wild during the first period in game one of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Viktor Stalberg (25) skates with the puck against the Minnesota Wild during the first period in game one of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 30, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Viktor Stalberg (25) skates with the puck against the Minnesota Wild during the first period in game one of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 30, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Viktor Stalberg (25) skates with the puck against the Minnesota Wild during the first period in game one of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports /

The Chicago Blackhawks are Stanley Cup champions but just like the last time they won the Cup, the roster will undergo some changes this offseason. One of those changes includes the fact that winger Viktor Stalberg is “highly unlikely” to return in Chicago next season, per a report from ESPN NHL writer Craig Custance.

With news that Stalberg is unlikely to return, Blackhawks fans are reminded of how they lost big names like Dustin Byfuglien and netminder Antti Niemi in free agency. But while he was a popular name with the team, it shouldn’t come as a complete shock that Stalberg is going to test the open market as he had a notable falling out with head coach Joel Quenneville during the playoffs and was benched against the Detroit Red Wings.

He’s only 27 years old and has the ability to be a great scoring option while on the ice, which means he’s going to drum up interest from more than a few teams starting July 5th.

A return to Chicago also isn’t out of the question as ProHockeyTalk.com and ESPN Chicago mention that Stalberg is non-committal in terms of his future plans and anything’s is possible at this point.

BUt just like how actors coming off of Academy Award wins get paid more for having the title Academy Award Winner, Stalberg is coming right off of a Stanley Cup win and some teams might want to pay him a little extra to get him on roster and excite the fan base.

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