Viktor Loov Gets Release From MODO Joins Marlies

It took some begging and pleading from the Toronto Maple Leafs and Viktor Loov, but the gritty defenceman was finally granted a release from his contract with MODO. The release will allow Viktor Loov to join the Toronto Marlies in the American hockey league this upcoming season after an impressive camp with the Maple Leafs.

While the Swedish Hockey League can be a great place for young hockey players to mature and play against other older and stronger players, the 21 year-old forward had already spent three seasons playing in the SHL with Sodertalje and MODO. What more could the youngster learn from another year over seas?

The best move for Loov’s development was to have him transition to the North American game this season with either the Maple Leafs or the Marlies. Since he didn’t make the cut with the Leafs, the next best option was the Marlies. However, with MODO owning his rights, they had a pretty strong opinion on where Loov should be playing this season and it wasn’t North America.

Enter, William Nylander. The Leafs top draft pick from the 2014 NHL draft was the team cut earlier this week was allowed to head back to Sweden for another season in MODO. At first glance that might not seem like a huge deal, but it was and is probably the reason MODO allowed Loov to come over.

Nylander had plenty of options should the Leafs not keep him this season. He could have played in the CHL or joined the Toronto Marlies in the AHL. However, the Leafs decided to send him back to MODO to further his development, an odd choice when the Marlies are just down the road.

By the Leafs sending Nylander back to MODO, MODO in a sense owed them one and decided one Loov personally called every member of their management team that it was best for him to stay in the Leafs organization in North America. Think of it like this; The Leafs traded William Nylander for the year to Sweden in exchange for the rights to Viktor Loov.

Funny how a couple of days ago MODO was unwilling to grant Loov a release from his contract stating that “they really wanted him” back in Sweden. The mind games that go on between leagues and teams and prospects, is quite amazing. Give us Nylander back and you can have Loov.

Never the less, Viktor Loov will begin the season with the Marlies in Toronto Maple Leafs organization where he will learn to adapt to the North American game and work on his physicality, while being just a phone call away from a call-up to the Leafs when the injury bug hits.