Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Columbus goalie prospect Dansk bolts for Sweden

Montreal Canadiens v Columbus Blue Jackets

Montreal Canadiens v Columbus Blue Jackets

NHLI via Getty Images

Oscar Dansk is headed home.

Dansk, taken 31st overall by Columbus at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, has decided to return to play in his native Sweden next season, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

The decision comes after Dansk struggled in his first professional campaign in North America. He split time between Columbus’ AHL affiliate in Springfield and ECHL Kalamazoo, posting relatively weak numbers while getting passed by other young goalies on the organizational depth chart, most notably Anton Forsberg and Joonas Korpisalo.

The development has to be a disappointment for both the Blue Jackets and Dansk. Just three years ago, he was regarded as one of the better young goaltending prospects around; he backstopped Sweden to silver at the 2014 World Juniors (with a 1.79 GAA and .929 save percentage) and, in his draft year, was the third goalie taken behind Andrei Vasilevskiy and Malcolm Subban.

Last May, Columbus signed Dansk to a three-year, entry-level contract.

It’s worth noting this is the third prospect the Blue Jackets have had issues with this summer. University of Minnesota defenseman Mike Reilly, the club’s fourth-round pick in 2011, has held off on signing his ELC with the club and appears primed to hit free agency. There are also rumblings that Kerby Rychel, the club’s first-round pick in 2013, has been made available for trade.