Senators' winger expected to leave NHL after season to play in Europe

Olle Lycksell joined the Ottawa Senators for this season.

He's not expected to still be around next season.

Swiss publication Expressen reported that Lycksell is getting interest from Sweden but would prefer to spend next season playing in Switzerland.

That certainly suggests that Lycksell knows his future is outside the NHL, not with the Senators or anyone else.

Lycksell was a fourth-round pick by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2017 and didn't actually come stateside until 2022.

A 5-foot-11 winger, Lycksell has 145 points in 160 career AHL games, including 61 goals.

This season, Lycksell has 17 points in 25 games with AHL Bellville.

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Lycksell has appeared in the NHL for both the Flyers and Senators, but he has just two goals and 11 assists in 52 career games.

He's 26 years old and hasn't broken through in his chances so far. 

Given Lycksell's apparent interest in a specific European league, he seems likely to depart the NHL and AHL, maybe for good but at least for now.

He'll try to close the season strong to earn the best possible offer for himself. Lycksell certainly can be a star in Switzerland or Sweden, so maybe that's the right career move for him.

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