Report: Chad Billins Returning to the SHL Next Season

It sounds as though Utica Comets defenceman Chad Billins won’t be returning to the club for next season. Or any in North America, for that matter.

Per this report, it sounds as though Billins is returning to Sweden to play for the Swedish Hockey League’s Linkoping HC. Billins, a hockey journeyman if there ever was one, last played for Linkoping in the 2015-16 season, producing 31 points in 50 games.

In 72 games with the Comets this season, Billins added 20 points (3 goals and 17 assists) good for third among Utica defencemen. The same report that connects Billins to Linkoping indicates he left the club for a chance to play with the Vancouver Canucks. Even with all the Canucks’ injuries, such an opportunity never arose. If not this season, then when?

With the likes of Guillaume Brisebois, Jalen Chatfield and potentially more defencemen (pending entry-level contracts to Tate Olson and Carl Neill) joining the Comets next season, that situation likely won’t fix itself anytime soon.