Third year in a row in the fear qualifiers
HV71 doesn’t do it right. The club has good finances, but the fact that money cannot always buy success has been confirmed time and again.
For the third time in a row, the club must now qualify to secure its place in the SHL. It was like that for them in both 2024 and 2025, and they will of course be able to benefit from that experience this time too when everything is on the line.
But even if they manage to save the SHL contract again in the negative qualification – or fear qualification, as it is often called – the question remains: What will it take for HV71 to find the right path again?
Fear for Leksand too
Formally, with a win in Saturday’s game against Rögle, Leksand can still get the same points as Linköping, which is just above the qualification mark in twelfth place.
But considering Leksand are 14 goals behind Linköping, it will take a major miracle for Leksand to avoid qualification. So in 99 percent of cases it will be Leksand and HV71 who make up the qualifying series that no one wants to end up in.
This is the seventh consecutive season Leksand has played in the SHL. The question is whether it will be the eighth in a row.
Another record number of spectators – hope for a historic milestone
With one round to go it is already clear that the SHL will set a new attendance record for the fourth time in a row.
Last year the total audience was 2,417,984 people. With one round to go, this number is already 2,510,771.
When the series concludes on Saturday, the SHL is expected to reach an average audience of over 7,000 for the first time. Before the decision, the number was 7,033.
Series winner again for the first time in ten years
Between 2013 and 2016, Skellefteå won the series four years in a row. And although they went on to play three finals and won SM gold in 2024, this year is the first time in ten years that Skellefteå has won the SHL’s basic series.
This time Skellefteå definitely secured the series victory when they won against Linköping in the penultimate round.
There is still play in the final round
Even though tensions have eased at the top and back – unless Leksand offers a rare goal celebration – there is still plenty to gain for some of the teams in the final round.
Four teams – Brynäs, Färjestad, Luleå and Malmö – all have 77 points, but only two of them advance directly to the quarterfinals. The other two have to take a more complicated path and play in the round of 16.
Brynäs and Färjestad have the best goal difference (both plus twelve). Luleå is plus seven and Malmö is minus eight.
Although the tenth and final playoff spot is a fight. Before the decision, Örebro is ahead with 65 points, but with 63 points, Timrå has a chance to overtake them.
In the final round, Örebro will face Linköping on the away ice and Timrå will face Växjö on the home ice.
Theoretically, Linköping also has a minimal chance of securing the final playoff spot, but then they have to win by seven goals against Örebro while Timrå loses.
A newcomer with cocky teenagers
After three seasons in the Allsvenskan, Djurgården was back in the top league this season. As with many new signings, it was a bit up and down, but the contract was secured with a few rounds to go and the team will be one of four teams eligible to play in the round of 16.
The most important player for Djurgården this season was goalkeeper Magnus Hellberg, but the players who were the most fun to watch were the team’s three JVM gold medalists Anton Frondell, Victor Eklund and Viggo Björck. Three teenagers who took it upon themselves and were given the self-confidence and the chance to do so.
Another special teenager
Djurgården is not the only team with players who have proven that the future of Swedish ice hockey looks bright. Frölunda’s 18-year-old striker Ivar Stenberg is already a star and has been praised throughout the season.
The legend came home – and was fired
Jörgen Jönsson was a leading player in Färjestad for 13 seasons, winning five SM gold medals during those years. After ending his active career, he remained in various management positions in Färjestad until the end of 2013.
He then embarked on a coaching journey that took him to Örebro, Davos and Växjö before returning to Färjestad as head coach for this season. Something that was welcomed by fans.
But after a tough autumn, the news came at the beginning of January that Jörgen Jönsson had been fired. He was replaced by Christer Olsson.
A great leader retires
Timrås coach Tommy Samuelsson is running after a life of service to hockey. When Timrå’s season is over, his time as a coach is also over. Something he announced back in January.
After a long and successful playing career, he took the step to become a coach. In this role, Tommy Samuelsson, among other things, won three SM gold medals with Färjestad, brought Skellefteå to the SHL and was assistant coach when Sweden won World Cup gold in 2006.
The points king remains
With 67 points (30 goals + 37 assists), it is already clear before the last round that Skellefteås Oscar Lindberg is the SHL’s points king, as he is twelve points ahead of second-place teammate Rickard Hugg.
Last Thursday it became official that Lindberg had extended his contract with Skellefteå until 2029.
