The league premieres have rained heavily during the week. When Saturday afternoon has come, it has become time for the SHL to get into the action. The Powerplay coupon is filled to seven-eighths of hot duels from the country’s best league, including Färjestad’s quest for revenge in the quarter-final replay against Rögle. One-on-one hockey is the icing on the cake. Now we speed up!
Stoppage of play: 15:14
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1. Frölunda – Leksand 1
It has already been mentioned countless times in the introduction, but bears repeating. We enter Frölunda’s last season with Roger Rönnberg at the helm. An era is coming to an end. It’s no wonder that VF wants to finish nicely. The goalkeeper and back sides are among the best in the series. Up front, new acquisition Weissbach has shown his forelegs, as has youngster Edstrom. If the home defense has passed the pre-season inspection without remark, then there are even bigger clouds of worry up in Leksand after 1-5 in the general competition against Timrå. Mantas Armalis needs to rise both one and two notches compared to last year to fill the void left by Filip Larsson. In the region of 50 prolls, one stands on its own two feet.
2. Växjö – HV71 X
A historically lousy away game was one of the big reasons why HV71 secured their continued SHL existence only in match 7 of the raucous relegation qualifier against Oskarshamn. Lindbom and “Nubben” have become Anton Blomqvist and Cam Abbott. Olle Alsing has come in as a strong pusher and was appointed captain. There is cautious optimism in the air on Lake Vättern’s southern shore. Växjö has shown that the cruel defensive game is intact in the CHL game. However, there are question marks for the offensive when both Marcus Sylvegård and Kalle Kossila have disappeared. Then I have a hard time signing the mast favoritism in the West. Roll out the carpet.
3. Linköping – Brynäs 1
Marcus Högberg’s match-winning goalkeeping allowed Linköping to outperform its underlying numbers by leaps and bounds in the past season. Now the super spade is on the other side of the Atlantic. Tappara’s multiple-time champion goalkeeper Christian Heljanko has been brought in as a replacement and must deliver for the Östgöta’s investment to turn out well. Shore and Rissanen join later, but already LHC has a powerful team. Brynäs also has an exciting squad building. Many eyes are inevitably directed at Jakob Silfverberg, but I see Christian Djoos as an at least as important addition. Thus, it is also a massive minus that Djoos goes with a knee injury and will be out for at least a month. Charles-Édouard D’Astous is also in the rehab room. One is a healthy nail!
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4. Malmö – Skellefteå X
Kuokkanen has moved to Switzerland and brought the polar bear Pajuniemi with him. The former is by far the biggest loss for Malmö. In his search for new recruits, Björn Liljander has chosen to look further along the blue and white track. Thomson, Salo, Ikonen and Haapala are a potentially high caliber Finnish quartet. I want to raise a finger of warning for a Scanian ruckus already in the premiere, while taking into account Skellefteå’s troubling squad situation. Jonathan Johnson, Lundberg, Max Forsfjäll and Brandsegg-Nygård are excluded for various reasons. Lindström missed Friday’s training and another group of players have been absent during parts of the pre-season. It should be a while before we see anything resembling champion pace from SAIK. I use the widest imaginable brush from the start in the hope of a bang.
5. Luleå – Timrå 2
With ideal offensive additions, it is up to proof for “Bulan” Berglund and Luleå. The defensive line has been in place for several seasons. Now there are what on paper are two really sharp ropes. However, the pre-season has left a lot to be desired, not least from the completely newly composed unit with, among others, Bromé and Levtchi. In addition, the “Björnarna” suffer from Laaksonen being gone for Christmas. Timrå is making an exciting new venture with Olli Jokinen at the helm. Half-baked homework will not be tolerated by the stubborn Finn. Dahlin, Hållander and Pettersson impressed greatly in the general rep against Leksand (5-1), who gave TIK many fine receipts. I decline the favorite.
6. Färjestad – Rögle X
Last year’s main series sovereigns Färjestad have tried to put the ditch run in the quarter-finals behind them. The series’ best forward lineup has gotten even better with the help of Oskar Steen, Viktor Lodin and Marian Studenic. The first two have already shown their forelegs and have been FBK’s top scorers in the four CHL matches played. Now the team that woke up in the spring and extinguished the golden dreams of the Varmlanders is waiting. Rögle disturbed his opponents early in the build-up phase with his aggressiveness and physicality. Properties that this RBK edition also possesses. 55 percent to the left is my pain threshold. We look to land a bit above the same, making this a case for the sanctuary board.
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7. Örebro – MoDo 1
Much of the Örebro talk this summer has revolved around the buyouts of Mathias Bromé and Philip Holm. Not only that, the cost of these has also had a major impact on the possibility of bringing in new quality. Both the back and center side had been in need of a facelift. The Närkings are very much out on the market, but currently lack quality on both sides. Then a leaden burden lands on Patrik Karlkvist’s shoulders. MoDo has both more and better hill options than last year. Then the play in the own zone was occasionally a problem, which Lassi Lehtinen’s great play hid. One exit in the Behrn Arena acts at an attractive percentage. Store generously!
8. Mariestad – Borås 1
It is tough to say the least to be a club in HockeyEttan. Four associations have been denied an elite license during the summer and as a result the season will be played with 36 teams and without any relegation. Troop costs will most certainly be reduced. However, Mariestad invests further, albeit without some of last year’s cogs. Adam Karlsson, Emil Smedberg and Max Wennlund are new players to keep an extra eye on. Borås is tipped, like the hosts, to belong to the top of the western series. There, two names stand out among the new additions. Back Christian Lindberg and swish player Pontus Netterberg. Both should hold a first class Etan. Great entertainment and a lot of emotions are to be expected in this supposed summit. One uses the second as support.
Gehlin’s thunderbolt: Frölunda
There are a lot of question marks in the Leksands camp after the general rope. Does Armalis measure up as first keeper in a team with big ambitions? Hesitant. Frölunda has security, stability and starts Rogers’ last season with a third.
Gehlin’s shock bid: HV71
I am not the least bit worried about Växjö’s defense, which will be top class. But who will score the goals? Blichfeld? Well. HV71 has new leadership and new air in its lungs. Watch out, Lakers!
324 rader
1. Frölunda – Leksand 1
2. Växjö – HV71 1×2
3. Linköping – Brynäs 1
4. Malmö – Skellefteå 1×2
5. Luleå – Timrå x2
6. Färjestad – Rögle 1×2
7. Örebro – MoDo 1×2
8. Mariestad – Borås 12
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