After last week’s headlines, now comes an announcement about André Petersson.
HV71 announces on its website that the team captain will stay at the club and will take part in the team’s first ice practice during the evening.
– Everyone in the coaching staff, myself and the rest of the team are happy about that decision, says HV general manager Chris Abbott.
Last week, André Petersson’s future in HV71 was a big talking point when there were reports that the star was on his way away from the club as a result of a move from his agent.
During Monday, there will be a definitive announcement about the HV captain’s future.
In one clip on HV71:s website general manager Chris Abbott confirms that Petersson will remain in HV over the coming season and he will also participate in the team’s first ice practice later in the day.
– André is back with the team. In recent weeks, there have been slightly different views on what the future would look like for André, especially from the side of his representation. We have had discussions and I am very happy to have been able to sit down with André over the weekend and he then expressed a desire to stay in the team going forward, says Abbott and continues:
– Everyone in the coaching staff, me and the rest of the team are happy about that decision. I’m looking forward to seeing André buy into how we’re going to do things going forward and it’s about putting the team first and working together this season.
Chris Abbott: “Been open about our position”
André Petersson was only missing when HV71 regrouped ahead of the new season leading to great speculation about his future at the club. But now the star is back with the rest of the team again after meeting the general manager Chris Abbott and agreed upon a solution.
Abbott then explains in the clip on HV’s official channels what has previously not worked between the parties.
– Most of it is about communication. I have been open with him about our position and my role here. For me, that means we put the team first.
André Petersson has been one of HV71’s very best and most important players in the last two seasons. After his return in 2022, he scored 21 goals and 42 points in 47 games to help HV avoid qualification. Last season he was injured and accounted for twelve goals and 21 points in 29 games during the regular season before scoring seven points in seven games in the qualifying series against Oskarshamn to keep HV71 in the SHL.