September 21:
Linköping – Brynäs
Frölunda – Leksand
Växjö – HV71
Malmö – Skellefteå
Luleå – Timrå
Örebro – Modo
Ferry town – Rögle
September 24:
Luleå – Leksand
HV71 – Skellefteå
Timrå – Örebro
Rögle – Frölunda
Växjö – Ferry Town
September 26:
Skellefteå – Växjö
Modo – Malmö
Leksand – Rögle
Ferry town – Timrå
Linköping – Örebro
Örebro – Brynäs
Frölunda – HV71
September 28:
Timrå – Rögle
Örebro – Skellefteå
Brynäs – Frölunda
Modo – Play sand
Luleå – Ferry Town
Linköping – HV71
Malmö – Växjö
Skellefteå took the club’s first SM gold in ten years when the team won the final against Rögle last spring, and took their fourth SM gold overall. Ahead of this year’s season, the trio Petter Granberg, Dylan Sikura and Filip Sandberg have disappeared. Seasoned SHL debutant Markus Eriksson and Frölundabacken Pontus Johansson have joined the team, among others. Skellefteå will be a strong candidate for the SM gold this season as well – and is the team to beat according to SVT’s expert Jonas Andersson (see the clip).
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Hear Jonas Andersson’s reasoning in the player above about three SHL teams that made three different changes. Photo: Bildbyrån/SVT
The ten-time Swedish champions Färjestad are the team that has to bear the pressure of the favorites ahead of the season. It depends on the expertise and the opponents. Among other things, the team has been strengthened with own product Oskar Steen, who returned from the Boston Bruins. Viktor Lodin from relegated IK Oskarshamn is also an interesting signing.
Oskar Steen is back in the SHL and Färjestad. Photo: Kyle Ross / BILDBYRÅN
It is not just any newcomer in this year’s SHL. Classic Brynäs IF is back after being down and turned in the Hockeyallsvenskan last season. Gävleklubben has mobilized with several strong new acquisitions in, among others, returnees Jakob Silfverberg, Oskar Lindblom and Christian Djoos.
Jakob Silfverberg is back in Brynäs after several seasons in the NHL. Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie / BILDBYRÅN
SHL in SVT can be followed in the weekly magazine Hockey night which is broadcast on Thursdays in SVT1 and SVT Play.
All matches during the season can be streamed on TV4 Play.