Photo: Bildbyrån
The season after Dick Axelsson last ended in Djurgården, Johan Garpenlöv took over as coach at the club.
Despite not having Axelsson as a player in the team, he has a firm opinion about the 37-year-old.
He took over Tre Kronor after Rikard Grönborg 2019, but the time in Tre Kronor was not a success Johan Garpenlöv. The former Swedish national team player, who won WC gold with Sweden in 1991 and 1992, came third in the Canada Cup in 1991 and the World Cup in 1996, and won three SM gold with Djurgården, had to leave the national team in 2022.
Garpenlöv’s relationship to Djurgården
Immediately after his time in Tre Kronor, Garpenlöv jumped to the team in his heart. But he failed to lead Djurgården to promotion from the Hockey Allsvenskan, so last November he had to leave the club. Under the replacement Michael “Honken” Holmqvist Djurgården managed to get to the qualifying final, but once there they lost to Brynäs.
READ MORE: Johan Garpenlöv does not want Erik Karlsson in Tre Kronor
Garpenlöv still follows the team and watches their matches in the hockey Allsvenskan. Under the new coach Robert Kimby Djurgården has picked up 41 points in 20 rounds. At the time of writing, they are fourth in the table.
– I feel absolutely no negative feelings towards them and it is something that happens in hockey that you have to leave. Then I am Djurgårdare and of course I follow them, so I follow them as much as I can, he says to Hockeysverige.
Johan Garpenlöv pays tribute to Dick Axelsson
One of the team’s biggest stars this year (again) is the forward Dick Axelsson37, who laced up the skates again this season. It is the third time that he has made a comeback at the club after he quit. However, in the 2022/2023 season, when Garpenlöv was there, he did not play for Djurgården. Then he raked around in Brödernas Hockey in Division 3 and in Väsby IK in Division 1.
READ MORE: Dick Axelsson’s harsh outburst against Per Ledin: “Some grudge…”
Johan Garpenlöv is impressed by what he has seen from Axelsson this season (11 goals and 3 assists in 13 games). He has also accounted for many match-deciding sacks.
– I think he has delivered beyond expectations and done really well so far. He’s producing and looks like he’s in good shape physically. I think he will get in even better shape as the season goes on. It was a successful move so far, he says and continues:
– It is a great achievement by Dick, he is a skilled player and has shown at a high level. That’s the way with him, if he’s physically fit he’ll deliver and he’s gotten into good physical shape.
What do you think of Dick Axelsson’s season in Djurgården so far? Can he help them make it to the SHL in the end? Feel free to write a comment and justify why you think the way you do.
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