Photo: Bildbyrån
When Niklas Wikegård took over Djurgården in 2002, he gave Christian Eklund an important piece of advice that became decisive for his career.
Now “Fimpen” talks about the coach’s call.
– Then I had to make a choice. He put me against the wall, he says to Hockey Sweden.
He grew up in Haninge, started playing hockey in Vendelsö and then became a professional in Djurgården. Christian “Fimpen” Eklund47, made ten seasons for Järnkaminerna and has become an incredible club legend. Much thanks to his sacrificial style of play.
Placed “Fimp” against the wall
He got the chance to debut in the first team in the 2001/2002 season. He quickly got a big role in the team and played alongside Kyösti Karjalainen and Mike Johansson. The following season, Djurgården got a new coach. Niklas Wikegård61, was back at the club, now as head coach instead of assistant as he had been in 1996.
Right when Wikegård stepped into the booth, he had an important message for Christian “Fimpen” Eklund. He needed to change to have a chance at playing time. The call came as a shock, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized it was a good idea.
– Then I had to make a choice. He put me against the wall. I was center back then. Then he asked me: “Either you invest as a center, playmaker in one of the top two lines… (“There we had Ottosson, Espen Knutsen and Micke Johansson. We had really good centers”) … or you choose to become a third, fourth-rubber, then you can play here for ten years”, Eklund tells Hockeysverige.
READ MORE: When Niklas Wikegård reveals his real name, it’s not easy to keep from laughing – that’s what he would actually be called: “Don’t even dare to say”
– I chose to rub in the third, fourth, become good at box play and “kill” players. It turned out that I changed my playing style, almost overnight, because I wasn’t like that from the beginning. Now I would be good at dribbling, covering shots and playing box play. I practiced this throughout that season and I really got to play a lot in those situations, he continues.
“Be great by Wikegård”
He understood the choice to do exactly what Wikegård asked for relatively quickly. With hindsight, it was also absolutely right, it very well made him an invaluable player with different top qualities that Djurgården benefited from for many years. Eklund says that of course he would have rather been “a Bremberg who scored a lot of points”, but that he was not good enough and that he had therefore never been allowed to play.
– I think it was great of Wikegård to say “If you want to continue playing a lot, do this”. Now I had had him in the juniors and knew him quite well. Today I’m glad I did that and I enjoyed that job. I probably would never have become such a good player if I had tried to fit in as a first- or second-five player, says Eklund.
READ MORE: Peter Forsberg now admits what he thinks of Niklas Wikegård
Christian Eklund scored 64 goals in 521 games for Djurgården. His son William22, spent three seasons in Dif before moving to the San José Sharks in the NHL. His younger son Victor18, plays with Djurgården in the hockey Allsvenskan now.
Christian Eklund thus has a lot to thank Niklas Wikegård for his career being what it was in Djurgården. Exciting to read about how it happened.
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