PHOTO: Bildbyrån
It has always been a big talking point in hockey Sweden.
Now the coach profile Leif Strömberg gives his proposal for how he wants to change the SHL and HockeyAllsvenskan.
– I think this needs to be reviewed, he says to Hockey Sweden.
For a long time it has been discussed how to do with the SHL and HockeyAllsvenskan. And opinions really diverge around hockey Sweden.
Redo the SHL
A lot of classic big clubs such as AIK, Djurgården, Brynäs, Mora, Södertälje and Västerås skid in the second highest league. Above all, there are several teams with strong audiences that the SHL misses out on.
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The coach profile Leif Stromberg is one of many who are worried and above all for the bleeding Stockholm hockey.
– If Väsby were to go up and not one of the Stockholm teams, it would soon be a commuter train series. Something is not being done right in the 08 region, says “Strumpan” to Hockey Sweden and now wants to see change in the SHL.
– If you ask me, not because it will be easier because I don’t like it, but my opinion is that you can raise two more teams and have a 16-team series. I think you can then remain in the number of teams in the Hockeyallsvenskan, but also bring back the qualifying series.
Strömberg’s words
Strömberg has spent many years in Swedish hockey and in a lot of different clubs. He, if anyone, knows what he’s talking about when it comes to promotion and relegation qualifiers between leagues.
– My opinion is that if two teams are allowed to play “play down”, there is nothing wrong with them, there are four teams involved in this drama. Which means that you don’t dare to play juniors or start making bad financial decisions. Maybe speculating with too much money, says the 62-year-old to the hockey site.
– Then I think that you should instead make it a qualifying series with six teams. Two teams from the SHL and four who are allowed to qualify upwards. To get there, you can come up with a lot of exciting lines. Then the first two teams in the qualifying series go up.
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Leif Strömberg liked the previous qualifying system better, where teams from the SHL and HockeyAllsvenskan met in play off duels.
– I also don’t think the play out system where a team from the SHL and one from the Hockeyallsvenskan met in the best of seven was so crazy. If you don’t win against a team from the Hockeyallsvenskan in the best of seven, you shouldn’t play in the SHL either. That is my opinion and “fair play”. I think this needs to be looked at, he says in the interview.
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