Dick Axelsson’s adamant criticism of Swedish hockey today – slaughters the SHL completely: “It has completely disappeared”

SHL icon Dick Axelsson no longer likes the SHL.
The former player prefers Hockeyallsvenskan.
– It’s a bit High Chaparral, says Axelsson to Sportbibeln.

Dick Axelsson has long experience in Swedish hockey. He was a great talent when he arrived in Huddinge IK. It was followed up with games in both the SHL and Hockeyallsvenskan, as well as in lower divisions with clubs such as Djurgården, Färjestad and Brödernas/Väsby during his career.

Axelsson’s concern

Swedish hockey still produces some great talents. In the 2023 NHL draft, 25 young Swedish players were selected, six of them in the first round. The record for number of Swedes drafted in the first round is from 2009 when seven talents were selected.

In recent years, the development of Swedish talent has stalled, thinks Dick Axelsson.
– Then of course there are these great talents who will come, and they will always come. But in national teams and so on, I think many countries have overtaken us. Or it’s other countries that have gotten better, it’s a 50/50 question. But I think we live a lot on old merits, he says to Sportbibeln.

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The 36-year-old also thinks that our hockey at the highest level has declined. As a player, Axelsson was one of the more outspoken, and he was not shy about making certain plays. Today, Dick thinks that Swedish hockey, with the SHL at the forefront, has become too lame.
– My interest has pretty much died, especially for the SHL. I think it has become a rather boring league, without emotions. I think in general that it feels more like the players are driving around and are afraid of fines or suspension than living their dream out there on the ice, and playing a fun hockey.