Björklöven’s head coach Björn Hellkvist does not have a contract for next season.
According to The Express is he the favorite to take over Växjö this autumn.
– A rumor is a rumor, and I cannot comment on rumours, he says in TV4’s broadcast.
Expressen reports that Björn Hellkvist is Växjö Lakers’ main track in the search for a new head coach after Jörgen Jönsson, who is linked with Färjestad for next season.
“Löven” meets Mora on home ice this evening, but after that there is Christmas leave during which Hellkvist is expected to meet Växjö’s sporting director Henrik Evertsson, according to the newspaper’s information.
– Partly it is the case that Björn Hellkvist is a highly respected coach who has delivered at the highest level in Sweden and then you become the man of rumours. Then it’s troublesome for Björklöven, who did a redo and is doing very well. But I think the speculation is a bigger headache for those around than for Björn and for the team. He is more bothered that it is in the public eye, says TV4’s hockey expert Fredrik Söderström.
“A reputation is a reputation”
Björn Hellkvist himself says that he cannot comment on rumors that are rife.
– It is completely natural with the contract situation I have that there are rumors about it, but I am fully “committed” to this job and only set on doing a good job for Björklöven, he says.
– This year there are a lot of rumors about coaches who don’t have a contract. A rumor is a rumor, and I cannot comment on rumours. I don’t care about rumors outside of ice hockey or about rumors about ice hockey either.
“Don’t think they talk about it”
TV4’s expert Per Svartvadet does not believe that the speculation about Hellkvist’s future affects the rest of the team.
– I don’t think they talk about it, says Svartvadet and continues:
– The players are used to players finishing with other clubs during the season and so also with coaches and they know that Björn only has this year, so I would say that this is a non-issue for the players.
Björklöven-Mora has drop-off at 19.00.
Watch all matches from the hockey Allsvenskan on TV4 Play
Wednesday’s matches in the hockey Allsvenskan
19.00: Björklöven-Mora (studio from 6.30 p.m.)
19.00: Oskarshamn-Vimmerby
19.00: Västerås-Tingsryd
19.00: Almtuna-Nybro
19.00: Östersund-Södertälje
19.00: AIK-Karlskoga
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