PHOTO: Bildbyrån
New season in SHL awaits!
Then the expert Per Svartvadet gives his verdict.
About who will be the flop of the year this season.
It has come time for a new season of the SHL and now it will be decided on the ice. The teams have had to lead the troops for another hunt for the coveted SC gold and this week everything starts again.
New SHL season
A lot of new players have moved to Swedish hockey and we also say a warm welcome back to Modo, who is making a comeback in the top league again. As always, it is therefore time to give advance tips on how the SHL season will end and that is exactly what Radiosport’s expert Per Svartvadet has made.
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He points out which players will settle for the unflattering title of “flop of the year” and Svartvadet chooses three foreign imports for that list. And there are three new acquisitions who are expected to be star players for their respective teams next season.
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Biggest flop
First up is the Finnish national team center Tommy Tikka which is new in HV71. It is the first time in his career that the 28-year-old is playing outside of Finland’s borders, and it raises concerns for the hockey expert.
– Finnish players in the SHL usually have problems, Finnish players in the HV usually succeed – historically speaking. Now HV has a lot of Finnish players and someone will flop, unfortunately for Tikka, I think it will be him, says Svartvadet to Radiosporten.
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Then he is also strongly critical of the Malmö Redhawks’ new addition Alan Quine from North America who played 106 NHL games and 388 AHL games in his career.
– He must deliver in terms of points and get into the SHL, but with a bottom team like Malmö, he risks becoming – uh, it smells like a long way to flop, says Svartvadet in his analysis.
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Play sand star
After that, an intended big star and point king gets a sawing and is mentioned as a top candidate to be the flop of the year. It is about Peter Cehlarik who returned to Leksand this spring and delivered four points in eleven games in the SHL comeback.
Now the Slovak has a lot to live up to after his debut season in Leksand 2020/21 which resulted in 40 points in 45 games.
– I don’t know how Chelarik’s form is, he has a very heavy responsibility in Leksand and I don’t think he will deliver. It will be a tough season for Leksand and Cehlarik, believes Svartvadet.
Who do you think will be this year’s flop in the SHL? Share the article and have your say!