WEEKLY RECAP: VICTORY IN VÄXJÖ

SHL Finals

Coming into the week the Växjö Lakers carried a 3-1 series lead into game five, hoping to close out the series and win the clubs fourth SHL title. They would not disappoint their home fans.

Emil Larmi would, once again, be a major factor in this game as the 26 year old Finn would perform spectacularly between the pipes and come away with his fourth shutout of the post season and second of this series. He would get help on the offensive side from his team as Captain Robert Rosén would finally break the scoreless tie late in the second period. After a beautiful between the legs backwards pass from Martin Lundberg, Rosén was able to bury it with just six seconds remaining in the second frame. 

The lack of offence would continue until the late stages of the third period as two empty net goals from the Lakers, in quick succession, would seal the deal as the Lakers came away with the 3-0 victory and won the series 4-1. For his performance throughout the post season Emil Larmi was awarded the Stefan Liv Memorial Trophy as playoff MVP.

Personel Moves

With the post season over, the market has opened back up for player movement and plenty of teams were active this week in getting ready for the 2023/24 season. 

Linköping

LHC has had a rough few years where they have failed to qualify for the post season for the past five seasons. In the hopes of turning things around they have made some moves this week to bring in new talent signing Remi Elie from Färjestad and Taylor Leier.

Leier, a 29 year old Canadian, has played the past two seasons in Germany with the Straubing Tigers where he found offensive success. He also has experience in the NHL with Philadelphia and he AHL with their affiliate.

– Leier is a scoring player who has done very well in both the German league and the Champions Hockey League. He has a really good shot, nose for goal and is an offensive player who will contribute a lot and who will come here to make a difference in the offensive. We have followed him on site for a long time and like what we see, says Linköping's sporting director Peter Jakobsson.

The contract extends over the next two seasons.

Remie Elie is also Canadian and will be also joining Linköping for the next two seasons.

– Remi Elie is the two-way center that we have been looking for. He is a powerful center who is physically strong, has good finishing and good skating. Just his physical game will give us an ingredient in our game that I think we have been missing, says Peter Jakobsson.

Elie also has NHL experience with Buffalo, Dallas and Tampa Bay. He joined Färjestad this past season for his first taste of European hockey where he scored 6 goals and added 12 assists in 32 games. 

Luleå

Pontus Andreasson is returning to Luleå for the next four seasons. Andreassons success with Luleå in the 2021/22 season earned him a contract with the Detroit Red Wings, however the past season was spent with their AHL affiliate, so he has returned to Sweden. 

– It's great fun that Pontus Andreasson is returning to us in Luleå Hockey again. We have all seen what he can contribute and it feels extra fun that we have agreed on a longer agreement with Pontus, says Luleå's GM Stefan "Skuggan" Nilsson to the club's website.

They have also signed Oscar Eklind, a 24 year old forward who has spent the past two seasons with Brynäs.

– In Oscar we get a two-way forward who has good size and likes to play physically. Which means he will fit well into our mix of players, says "Skuggan" to Luleå's website.

Frölunda

Frölunda has made some signings this week as they have pulled two players away from their current SHL teams, signing Max Lindroth and Linus Öberg.

– Linus is a player we have been interested in for a long time. We have pulled him before and now we got it and we are happy about that. Linus is from the region, is of a good age, has a fierce character and a nose for the goal. He will fit in with us and we expect him to take further steps, says Frölunda's sporting director Fredrik Sjöström to the club's website.

The 22 year old has signed a contract that extends through the 2026 season. 

26-year-old Max Lindroth made his SHL debut with Linköping in the 2019/20 season. After playing three seasons in Linköping, Lindroth played this past season in Färjestad where he scored ten points in 50 games. 

– We've had our eye on Max for a long time, he's even been with us before (a week's loan in 2018). He is a two-way back who will strengthen our defence, says Fredrik Sjöström.

The contract is valid until spring 2025.

Oskarshamn

Oskarshamn made moves to strengthen their back end this week recruiting a pair of defensemen and a goalie. 

Oscar Engsund will be returning to his former team. Engsund last played with them during the 2015/16 season. After his departure he remained in the SHL, playing the majority of the past seven seasons in Luleå. 

– I have never stopped following IK and the dream has always been to play in the club again. It's cool to have been able to follow the journey a little from a distance. The club and the team have gone from being a middle club in the Hockeyallsvenskan to really threatening top positions in the SHL, not least last season when they pushed Rögle in the quarter-finals, says Engsund to the club's website.

He has signed a longterm contract that is valid until 2029.

Oskarshamn has also signed a contract with 19-year-old defender Oskar Asplund. The young defensive prospect spent this past season in HockeyAllsvenskan with Almtuna.

– He has offensive qualities and is good with the puck. I think he will fit very well into our system and our way of playing hockey. He has been chased by many so it's fun that he chooses us, says Oskarshamn's sporting director Thomas Fröberg to the club's website.

Oskarshamn has also added a piece between the pipes, as they have signed Czech goaltender Marek Langhamer. The 28-year-old has played with Ilves in Finland where he posted the best save percentage this past season with a .924 in 40 games. Previous to that, he spent three seasons in the KHL. 

– It's a class goalkeeper, no talk. He has an athletic style and wants to save the puck rather than "just get hit" by the puck. We have had Marek first on our wish list since November. He had eight clean sheets in the Finnish league and is the first goalkeeper for the Czech national team. It is a goalkeeper in the highest class in Europe, says Mikael Sandberg, goalkeeper coach at IK Oskarshamn.

The contract is valid for the next two seasons.

Malmö

The Malmö Redhawks had a poor showing this season that saw them finish last in the regular season and avoid relegation after beating Brynäs in the relegation series. In an attempt to turn things around for next season they have made multiple signings to start the off season. 

They have signed defensemen Johan Ivarsson, who last played for the club in the 2016/17 season. Ivarsson played this past season in Södertälje and before that he spent two seasons in Finland with TPS. 

– We are extra happy to bring Johan home. He has a big Malmö heart who is now returning after having gathered experience from different levels. In Johan, we get a skating strong back who puts pride in the defensive with his sacrificial style of play and physical play, says Björn Liljander, Malmö's sporting director to the club's sporting director.

They recruited another player from Södertälje this week as they bring on 20 year old Albert Sjöberg, who was drafted by the Dallas Stars in 2021.

– Albert is a young and promising forward who above all threatens in the offensive with both his speed and his shot. Despite his young age, Albert has already played senior hockey for two seasons and played in the WJC. We see him overall as an exciting player with great potential, says Liljander.

Malmö have also acquired 23 year old forward Thomas Berg-Paulsen from Norwegian club the Stavanger Oilers. He scored 34 points in 41 games in the Norwegian league last season and will be stepping outside of Norway for the first time in his professional career.

– Thomas is a smart player at a good age who can play center or wing and can be used in all forms of play. He is a real team player who submits to the hard work every day and does everything for the team to be successful. Recently, he was a contributing factor to Stavanger's championship victory, says Liljander.

HV71

HV71 has brought in a seasoned Finnish center, recruiting 27 year old Tommi Tikka. He has played over 400 games in the Finnish top league and scored 30 points in 53 games for Ilves last season. 

– In Tommi, we get a hard-working center who has every chance of becoming a crowd favourite in Husqvarna Garden with his intense playing style and attitude. He is at a good age and has a few good seasons behind him, which has also been rewarded with national team games, says HV71's sports manager Kent Norberg to the club's website.

His contract is valid through the next three seasons. 

Rögle

Rögle has a recruited a pair of player from Skellefteå, bringing in Alexander Hellnemo and Albin Sundsvik.

19 year old goaltender Hellnemo played 9 games between the pipes with Skellefteå this past season, wining five and posting an .895 SV%.

– He is athletic and reads the game well. He has a great future and we are happy to be able to present him for the next two seasons, says Rögle's assistant sports manager Hampus Sjöström to the club's website.

Sundsvik joined the Skellefteå junior club in 2017 but has been a mainstay on the main team for the past three seasons. 

– Albin is young, but still experienced at SHL level. He is a big left-handed shooter who plays physically, but at the same time is very skilled with the puck. He wants to take the next step in his career and we feel that he has a good chance to do this with us, says Rögle's sporting director Chris Abbott to the club's website.

Sundsvik has signed a two-year contract with Rögle.

Skellefteå

Skellefteå brought in a new player this week, but also said goodbye to multiple skaters. Anton Heikkinen comes to Skellefteå after a successful season in Mora. The 22-year-old scored 21 goals and added 17 assists. 

– It feels good to have signed Anton. He has had a very good season in Mora and we believe that there are very good opportunities to take further steps in our environment. Anton masters most of the game. His speed, shot and will to compete stand out the most, says Erik Forssell, Skellefteå's GM.

In addition to Hellnemo and Sundsvik, the following players have also left Skellefteå: Melker Karlsson, Tom Kühnhackl, Linus Högberg, Adam Mascherin, Frans Tuohimaa and Andreas Wingerli.

Timrå

22 year old Filip Hållander returns to Timrå and Sweden after spending the past two seasons in North America with the Pittsburgh Penguins and their AHL affiliate. Hållander previously played with Timrå in 2019 and was brought up through their junior program. 

– It is incredibly fun to have Filip back in Timrå IK, another player who was brought up in the club. He is an incredibly skilled player who has developed enormously in recent years, but at the same time he is still young and can only get better. At the same time, he is also a natural leader who can show the way both on and off the ice, says Timrå's sporting director Kimmo Kapanen.

Häman Aktell

After a successful season with the Växjö Lakers Hardy Häman Aktell has spent no time waiting to make his move for next season. He has a signed a one year, two way contract with the NHL's Washington Capitals.