Saturday’s SHL Premiere lived up its billing with plenty of drama and excitement. I reviewed all seven match-ups in my latest podcast episode.
I’ve also updated my Line-Up sheets for every team to include: 1. the Line-up details from their first game, 2: a projected line-up for their next game. I’ve noted some of the key injury updates below. 10 of the 14 teams are in action on Tuesday evening. As always, click on the team name heading to go to their page where you’ll find the Team Line-Up chart and other information.
Färjestad
Joel Kellman had to be helped off the ice by two of his teammates during the Third Period on Saturday. He was down for a while and then went straight to the dressing room. We’ve not had an official update as yet, but I’m expecting him to miss at least Tuesday’s game against Växjö.
I’m currently projecting Jack Berglund to take his spot at centre on the third line. He was taken 51st overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL Amateur draft at the end of June and recently signed a rookie contract with Färjestad, progressing up from the J20 squad. Berglund didn’t look out of place in his four Champions Hockey League starts this September, grabbing a goal and two assists whilst averaging over 9 minutes per game as an 18-year-old.
I’m also expecting Damian Clara to get the start between the pipes. Maxime Lagacé started against Rögle on Saturday and left the game in Overtime due to suffering cramp.
HV71
HV had a rough Opening Day, losing 4-3 to Växjö and losing two key players to injuries in the process.
Seattle Kraken prospect Oscar Fisker Mølgaard faces eight weeks out due to a hand injury. I’ve provisionally moved Måns Lindbäck from Extra Skater to the Second Line Centre, with Herman Hansson being added to the active line-up.
Oliwer Kaski will be out for four weeks with an upper-body injury. He was on the top defensive pairing with new signing Sean Day on Saturday, so we’ll see if Head Coach Anton Blomqvist decides to move another experienced SHL defenceman up to partner with him, or if he keeps the other two pairings the same and promotes Victor Sjöholm to that spot. I’ve opted for the latter for now in my projected line-up.
HV71 are at home against Skellefteå on Tuesday night.
Leksand
Leksand are away to Luleå on Tuesday and will be looking to bounce back from a 5-1 defeat away to Frölunda. I’ve currently projected them to have the same line-up, with the main question being whether there is a change in the starting goaltender.
Ordinarily I think Charles Berglund would stick with Mantas Armalis as a show of confidence in his goaltender after he conceded five goals on Saturday and that’s what I’ve gone for in the projected line-up; however, he may have already decided that Armalis would play on Saturday and then Jakob Hellsten would start on Tuesday, so we’ll have to wait and see.
MoDo
MoDo suffered a very disappointing 5-0 loss away to Örebro on Saturday, so line-up changes are a possibility.
The big story has concerned team captain David Rundblad. He was left out of the matchday squad entirely on Saturday with the club explaining that it was simply due to the coaching staff picking other players ahead of him. The Swedish hockey media, and MoDo’s fan base, are not convinced and their Sporting Director Henrik Gradin spoke to HockeyNewsSE today to defend the decision and state that rumours of Rundblad being close to leaving the team are untrue.
Will Head Coach Mattias Karlin restore him to the line-up for their game against Malmö on Saturday? The reaction to Rundblad’s omission makes me feel it’s more likely Karlin will stick to his guns, as changing after one game (unless an injury forces it on him) could be seen as him giving in to public pressure.
Rögle
Rögle are reeling from the news that Daniel Zaar needs surgery on an undisclosed injury that will put him out of action for at least six months, almost certainly meaning he will miss the entire 2024-25 season.
Former NHL player Dennis Everberg suffered a thumb injury on Saturday, so he is probably going to miss Tuesday’s game against Frölunda. I’ve provisionally moved Axel Smeds up to the top line in his place, although Head Coach Roger Hansson may feel he needs to mix the lines up more widely.
Timrå
Olli Jokinen will have his first home game as Head Coach of Timrå on Tuesday against Örebro. The main question is whether captain Anton Lander will be able to play after he left Saturday’s loss to Luleå with an injury.
The team have stated that his condition is Day-to-Day and I’ve left him in my projected line-up for now. It would not be a surprise if Tuesday’s game comes a little too early for him and, if it does, Timrå will have to dip into their J20 squad given that they went with only 12 forwards and 8 defencemen on Saturday.
The team are having to wait patiently whilst Oliver Kapanen is in NHL training camp with Montreal and they’ll be desperate to have him back as soon as possible.
