Another big factor in HV71’s rise to the top has been young goaltender Stefan Liv who is boasting a 2.17 goals against average and an impressive 92.1 save percentage. Liv, who is drafted by the Red Wings, has also starred for the Swedish national team and could be named to the olympic team later this month. He would suit up as the number three goalie in a ”see and learn”-role behind Edmonton’s Tommy Salo and Pittsburgh’s Johan Hedberg. Liv, who has grown up watching Dominik Hasek carry teams on his back, looks like he has been influenced by the Czech star but plays a more conventional style.
Another revelation for the team has been norwegian forward Per-Åge Skröder who was a fringe player in the Elitserien until he joined HV71. He is leading the team with 21 points in 25 games.
Back-to-back champions Djurgården is again near the top of the league, despite losing a dozen players over the summer, which usually means that the new players with the team are doing quite well. Mikael Håkansson, who played last year with the St.John’s Maple Leafs in the AHL after not making it in Toronto, has 23 points in 26 games and is leading the league in points.
Flashy winger Nils Ekman signed with Djurgården after not coming to terms on a contract with the New York Rangers and he has scored 15 points in 15 games. Ekman is an Elitserien rookie, and the favorite to win rookie of the year honours. Despite being Stockholm born and trained, Ekman played in the Finnish SM-Liiga before trying his luck in the NHL. Word at the time was that Ekman was a cocky kid, which might have steered Swedish General Managers away from him, as nothing but a ”team first and me last”-attitude will do in Sweden.
Players like Nichlas Falk and Michael Johansson, instrumental in Djurgårdens success for years, are still going strong with about 20 points a piece so far. Creative 20-year-old defenseman Niklas Kronwall, a first round pick by the Detroit Red Wings, has had a so-so season points wise with four goals and two assists so far. Kronwall is learning on the job and will become an offensive force sooner rather than later, but he’ll have to face questions about his size and strength until he has earned a full-time job on the roster in Motown. Kronwall is listed at 5´11 and 173 pounds.
In Karlstad, Färjestad are playing at a brand new arena that will be one of the hosts of the World Championships this coming spring. The team has not disappointed on the ice, having lost only four games out of 25 so far in regulation time. Center Jörgen Jönsson gave up his NHL-career to return home but that will not stop him from playing in North America this season. He is one of ten players, the only one currently playing in the Elitserien which has been named to the Olympic Team. He will be there on the merit of his versatility and complete game. Färjestad has not been disappointed with him so far, but seven goals and nine assists are well below Jönsson’s standards.
Mathias Johansson, a fellow center, hoped to sign a contract with the Calgary Flames this past summer but was told that they didn’t require his services. He has also had a hard time contributing offensively as he has scored only 7 points in 25 games. The 27-year-old Johansson has been with Färjestad for over a decade and should maybe look around for a new challenge to rejuvenate his career.
With fifty percent of the regular season left to play, it is too early to start to think about the playoffs but these three teams are top candidates to become the champions in Sweden this season, all have solid goaltending and good depth on the team.
