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The SDHL offseason is underway. Färjestad, HV71 and Luleå each face different challenges in securing their top players, and building toward next season.
Färjestad
Having qualified for the SDHL in a thrilling playoff series against incumbents Leksand, FBK’s management now have a monumental task ahead of them: building a team that can remain in the top league long term. Tough decisions will certainly need to be made, as at least some of the players who helped the team win promotion simply do not have SDHL speed and will need to be replaced. The team’s GM, Emma Murén, was also their top scorer in 2024/25, and tallied 60 points in 25 games. The 27-year-old represented Sweden at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, and obviously has gas left in her tank, but will she elect to play again? Färjestad’s biggest challenge may be complying with the SDHL’s import rules. 16 foreign-born players suited up for FBK last season, and though some may qualify as “Swedish homegrown” due to having played junior hockey in the country, the top league is rumoured to be reducing the number of permitted rostered imports to nine (from the previous 12). Re-signing star Canadians Amanda Rampado and Alli Borrow should be Murén’s top priority in the weeks ahead.
HV71
HV71 had an interesting season, one punctuated by the loss of key players for extended periods, a total lack of secondary scoring, and defensive challenges that would grey the hair of even the most experienced coach. There were some bright spots, of course: young captain Elin Svensson had a career-best season, and notched 31 points in 35 games. American power forward Julia Nearis stood out with her hard-nosed play, and registered the team’s best plus/minus. Defenders Teghan Inglis and Jenna Raunio played the lion’s share of HV’s toughest minutes and generated offense from an otherwise anaemic back end. But Raunio and forward Hilda Svensson, the squad’s second-leading scorer, are leaving for Ohio State next season. Elin Svensson, Nearis, Inglis, spark plug Kennedy Bobyck and assistant captain Kajsa Armborg have yet to re-sign. Canadian Rachel Weiss is unlikely to be offered a new contract after a disappointing season that saw her register only 8 points and a minus 20 in 35 games. HV’s management needs to address both its top end and its depth if this team is to remain in the SDHL long term. Rumoured financial struggles will not make things easy.
Luleå
After an astonishing run of six straight championships, Luleå were finally toppled by Frölunda, and now appear to be a team in flux. Only days after their Game 3 loss, the team announced the departures of goaltender Frida Axell (to Rögle of the NDHL), forward Reece Hunt, and star winger Viivi Vainikka who immediately signed with Brynäs. Starting goaltender Sara Grahn has a year left on her current contract, but at 36 has begun to show some wear and tear. She will potentially be backed up by youngster Lovisa Lundström, who has put together a series of strong seasons in the NDHL and won silver with Team Sweden at the 2024 U-18 World Championships. Stars Jenni Hiirikoski, Petra Nieminen and Sarah Bujold are locked in for the coming season, and Jaycee Magwood signed a two-year extension in January. Questions remain for other big names: Emma Nordin, Linnéa Johansson, Nadia Mattivi, Akane Shiga and Johanna Fällman are all reportedly speaking to the club but have yet to re-sign. Whether LHF will attempt to extend imports Camryn Wong and Savannah Norcross remains to be seen. Luleå’s reliance on imports this season might be concerning: 10 of the team’s top 12 scorers were not Swedish, and only two Swedes tallied more than 7 points across the entire 2024-25 campaign. It will be interesting to see if the club places more emphasis on promoting from within next season.
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