The change comes after a large majority of the clubs have requested it, writes Västerbottens-Kuriren.
I have not received a motivation from all 14 teams, but from what I have heard, it is a planning thing. I have understanding for it, that teams want to be able to book hotels and flights. The clubs want to know who they will meet earlier, says the Hockeyallsvenska sports manager Erik Ryman to the newspaper.
From and with the spring of 2026, the league leader will face the worst placed team that wins its eighth final in the quarterfinal. The second placed team will face the better ranked eighth final winner, the third placed team will face the sixth and the fourth placed team will face the fifth.
Personally, I have thought that it has been very interesting as we have had it with discussions and media wise good with talk about which team would be chosen, says Ryman.
Hockeyallsvenskan begins on September 19.
