+ Can Modo go up – without a parachute?
Without major clubs like HV71, Brynäs and Djurgården in the series, many see the chance this season. Modo of course wants to return to SHL directly. New for this year is that the SHL-relegated team does not have a parachute of six million kronor with them down from SHL, which gives the competitors a better chance.
Modo has been able to keep profiles such as team captain David Rundblad, defensive colleague Victor Berglund and forward star Jesper Olofsson.
In addition, they snatched forward star Gerry Fitzgerald from competitor AIK and have brought in forward Tyler Kelleher from Djurgården.
The sharp forward has been involved in playing up Djurgården, Brynäs and HV71 to SHL.
+ Södertälje's veteran investment – and rumors about Omark
Former NHL and national team star Andreas Johansson is making a comeback on the bench and has brought in some well-known veterans in Leksand's team captain Patrik Zackrisson, 38, and defender Jonas Ahnelöv, 37. Additionally, there are rumors that Luleå icon Linus Omark, 38, will be lured with a giant salary. Omark left Luleå after the SM gold in the spring.
+ AIK's fiasco
AIK hopes to ride on last season's Roger Melin effect, which was close to taking the team to SHL. However, this summer's headlines have been about the communication fiasco when not just one but two veterans were dumped – without being notified.
Defender Filip Windlert, 32, and Eric Norin, 33, waited for a decision before finally getting tired. Windlert has signed a short-term contract with Södertälje until October, while Eric Norin, 33, is clubless.
We should have done that better, said sports manager Lasse Johansson to Expressen earlier in the week.
+ Derby-packed in Småland
Tingsryd was relegated from hockeyallsvenskan last season – but since Troja-Ljungby took the step up, there are still five teams from Småland in the series.
This means plenty of derby parties.
The premiere round offers two – Vimmerby–Troja and Nybro–Oskarshamn.
+ New rules are being tested
Four new rules are being tested in hockeyallsvenskan. The most interesting one is that the attacking team is not allowed to play the puck out of the attacking zone in overtime. If they do, there will be a face-off in the defending team's defensive zone, and if it happens again, there will be a penalty. The rule change is made so that teams do not reorganize and thus slow down the pace.
+ Premiere round:
Friday: Södertälje–Bik Karlskoga, Vimmerby–Troja-Ljungby, AIK–Västerås, Nybro–Oskarshamn, Almtuna–Kalmar, Modo–Östersund, Mora–Björklöven (all 19.00)
+ TV
TV4 Play.
