HV71 Tops SHL Cost-Per-Point Table at 3.55 Million Kronor

Skellefteå's hockey team won the Swedish Championship gold, and the annual report by accounting firm Ernst & Young shows that the Västerbotten club gets the most out of its player squad - also financially.

Skellefteå has the lowest personnel costs, at SEK 1.61 million per recorded point.

Växjö and Malmö also show high cost efficiency, according to EY.

HV71's cost per point won is more than twice as high as Skellefteå's - SEK 3.55 million. HV's recorded points were the most expensive in the SHL even the previous season.

The average in the SHL is SEK 2.44 million for each point scored.

Third qualifying round in a row

Five-time Swedish Championship gold medallist HV71 finished second to last in the regular season last season and was forced to play in the playoffs for the third year in a row to retain its SHL spot.

Personnel costs include all other personnel in addition to the playing squad. Färjestad has the highest personnel costs, at SEK 155 million per season.

EY's analysis shows that the finances of SHL clubs were strengthened last season by increased turnover, improved operating profit and greater total equity.

At the same time, personnel costs continue to rise and constitute an average of 61 percent of costs.

SHL backs

Overall, the SHL clubs went down, with operating profit showing minus SEK 6 million. This is an improvement of SEK 10 million compared with the previous season. A total of 6 out of 14 clubs had a negative result.

However, all clubs are above the licensing requirement of 5 percent of turnover.

Färjestad continues to have the highest equity, at SEK 161 million, while Timrå has the lowest, at SEK 7.8 million.

EY's analysis is that SHL's financial development shows a positive trend, but rising personnel costs indicate a need for long-term cost control.

1. HV71 SEK 3.55 million. Placement in the regular season: 13th.

2. Färjestad 3.33. Position in the regular season: 5th.

3. Leksand 3.08. Position: 14, relegated to Allsvenskan.

4. Luleå 2.86. Position: 7.

5. Linköping 2.76. Ranking: 11.

6. Brynäs 2.69. Placement: 6.

7. Rögle 2.57. Placement: 4.

8. Örebro 2.48. Placement: 10.

Average SHL 2.44.

9. Frölunda 2.26. Placement: 2.

10. Djurgården 2.22. Position: 9.

11. Timrå 2.14. Placement: 12th.

12. Malmö 1.94. Position: 8.

13. Växjö 1.78. Placement: 3.

14. Skellefteå 1.61. Ranking: 1, Swedish champion.

Source: EY.