+ Stars back from the NHL
Marcus Johansson's return to Färjestad after 16 seasons in the NHL is the most spectacular transfer of the summer. The 35-year-old Olympic forward, with his majestic skating, returns home after his second-highest scoring season in the NHL with Minnesota last year, 49 points (15 goals + 34 assists).
Another star returnee is Calle Järnkrok, who returns to Brynäs after 13 NHL seasons.
Both have won Swedish Championship gold with their clubs, and the gold hopes in Karlstad and Gävle have increased significantly.
+ Djurgården's heavy loss
As usual, however, the flow in the opposite direction, from the SHL to North America, is significantly greater. Among others, World Championship forward Ivar Stenberg is leaving Frölunda after being drafted second overall by San Jose this summer.
The biggest loser is Djurgården, who are losing four talents to the NHL: World Championship forward Anton Frondell, Victor Eklund, World Championship centre Viggo Björck and Marcus Nordmark. Not least the latter two, both only 18 years old, the club had hoped to keep for another season.
+ The Foote scandal shakes Färjestad
On July 28, Cal Foote was announced as a new signing for Färjestad - two days later, the club parted ways with the Canadian, who never had time to set foot in Karlstad. The storm over the decision to sign the defenceman became too great. In 2025, Foote, along with four others from Canada's gold medal-winning team at the 2018 World Junior Championships, was accused of sexual assault against a woman, but was acquitted.
+ Protests against the sponsor
Red Bull stepped in as a sponsor in the SHL ahead of last season to the loud protests of many supporters. This summer, the protests have reached the clubs' annual meetings, where members have prompted five clubs - Djurgården, Färjestad, Linköping, Luleå and Frölunda - to pass annual meeting resolutions to counteract the SHL's two-year collaboration with the energy drink giant.
It is Red Bull's history of club ownership in Europe that has prompted fans to protest.
+ New era after “Bulan”
After 33 seasons as a player and coach in Luleå, the Thomas Berglund era came to an end after last season. "Bulan", who was part of Luleå's two Swedish Championship gold medals - in 1996 as a player and in 2025 as a coach - has moved to the German major club Cologne.
The 37-year-old Stockholm native Dennis Hall, who did a good job for three seasons with Allsvenskan side Bik Karlskoga, takes over Luleå.
In total, five clubs have changed head coaches ahead of the season - Niklas Eriksson has left Örebro and will take over HV71, Anders Karlsson is new in Linköping, Mikael Gath in Timrå and Martin Filander in Örebro.
+ The classic club is back
Björklöven are back in the top flight after 25 years in the lower divisions. The Umeå club has brought in two spectacular new signings during the summer. Homegrown centre Lucas Wallmark, 31, is back in Sweden after ten seasons abroad, five of them in the NHL, and scoring star Robin Kovacs, who was long linked with Allsvenskan AIK, finally chose the newcomer.
Are the star signings enough to secure a new contract?
+ The opening round
Saturday 19 September, at 3.15pm: HV71–Malmö, Linköping–Timrå, Frölunda–Växjö, Skellefteå–Brynäs, at 6.00pm: Luleå–Rögle, Färjestad–Örebro, Djurgården–Björklöven.
+ Recent champions and series winners
2025-26: Skellefteå won both the series and Swedish Championship gold.
24-25, series winner: Brynäs, Swedish Championship gold: Luleå.
23-24, series winner: Färjestad, Swedish Championship gold: Skellefteå.
22-23: Vaxjo.
21-22, series winner: Rögle. Swedish Championship gold: Färjestad.
