The Joy is Back with the Star: "I Have a Damn Drive"

The eyes shine and the laughter comes often. Brynäs star Jakob Silfverberg has found joy again after moving home from NHL. I've felt more energetic than in many years, says the 33-year-old.

» Published:

The Joy is Back with the Star: "I Have a Damn Drive"
Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TT

Share this article

Expectations are high for the homecomer.

Not so strange when Jakob Silfverberg is so closely associated with Brynäs' latest SM gold in 2012, when he scored the gold goal and dominated greatly.

One is reminded of it frequently when one is at home. It is clear that it has stuck as a strong memory for many. It's fun, it was a special goal for me and for Gävle.

Hottest and Best

Silfverberg is seen by many as both the hottest new acquisition in SHL and the league's best player.

Together with three other merited homecomers, the defensemen Christian Djoos (currently injured), Victor Söderström, and the forward Oskar Lindblom, Brynäs is to establish itself after all the tough years leading up to the relegation.

Silfverberg is bursting with energy, unlike the last twelve NHL seasons, eleven of which were in Anaheim.

He says that the joy disappeared at the same time as Anaheim got worse and his role in the team became smaller and more defensive.

I have a hunger far beyond what it has been the last 3-4 years over there, I feel that I have a damn drive in my body and it has shown in the fitness tests that it looks really good, he says.

"It doesn't feel good"

He thinks that last season, when he wanted to finish nicely and prepare for his homecoming, was a step in the right direction.

He has lost seven kilos during the summer and is looking forward to again getting an offensive role.

It feels super fun. It was also why I felt last season that I really had to take a grip. Coming home means expectations, not just from myself but from the team and people around. I think I still have that potential.

He puts words to the last few years:

I didn't have the same glow and fire, not the same drive. It went in the wrong direction, it doesn't feel good.

Now he is home in a Gävle where the atmosphere around Brynäs has changed during the winning streak last season in front of a record audience.

So where do you set the bar in the SHL comeback? Brynäs is not just any ordinary newcomer, but Swedish hockey's second-most winning champion (13 SM gold)?

It feels hard to call Brynäs a newcomer, it doesn't taste right in the mouth. But it's about being humble. It's going to be a tough task, at the same time we're all here to win. We've said within the group that we want to be in the fight for the playoffs, he says.

2023-24: Modo, eleventh place.

2022-23: HV71, eleventh place.

2021-22: Timrå, last, new contract after qualifying win over Djurgården.

2020-21: no newcomer.

2019-20: Oskarshamn last, qualifying cancelled due to the pandemic.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Ragnar Carlsson Falls Short in World Championship Hammer Throw Qualifiers

Ragnar Carlsson Falls Short in World Championship Hammer Throw Qualifiers

Suldan Hassan Targets Olympic Gold at Los Angeles 2028

Suldan Hassan Targets Olympic Gold at Los Angeles 2028

Germany Wins European Basketball Championship After 32-Year Wait

Germany Wins European Basketball Championship After 32-Year Wait

Roony Bardghji Debuts for Barcelona in 6-0 Win Over Valencia

Roony Bardghji Debuts for Barcelona in 6-0 Win Over Valencia

Haaland Shines as Man City Dominates Manchester Derby 3-0

Haaland Shines as Man City Dominates Manchester Derby 3-0

Tour of Spain Final Stage Canceled Amid Protests in Madrid

Tour of Spain Final Stage Canceled Amid Protests in Madrid

Oliver Solberg Wins First WRC2 World Championship Title

Oliver Solberg Wins First WRC2 World Championship Title

Elfsborg Stages Comeback to Draw 2-2 with Malmö in Allsvenskan Match

Elfsborg Stages Comeback to Draw 2-2 with Malmö in Allsvenskan Match

Finland Narrowly Misses Bronze in European Basketball Championship

Finland Narrowly Misses Bronze in European Basketball Championship

Alex Norén Wins PGA Championship at Wentworth After Playoff Victory

Alex Norén Wins PGA Championship at Wentworth After Playoff Victory

Jamaica Wins First Men's 100m World Championship Gold Since Bolt

Jamaica Wins First Men's 100m World Championship Gold Since Bolt

Kajsa Bergqvist Emotional Over Almgren's World Championship Bronze

Kajsa Bergqvist Emotional Over Almgren's World Championship Bronze

Stockholm Derby Ends in Dramatic 3-3 Draw as Djurgården Scores Late

Stockholm Derby Ends in Dramatic 3-3 Draw as Djurgården Scores Late

Rolfö Shines with Assist in Super League Debut for Manchester United

Rolfö Shines with Assist in Super League Debut for Manchester United

Andreas Almgren Wins Historic Bronze in 10,000m at World Championships

Andreas Almgren Wins Historic Bronze in 10,000m at World Championships

Rosengård Suffers Fourth Straight Loss in 2-1 Defeat to AIK

Rosengård Suffers Fourth Straight Loss in 2-1 Defeat to AIK

Maja Åskag Places Ninth in World Championship Long Jump Final

Maja Åskag Places Ninth in World Championship Long Jump Final

Alexander Isak Misses Liverpool Debut in Win Over Burnley

Alexander Isak Misses Liverpool Debut in Win Over Burnley

Ricky Hatton, Two-Time World Champion Boxer, Dies at 46

Ricky Hatton, Two-Time World Champion Boxer, Dies at 46

Vanessa Kamga Sets Double Swedish Records and Stays in Japan

Vanessa Kamga Sets Double Swedish Records and Stays in Japan