Some teams go down with two injuries.
Färjestad is picking up wins despite losing a few key players.
Which is impressive – and watch out for this team in the playoffs.
There has been a lot of talk about Växjö and Skellefteå this season.
But the question is whether Färjestad’s performance is quite on par with that of the two big teams?
The question is whether golden coach Thomas Mettel does not challenge Jurgen Johnson and Robert Olsson as coach of the season yet? Perhaps I should also mention Niclas Ericsson from Örebro.
Then of course I think of Färjestad’s position in the table compared to the team’s appearance and injury situation during the season.
Because in addition to the injury situation, the spring champions have lost key players such as Dominik Fertsch, Jesse Virtanen, Gustav Rydal, Jacob de la Rose and the long-term injured Mikael Wikstrand. In addition to established players such as Matt Tomkins and Phil Boca, they have added four new Allsvenskan acquisitions.
However, the team, apart from a slight slump during Theodor Linström’s absence, only pressed on and shadowed Växjö and Skellefteå in the table.
Wallen was adamant
Against Brynäs, heavy names like Per Åslund, Victor Ejdsell, Linus Johansson and Henrik Björklund.
However, it was another victory.
eighth in nine games.
Several times Mettel made expansive looks to sporting director Rijkaard Wallen that the team needed a revamp.
But Wallen was adamant.
Develop and work with available materials, was the message.
Something Mitchell really did.
The only signature that was signed was that Jum Malmö rated Erik Engstrand, who is in the fourth series. Against Brynäs there was a junior next to Engstrand. The fact that the market was tight was certainly the reason for Wallen’s actions, but I also love that you have the courage to send that message. But the prerequisite for its work is, of course, a coach who can work and develop the existing material.
Perhaps it would have been better once again to get three points against a surprisingly tough Brynäs side in this match. Now Färjestad was still in trouble after two slightly random goals from Jacob Blomqvist, but then Theodor Lennström stepped forward and decided.
Looking from day two onwards, Färjestad had points in all nine matches and won eight of them.
Although the injury condition hit the team hard.
A new golden celebration in Karlstad is absolutely not excluded
Linus Johansson and Henrik Bjorklund did not play at all during this period. Ejdsell and Slund did not play in the last matches.
Former national team defender Mikael Wikstrand has been plagued by injury all season. Star fullback Theodor Linström missed twelve games and so on.
Injuries affect all teams during the SHL season – the big difference is how different teams handle difficult periods in which they lose several key players.
Two main things come into play: 1) A good base game where everyone knows what to do and they do it too, everything from backchecking to playing in their own zone. Something that creates stability to win games even on days when the offensive edge is missing.
2) Not finding excuses in the fact that established players are injured, but viewing it as an opportunity for others to step forward. A bit like against Brynäs where Allsvenskan signed Marcus Westfält stepped forward and scored the opening goal, he also played power and was scored for almost 19 minutes. Willie, the 17-year-old son of legend Matthias Johansson, made his SHL debut and played nearly nine minutes. To name two examples.
Thomas Mettel has transformed a cheerful but uneven Färjestad team into perhaps the most stable team in the series.
How good will Färjestad be when all the players are back and director Wallin has some new acquisitions before February 15th?
Yes, you are guaranteed to be an unpleasant team in this match as well.
I do not in any way exclude that there will be a new golden celebration in Karlstad. At least if Theodore Linstrom is allowed to be complete.