Niklas Olasson will be staying in Luleå
Niklas Olsson, 36, returned to the SHL and was behind Lulea’s promotion.
But the club did not want to part with the veteran.
– If they find the 14 strikers who can help the team more than me, that’s fun, he says.
Luleå’s season ended on Tuesday after Norbotings’ seventh and decisive quarter-final loss away to Växjö.
On Thursday, the club announced the departure of 11 players for the next season.
One of them is Niklas Olsson – who would have liked to stay.
– I have never refused to play in Lulea again in my whole life, but now it will not be so. I completely understand that they want to take back, because they are not satisfied after finishing the 10th. Nor should they be. They rebuilt and found the 14 strikers who can help the team more than me, it’s fun. This does not detract from the fact that you would have loved to have played another year. But that also doesn’t mean I have to stop if someone else wants one, he says.
He returned from Austria
This is the second time the veteran has received a negative message. After the 2020/2021 season he also did not get a renewed contract with Luleå and instead moved to Europe and Swiss Visp.
Almost two months ago, the 36-year-old returned to Norrbotten on the final day of the transfer window having most recently played for Austria’s Graz.
Then Lulia was on fire in the table and obscene tongues claimed that the direction indicated a negative qualifying match.
But with Olausson on the team, the team soared and finally managed to crawl into the playoffs as the last team. Olson himself scored seven points in 16 games.
– It was so much fun coming home. I still think I helped the team and you should be proud of that, he says.
“Why should I stop now?”
Given how it went, that you played well and were a major player in the playoffs, was there any hope of staying?
– If you offered me a lolia and I felt that I was not good enough, I would have no problems stepping aside. But I feel like it’s been fun with another year and my teeth are a little bloody. If you had called me in December, I would have said that this is probably my last year. But when you feel you can help teams at this level… why should I quit now? It feels kinda weird.
Do you think it was fun to play because you did it for “your club” or can you imagine representing another club in the SHL as long as you can play hockey?
– That’s how it is. I have two teams, Luleå and Tingsryd. There is no talk of that. So, I have all the respect for Leo. Now it won’t be Luleå, but I want to keep playing the way it feels right now. I will do everything in my power to be ready for whatever club it may be. I will not delete anything.
A role was offered
You are highly appreciated by fans in Lulia. Did you get any reaction from the fans following today’s announcement?
– I’ve received text messages and such. It must be said that it is great fun. It goes straight to the heart. In this sport, you are criticized and sometimes praised when you do something well. I really wanted to go home when I had the chance, but you’re also putting your reputation on the line. It was possible that I did not continue, because I was incompetent. When you’ve been able to work together as a team, we’ve done so well these past few months, and you feel so comfortable and joyful about that. That’s what I wanted.
In connection with the departure of Niklas Olsson, Lulea Hockey announced that the club is discussing a future role for the veteran in the association.
It was great to hear that they wanted to keep one at the club. But yeah… you have to land first if you want to continue playing. I now feel more like a hockey player than a captain/whatever.
