Henrik Gradin sees the circle of loans in the search for SHL
Last year, the HV71 loaned goalkeeper played to the highest league.
And this year, the Djurgården loanee, from the SHL, is about to do the same.
The system is crazy. And it became apparent last year when the HV71 took off, says Henrik Gradin, general manager of Modo Hockey.
Allsvenskan hockey final: all about Modo-Djurgården • TV Times
For several years now, hockey teams have been able to name a third goalie to their team to reduce goalkeepers’ vulnerability to injuries. It is often only a theoretical action and has no mathematical impact on the outcome of matches.
But in 2022 it is different. And in 2023, too.
A year ago, HV71, then in Hockeyallsvenskan, chose to invest in loanee Adam Aumann, who had played the entire season for the Växjö Lakers in the SHL, as the last outstopper at the end of the Final 5 and the entire Final. First goalkeeper Jonas Gunnarsson was injured and when Philip Larsson didn’t look well, they bet on Växjö goalkeeper. Aumann was ferocious in the Final Six, stopping 34 of 36 shots, and finally had to celebrate as HV71 won in overtime and was promoted to the SHL.
This spring Djurgården suffered two vacancies when goalkeepers Carl Lindbom and Matt Galajda were replaced and now they are betting on the third loaned goalkeeper, goalkeeper Jesper Myrenberg, who plays every day for SHL club Linköping. Myrenberg and Djurgården are now on three straight wins and last Thursday knocked out Björkloven in an interesting semi-final series.
“Not as good as it is today”
Now Djurgården will face Modo in the final, which starts on Sunday. It is uncertain whether Lindbohm or Galagda will be healthy by Sunday, nor is it clear which goalkeeper wants to bet on whether all goalkeepers are healthy.
The controversial third goalkeeper system. Modo’s general manager, Henrik Gradin, wants to see change.
– Yes, but it is not as good as it is today. No shadow on Djurgården or HV71. They just follow the regulations and we also tried to name a good goalkeeper from the SHL, but failed. Henrik Gradin says the system itself is crazy and it’s not as good as it is today.
He wants goalkeepers not to be able to call them up from the higher division.
– The nicest thing is that SHL can name a goalkeeper from Hockeyallsvenskan and Hockeyallsvenskan can bring in an extra goalkeeper from Hockeyettan. I think you should be able to borrow an extra goalkeeper and not have to rely on a rookie goalkeeper. We have to respect the fact that some teams in Hockeyallsvenskan barely have any junior activities and then you have to be able to use a backup card, says Gradin.
Allsvenskan Hockey Final: All about Modo-Djurgården • TV Times
