WEEKLY RECAP: FRESH FACES IN FÄRJESTAD

Färjestad

The team from Karlstad made a trio of signings this week, all of which will be first time players for Färjestad.

One of the bigger signings they made was young goaltender Carl Lindbom. The 20 year old Las Vegas prospect had an impressive season with Djurgården as he posted a .930 SV% and a 1.86GAA in 36 games played, he also posted 7 shutouts.

– In addition to being a skilled goalkeeper, Carl Lindbom is a determined and sharp guy who we hope and believe will fit into the culture we want in the club. He is one of the greatest goalkeeping talents that Swedish hockey has produced, says sports manager Rickard Wallin.

Lindbom recently signed a three year entry level contract with the Las Vegas Golden Knights and will be on loan to Färjestad this season. 

Lindbom is not the only NHL draft pick Färjestad signed this week as they have also recruited Carl Dahlström who has spent the past seven seasons in North America playing with Chicago, Winnipeg and Toronto as well as their AHL affiliates. A product of Linköping's junior program, he also played two full seasons with the big club, most recently in 2015. 

– I will come in and contribute with my game that has brought me here, that is, stability at the back. It is above all the defense that has taken me to where I am today, says Carl Dahlström.

Standing 195cm/6'5 and weighing 104kg/229lbs he will be a big body on the blue line for Färjestad this season.

The last of the three signings by Färjestad this week saw them bring in an international player who will be getting his first taste of Swedish hockey this season. 27 year old Czech forward David Tomasek signed with the club this week. He has spent the majority of his career in the Czech league, but has also played in the KHL and Liiga. 

– He is a creative player despite his size and a right-hander and a good powerplay player. He also has the drive to get better and aims to go as far as he can with his hockey, and was very keen to test games in the SHL. We believe we have an environment that allows him to utilize his strengths and make both himself and us better, says Rickard Wallin

MoDo

MoDo was also busy this week making a pair of in league signings as they have recruited both Sam Vigneault from HV71 and Mikael Ruohomaa from Leksand. 

Vigneault started his Swedish career with MoDo in HockeyAllsvenskan during the 2021/22 season before moving to HV71 for the past season. In 52 games he scored 4 goals and added 14 assists with HV71. 

– It will feel great to meet everyone again - the supporters, everyone around the club and of course the guys in the team. I am happy to have signed a two-year contract and look forward to a good season with the team. It feels very good to be back in Örnsköldsvik, it's a place that feels like home for me and my girlfriend, says Sam Vigneault.

Ruohomaa will be entering his third SHL season with a new club as he has spent the past two years playing with Leksand. The 34 year old Finn has scored 16 goals and added 47 assists over the past two seasons.

– I hope we can create a good winning atmosphere in the dressing room and work hard for each other out on the ice, every night. I wanted to stay in the SHL and have heard very good things about Modo, says the Finn.

His contract with MoDo is for next season. 

Leksand

Leksand also signed a pair of players this week, bringing in Lukas Vejdemo and Eddie Larsson. 

Vejdemo comes to them from Djurgården. The 27 year old has had 3 seasons in North America where he played 13 games with the Montréal Canadiens and played with their AHL affiliate. This will be his first season back in the SHL since the 2017/18 season. 

– I am extremely excited and motivated to come to Leksand . I have only heard positive things about the association, the supporters and the village. I'm really looking forward to next season, and since I missed part of last season, it will be fun to be there from the start this year, he says.

Eddie Larsson returns to the league after a season in Finland. The 32 year old veteran brings 12 seasons and 442 games worth of SHL experience with him to Leksand. He spent most of that time with Linköping, where he was also captain during the 2018/19 season. He has also spent time with Växjö, Luleå and MoDo.

– It feels like Leksand is really on the move and I actually think the performance was better than the table position showed, so I hope we can take further steps as a team this year. I want to contribute with a stable defensive game and deliver the puck in a good way to our forwards, says Eddie Larsson.

The new contract is valid for the next two seasons.