SHL 2026-27 Season Preview, Predictions & Title Contenders
The 2026-27 SHL season shapes up to be highly competitive, but Skellefteå AIK are the clear regular season favorites after retaining most of their elite core. While rivals Rögle, Frölunda, Färjestad, Luleå, and Brynäs have made notable offseason moves, they also face key uncertainties in their rosters. Linköping, Malmö, and promoted Björklöven are tipped as teams with strong potential to climb. At the bottom, HV71 and Timrå appear most at risk for relegation. Skellefteå’s consistency and depth make them the safest championship pick.
- Skellefteå AIK are the clear favorites, retaining most of their core.
- Rögle, Frölunda, and Färjestad pose serious but uncertain threats.
- HV71 and Timrå are most at risk of relegation, while Björklöven could surprise.
SHL 2026-27 Season Preview - Can Anyone Stop Skellefteå?
The 2026-27 SHL season looks wide open, but Skellefteå AIK enter as the safest regular-season pick.
- SHL 2026-27 Season Preview - Can Anyone Stop Skellefteå?
- SHL Championship Odds - Updated
- The Main Title Contenders
- The Top-Six Battle
- The Teams That Could Climb
- The Play-In and Relegation Picture
While several rivals have undergone significant changes, Skellefteå have retained most of their core. Linus Söderström and Strauss Mann remain in goal, Jonathan Pudas leads the defence and Oscar Lindberg, Rickard Hugg, Pär Lindholm, Jonathan Johnson and Andreas Johnson give the forward group plenty of established quality.
Oliver Okuliar is a notable loss, but there are fewer obvious weaknesses here than anywhere else in the league.
SHL Championship Odds - Updated
| Team | SHL Championship Odds |
|---|---|
| Skellefteå AIK | $5.00 |
| Frölunda HC | $6.00 |
| Färjestad BK | $6.00 |
| Rögle BK | $7.00 |
| Luleå HF | $9.00 |
| Brynäs IF | $9.00 |
| Växjö Lakers HC | $13.00 |
| Örebro HK | $19.00 |
| IF Malmö Redhawks | $34.00 |
| Linköping HC | $34.00 |
| HV71 | $41.00 |
| Djurgårdens IF | $41.00 |
| IF Björklöven | $41.00 |
| Timrå IK | $51.00 |
Odds by StarSports - correct as of 13-08-2026.
The Main Title Contenders
Rögle are the biggest threat to Skellefteå. Calle Clang replacing Christoffer Rifalk creates uncertainty in goal, but Ludvig Claesson, Nate Clurman and Axel Kumlin strengthen the defence, while Joel Kellman and Oskar Jellvik add to an already strong attack. If the goaltending works, Rögle can win the regular season.
Frölunda have made some of the summer's biggest moves by adding Samuel Fagemo, Patrik Puistola and Oskar Olausson. However, Ivar Stenberg, Jere Innala, Arttu Ruotsalainen, Linus Weissbach and Dominik Egli are significant departures. Lars Johansson and Henrik Tömmernes keep the floor high, but the new forward group needs to click.
Färjestad also have first-place potential. Marcus Johansson and Victor Ejdsell add more quality to an already talented attack, but David Tomasek, Luke Philp, Lucas Forsell and Joel Kellman have left. The defence currently looks thinner than the other leading contenders, which keeps Färjestad fourth in the prediction.
The Top-Six Battle
Luleå's case is built around defence. Joel Lassinantti remains in goal and the core of Erik Gustafsson, Oscar Engsund, Olle Sellgren, Otto Leskinen and Arttu Laaksonen gives them a strong foundation. Valtteri Puustinen, Joona Koppanen and Isac Brännström are useful additions, although replacing Linus Omark's creativity will be difficult. Fifth looks realistic.
Brynäs have considerably more volatility. Nicklas Bäckström, Jakob Silfverberg, Johan Larsson, Anton Rödin, Oskar Lindblom and the rest of an experienced forward group give them top-three potential. Age, injuries and uncertainty in goal are the reasons they could also slide. If the veterans stay healthy, sixth could prove conservative.
The Teams That Could Climb
Linköping have arguably won the offseason. Marcus Högberg solves the biggest problem in goal, Linus Hultström improves the defence and Brendan Shinnimin, Cooper Marody and Tim Söderlund provide more depth around a group already featuring Jakub Vrána, Fredrik Karlström, Herman Nybeck, Theodor Lennström and Oscar Fantenberg.
Replacing Robin Kovács' production and adapting to new head coach Anders Karlsson are the main questions, but Linköping have the greatest potential to climb from last season.
Växjö are harder to judge. Peter Cehlarik, Matias Mäntykivi and Sebastian Aho are quality additions, but the roster still appears unfinished. Another major signing could move them several positions higher.
Malmö are the underrated team. Oliwer Kaski, Klas Dahlbeck, Jonathan Myrenberg and Peter DiLiberatore significantly improve the defence, while there is enough established quality up front to challenge for the top six.
The Play-In and Relegation Picture
Örebro and Djurgården look more likely to battle around the play-in positions than challenge the leading group. Örebro have improved their defence and goaltending but need to replace the production lost through Patrik Puistola and Teemu Turunen. Djurgården look more experienced and SHL-ready, although perhaps less explosive after losing several high-upside offensive players.
Newcomers Björklöven have built an unusually strong promoted roster. Lucas Wallmark, Chris DiDomenico and Phil Di Giuseppe provide quality up front, while the defence has been heavily upgraded. The challenge will be integrating so many new players while stepping up from HockeyAllsvenskan. Survival should be realistic, with the play-in a genuine upside scenario.
HV71 and Timrå carry the greatest relegation risk. HV71 have changed their entire goaltending group and still lack an obvious high-end offensive producer.
Timrå have lost Jonathan Dahlén, Emil Pettersson and Sebastian Hartmann, along with Tim Juel and several defencemen. There is talent among the replacements, but too many things need to work immediately. They are the pick to finish last.
From when he was a little fella he has played most sports ranging from rugby, ice hockey, tennis and football, just to name a few. His interest in analytics and statistics helps him find the edge while writing previews and being a regular tipster.
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