Swedish Hockey League Preview & Betting Guide

There was a massive surprise during the 2021-22 season when the most successful team in Sweden, sixteen times champions Djurgårdens IF were relegated to the HockeyAllsvenskan after a 4-0 whitewash in the play-out. Replacing them for the 2022-23 season will be HV71, the five-time Swedish champions who return to the top league.

Ten times SHL champions Farjestad BK are the bookie's pre-season favourites to lift the Le Mat Trophy which is presented to the SHL champions each year, they picked up their tenth title in 2022 which was their first since 2011 after seeing off Luleå HF in a fantastic final series in which they came from behind three times to eventually win 4-3.

Last year's beaten finalists, Luleå HF are towards the top of the pre-season market, they had a very season last campaign, ninety-seven points in the regular season was an excellent return and they won 4-1 in both playoff games on route to the final which they led 3-2 at one point before losing the final two games.

We have specialist European-based hockey fans who will be sharing their SHL Predictions all throughout this season so be sure to see which Swedish Hockey League teams they are tipping today.

When comparing the big three leagues, the KHL, the SHL and the NHL, this league falls in line with the NHL more than the KHL, over the past five seasons 60.6% of favourites have been successful in the SHL, which is not too far of the NHL which is 59.1% with both of those remaining well behind the KHL (64.5%). Home favourites are more favourable with 63% of them winning compared to just 54.2% of favourites on the road which makes sense as home ice advantage can be a big advantage.

Vaxjo is decent at home when favourites, they went on to win 73% of their games over the past five seasons and they are not too bad on the road either with a 62% win rate which means overall they won 69% of their games when favourites. The only team that gets close to them is Lulea who won 72% of their home matches and 60% as favourites on the road with their overall win rate standing at 68%.

Favourites over the last 5 seasons

• 2017-18
  • Home: 60.1% (166-276)
  • Away: 62.1% (54-87)
• 2018-19
  • Home: 62.5% (168-269)
  • Away: 52.1% (49-94)
• 2019-20
  • Home: 66.1% (181-274)
  • Away: 52.9% (46-87)
• 2020-21
  • Home: 63.9% (163-255)
  • Away: 51.4% (56-109)
• 2021-22
  • Home: 62.3% (162-260)
  • Away: 53.4% (55-103)
• Overall
  • Home: 63.0% (840-1334)
  • Away: 54.2% (260-480)

When looking at the underdogs there is only one team who is worth a mention as they have a win rate of 50% when underdogs meaning they could well dish up some value throughout the season. Frolunda is 34-68 as underdogs with all bar one of those also coming on the road. So, have a look at the Swedish ice hockey predictions for today to see if the tipsters are backing either of these teams on the road.

*Favourite statistics only include regular-season games

Here are the last ten regular-season champions and how they went on to perform in the playoffs.

Le Mat Trophy is what the SHL Champions receive and have done so since 1926, the trophy was donated by Raoul Le Mat, the man who brought ice hockey to Sweden and is the oldest trophy in Sweden that is competed for by professional athletes.

Djurgårdens IF lead the way in both final appearances and success, from their twenty-eight finals appearances, they have gone on to be crowned SHL Champions a total of sixteen times giving them a 57% success rate when making the finals, however, their last win came back in 2001 and they have only made two finals since losing both times (2010 & 2019).

Brynäs IF have won thirteen SHL Championships and their success rate when making the final is much better as they have only made eighteen finals meaning they have won 72%.

Färjestad BK along with Djurgårdens IF are the only other team to have made twenty or more finals, however, they have lost more than they have won with ten titles meaning they have lost eleven times.

Who will be crowned Swedish Champions for the 2022-23 season? If you are planning on having an ante-post bet or betting throughout the season then have a read of our Best Bookmaker for Ice Hockey guide.

Here are the past SHL Champions

2022-23 Teams in the SHL

As well as those already mentioned in this blog, we also have these articles looking at the tournaments:

• NHL Eastern Conference
• NHL Western Conference
• NHL Winter Classic