Djurgården's SHL Struggles Persist Amid Key Players' Absence

Djurgården’s hockey team continues its difficult run in the SHL, now without a regulation win in eleven games following a 4-2 loss to Rögle at Hovet. The defeat underscored the team’s challenges, as Rögle took an early 3-0 lead with goals from Lubos Horky, Daniel Zaar, and Josh Dickinson. Djurgården fought back with two goals from Joey LaLeggia, narrowing the score to 3-2, but could not equalize before Horky sealed Rögle’s victory.

A critical factor in Djurgården's struggles is the absence of three star players—Anton Frondell, Victor Eklund, and Viggo Björck—who recently helped Sweden secure gold at the Junior World Championship. Their return has been delayed by complicated travel conditions due to bad weather, leaving coach Robert Kimby eager to see them back on the ice. Kimby emphasized that the team needs to deliver a consistent 60-minute performance to turn the season around. While some players have shown good form, the overall inconsistency is hindering results.

Currently, Djurgården sits eighth in the SHL standings, tied in points with Timrå and Färjestad. The last regular-time victory for Djurgården came on November 25 against Färjestad, with recent points coming only from overtime or shootouts. The team hopes to welcome back its Junior Championship stars soon, possibly in the upcoming game against Örebro, though this remains uncertain.

Coach Kimby’s comments reflect the urgency at Djurgården: "We are missing key players and need them back as soon as possible. We must play a full 60 minutes to improve our standing." As the league progresses, the club’s ability to regain its top talent and stabilize performance will be crucial to ending its winless streak in regulation.