Story Summary
Timrå face a testing season after forwards Jonathan Dahlén and Emil Pettersson left for Switzerland, taking 101 points and 45 goals between them from last season’s squad. The exits, together with departures of Alfons Freij and Sebastian Hartmann, force other players to step up. New head coach Mikael Gath, in his first SHL head-coaching role, has emphasised a hard-working identity. Anton Wedin has accepted responsibility to increase his offensive output, while the club have brought in several new forwards. Timrå were also the league’s least efficient shooting team last season, converting just 9.1% of their shots, and collapsed late in 2025/26 to finish 12th – concerns that have left many predicting a difficult season.
Key Facts
- Jonathan Dahlén and Emil Pettersson have left Timrå to play in Switzerland.
- Dahlén and Pettersson combined for 101 points last season and together scored 45 goals.
- Timrå also lost Alfons Freij and Sebastian Hartmann; Hartmann recorded 20 points last season and has signed for Djurgården after terminating his contract.
- New head coach Mikael Gath has been appointed; this is his first role as an SHL head coach after previous experience as an assistant.
- Anton Wedin (33) said the team must work hard and that he expects to be among those to step up offensively.
- Timrå signed forwards Otto Kivenmäki, Reid Gardiner, Dylan McLaughlin and Lucas Forsell; the Växjö duo Gardiner and McLaughlin combined for 26 goals and 42 points last season.
- Timrå’s goaltending group includes Jacob Johansson and newcomer Frederik Dichow.
- Timrå scored the third-fewest goals in the SHL last season and were the league’s least efficient team, scoring on 9.1% of shots.
- Timrå endured a late-season collapse in 2025/26: four wins in the last 17 matches and seven consecutive games without points to finish 12th.
- Jeremy Boyce retired after 835 senior games for Timrå and will join the club’s office.
- Team statistics for 2025/26: 12th place, 63 points, goal difference -21 (127-148). Powerplay 26.6% (6th), penalty kill 69.5% (11th).
- Jonathan Dahlén was Timrå’s top scorer in 2025/26 with 55 points (30+25).
IHM Discussion
The departure of Dahlén and Pettersson is Timrå’s clearest near-term challenge. Losing two players who combined for 101 points and 45 goals removes finishing ability and established power-play chemistry. Anton Wedin has acknowledged that he must be among those to increase their output after a 12-point season disrupted by injury. He recorded 40 points the previous season, while Timrå have also added several forwards expected to contribute offensively.
Mikael Gath’s arrival signals a reset in approach as well as personnel. Wedin says the new coach has stressed hard work and a clear leadership style, with Timrå aiming to become one of the league’s toughest opponents. That identity may help the side become more competitive, but it will not by itself replace the production lost with Dahlén and Pettersson. Timrå’s season will hinge on whether the new group can improve its finishing and establish productive combinations.
Why It Matters
Timrå’s slide from mid-table in January to 12th place last season, combined with the loss of two leading scorers, reshapes expectations for the club this year. The team’s offensive inefficiency means marginal gains in finishing or clearer deployment of attacking players could have an outsized effect on results. Conversely, if new signings and internal leaders fail to replace production, Timrå risk another season spent fighting to secure SHL status. The coaching change increases the stakes: Gath’s ability to forge a resilient collective will be central if Timrå are to avoid the negative qualifier predicted by some commentators.
Mini Q&A
Who have Timrå lost ahead of the season?
Jonathan Dahlén and Emil Pettersson have left the club to play in Switzerland. Timrå also lost Alfons Freij and Sebastian Hartmann, the latter moving to Djurgården after terminating his contract.
How much production did Dahlén and Pettersson provide last season?
The two combined for 101 points and accounted for 45 goals between them last season.
Who is the new head coach and what is his message?
Mikael Gath has been appointed head coach; it is his first SHL head-coaching role. He has emphasised hard work and wants Timrå to be one of the toughest teams to play against.
Which arrivals are expected to help replace scoring?
Timrå have added Otto Kivenmäki, Reid Gardiner, Dylan McLaughlin and Lucas Forsell among forwards. Goaltender Frederik Dichow is also a newcomer to the squad.
What were Timrå’s main problems last season?
Timrå were the SHL’s least efficient shooting team, scoring on only 9.1% of their shots, scored the third-fewest goals and suffered a late-season collapse to finish 12th.
Coach Mark Comment
Timrå’s replacement for lost scoring must be collective rather than reliant on one player. Gath’s hard-working identity should give the team a base, but improved finishing and effective line combinations will be just as important if the new group is to turn possession into goals.
What Comes Next
Timrå’s form at the season start and the early run of matches will be the immediate checkpoints for whether the new coaching message and the incoming players can make up for the departures. Observers will also watch special teams conversion and Wedin’s personal scoring progress in the opening weeks.
IHM Final View
Timrå enter the season with a clear problem and a clear prescription. The loss of Dahlén and Pettersson is tangible and significant; the answer will lie in a blend of hard work, tactical clarity from Mikael Gath and meaningful contributions from both established players and new signings. If Timrå can increase shooting efficiency and build a cohesive collective, they can avoid a relegation fight. If not, the concerns voiced after last season’s collapse will likely persist.