Story Summary
Davos will leave defencemen Dominik Egli and Frédéric Allard out of their trip to Sweden for an away game against the Ängelholm-based side. The absences are not injury-related: the pair have been advised not to enter Sweden because of tax considerations.
Both players recently left Swedish hockey after multi-season spells with former SHL clubs. They are reported to have received sign-off bonuses, payments made when a player leaves the country, from those previous employers. Their presence in Sweden could create a risk of Swedish taxation connected to those payments.
Davos have therefore opted not to take either player across the border. It is the same reason Egli and Allard missed Davos’s meeting with Skellefteå on 12 September, which Skellefteå won 6-2.
Key Facts
- Dominik Egli and Frédéric Allard will not play for Davos in its away game in Sweden against the Ängelholm-based opposition.
- Their absences are for tax reasons, not because of injuries or other medical issues.
- The pair are reported to have received sign-off bonuses from their former SHL clubs after leaving Sweden.
- The players need to remain outside Sweden for six months because of the potential tax implications, prompting Davos not to take them on the trip.
- Egli and Allard also missed Davos’s 12 September game against Skellefteå, which Skellefteå won 6-2.
- Egli returned to Davos after two seasons with Frölunda on a six-year contract. The 28-year-old has four points, all assists, in nine NL games this season.
IHM Discussion
The situation creates an unusual availability issue for Davos. This is not a conventional selection decision and does not reflect either player’s fitness; it is a restriction tied specifically to travel into Sweden.
That distinction matters because the club have already dealt with the same problem this season. Egli and Allard were unavailable for the trip to Skellefteå in September, and Davos have again kept both defencemen out of Sweden rather than risk a tax complication connected to their exits from the SHL.
Egli has supplied four assists through nine NL appearances after returning to Davos, while Allard has posted a goal and an assist over the same number of games. Those early contributions underline that Davos are losing two active members of their blue line for this particular journey, rather than players who have been outside the regular group.
Why It Matters
For Davos, the key point is that the limitation applies to Swedish travel rather than to the players’ overall playing status. Egli and Allard remain part of the club’s squad, but the tax position means they cannot be used for games requiring entry into Sweden during the relevant period.
It also shows how off-ice arrangements can affect European fixtures. A player’s departure from a previous league can continue to shape availability after he has signed with a new club, particularly where cross-border travel is involved.
Mini Q&A
Why are Dominik Egli and Frédéric Allard missing the Sweden trip?
They are being kept out of Sweden for tax reasons linked to reported sign-off bonuses from their former SHL clubs. Their absences are not medical.
Have the two Davos defencemen missed a Swedish game before?
Yes. Both were absent when Davos played Skellefteå on 12 September, a game Skellefteå won 6-2, for the same reason.
What have Egli and Allard produced for Davos this season?
Egli has four assists in nine NL games, while Allard has one goal and one assist in nine appearances.
IHM Final View
Davos’s decision is a practical response to a specific tax issue, not an injury update. Egli and Allard have both contributed during the opening nine NL games, but neither will be part of the travelling group for this Swedish fixture.