Story Summary
HV71 are considering possible additions as their difficult SHL start continues, with Johan Hult saying the club must identify changes within the group. The side sit bottom of the league following a heavy defeat by Frölunda and have conceded 45 goals across 12 matches, the highest total in the SHL.
A new coach and a largely rebuilt squad have not yet produced an improvement in results. Hult said there was scope for change, both through supporting the existing players and coaches and through examining options outside the current group.
Key Facts
- Johan Hult said HV71 have scope to make changes and must find ways to alter the group.
- HV71 are bottom of the SHL after a heavy defeat by Frölunda.
- HV71 have conceded 45 goals in 12 matches, the highest total in the league.
- The club have a new coach and a squad that has been substantially reshaped.
- Hult said the transfer window remains open until 15 February.
- Hult said any move must account for the available market, the club’s finances and other factors.
IHM Discussion
The defensive record is the clearest issue confronting HV71. Conceding at the league’s highest rate leaves little margin for error, particularly for a team already anchored at the foot of the table. Calls for reinforcements have focused especially on a blue line described as thin.
Hult did not present a signing as certain. Instead, he described a process that includes work with the current squad, support for players and coaches, and a watch on the transfer market. That distinction matters: the club acknowledge the need for change, while retaining the practical limits imposed by availability and finance.
The forthcoming international break is traditionally a point at which SHL clubs reassess their squads. HV71 may also face a shortage of bodies during the World Junior Championship period, although no specific players were named.
Why It Matters
HV71’s position makes this more than an ordinary early-season search for improvement. The club are trying to halt a run of poor results while addressing a defensive record that is currently worse than any other team in the SHL.
The transfer window gives HV71 time, but it does not guarantee a solution. Any addition must be available, affordable and capable of helping a side whose immediate need is to become harder to score against.
Mini Q&A
Why are HV71 considering changes?
HV71 are bottom of the SHL and have conceded a league-high 45 goals in 12 matches.
Has HV71 confirmed a new signing?
No. Johan Hult said the club are considering changes, but stressed that the market and financial circumstances must be considered.
When does the transfer window close?
Hult said the transfer window is open until 15 February.
Coach Mark Comment
Forty-five goals against in 12 games gives every defensive mistake more weight. When a team is conceding at that rate, the players on the blue line can start forcing plays because they feel every rush may decide the night. That usually makes exits and coverage less settled, not more.
Hult’s willingness to look at both internal adjustments and new faces is the sensible part. HV71 need the defenders they have to play with more certainty now, while the club decide whether the market offers somebody who genuinely strengthens that group.
What Comes Next
HV71 can continue to assess potential changes while the transfer window remains open until 15 February. The international break also offers a natural point for the club to review its options.
IHM Final View
HV71 have recognised that their current course is not working, but Hult stopped short of promising a signing. With the SHL’s worst defensive record and last place in the table, the need is plain; whether the club can find an appropriate and affordable solution remains open.