Story Summary
HV71 sporting director Johan Hult has confirmed that Lawrence Pilut and David Gustafsson are among the players the club want to remain close to as it plans for next season. Both former HV71 players have expiring contracts, with Pilut playing in Switzerland and Gustafsson in the AHL.
Hult said HV71 want to reduce their number of imports to some extent and identify more Swedish players. He described Pilut and Gustafsson as particularly attractive names for the Jönköping club, both in the immediate future and over a longer horizon.
Key Facts
- Lawrence Pilut and David Gustafsson both have contracts that expire at the end of the season.
- Pilut is playing in Switzerland, while Gustafsson is in the AHL.
- Johan Hult said HV71 want to reduce their number of imports somewhat and bring in more Swedish players next season.
- Hult said the club see value in building a core group and having more players available in Jönköping during the summer.
- Hult said HV71 want to maintain close contact with Pilut and Gustafsson and make their interest in both players clear.
- Hult spoke with Gustafsson during the summer, when the player said he wanted to pursue an opportunity in North America.
- Hult said Pilut spends his summers in Jönköping and remains in contact with HV71.
IHM Discussion
This is not a completed recruitment move, but it is a clear statement of intent from HV71. Hult has placed Pilut and Gustafsson within the club’s thinking while explaining a wider wish to reshape the balance of the squad.
The sporting director was careful to praise the club’s imports, rather than present the planned change as a rejection of them. His preference is for a somewhat smaller import contingent alongside more Swedish players, with the stated benefits of a stronger core and greater summer availability around the club.
Pilut and Gustafsson fit that conversation because both already have a connection to HV71. Hult’s comments show that the club want those relationships to stay active while each player completes his current season and considers his own future.
Why It Matters
HV71 have several forward contracts due to end after this season, making Hult’s public comments relevant to the club’s wider planning. He said the club have found it difficult in several cases to locate Swedish top forwards capable of carrying significant responsibility.
By identifying Pilut and Gustafsson as players of interest, Hult has made clear that former HV71 players are part of the club’s search for Swedish reinforcements. That does not establish an agreement with either player, but it sets out where the club’s attention lies as contract decisions approach.
Mini Q&A
Are Lawrence Pilut and David Gustafsson joining HV71?
No signing has been announced. Johan Hult said HV71 are interested in both players and want to remain in close contact with them.
Why does HV71 want more Swedish players?
Hult said the club want to build a core group and see an advantage in having more players in Jönköping during the summer.
Where are Pilut and Gustafsson playing now?
Pilut is playing in Switzerland and Gustafsson is playing in the AHL.
Coach Mark Comment
The summer detail gives Hult’s comments a practical shape. He is not only talking about nationality; he wants more of the squad around Jönköping when the ice is out, and he sees that as part of building a core group.
Pilut already spending summers there makes contact straightforward, while Gustafsson has been direct about wanting his North American chance. HV71 can make their interest known without asking either player to settle the matter before his present season has run its course.
IHM Final View
HV71 have openly signalled interest in Lawrence Pilut and David Gustafsson, but neither player has been announced as a signing. The immediate story is the club’s stated desire to add more Swedish players and keep a line of communication open with two former HV71 names as it prepares for next season.