They are about a dozen games into the hockey season in Sweden, so what's up so far this year?
Skellefteå hold first place in the Elitserien, though Frölunda are close behind and have the better goal difference. Frölunda goaltender Frederik Andersen has a save percentage of 96.19. Växjö Lakers, in their first season in the top tier, currently sit sixth. Växjö's Mike Iggulden leads scorers with 20 points. Last year's playoff champs Färjestad are eleventh, with one win. Färjestad has never been out of the top division since 1965.
VIK Västerås sits atop the Hockeyallsvenkan, and may be ready to make its re-emergence as an elite team. The team were in the Elitserien in the 1990s, but went bankrupt in 2000. The current version developed out of the club's junior organization. AIK went through a similar bankruptcy and resurrection, and Björklöven is currently at the bottom of that cycle. The Birch Leafs last played in the Elitserien in 2001, then spent a decade in the Hockeyallsvenskan, before being dropped to Division 1A for financial insolvency. So far they have eight wins in eight games and look good to gain promotion at year end.
Brynäs holds first place in the women's league. There are five clubs close to the top of the Riksserien, indicating the increasing depth of Swedish women's hockey.
Ottawa Senators defenceman Erik Karlsson leads the team in scoring with a goal and seven assists. At this pace he will eclipse Norm MacIver's team record for points by a defenceman, set in 1992-93.
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