2004/05 SEL Season - best ever?

[Predatore]

Even if there is no lockout, has the Swedish Elite League ever been stronger?

There are so many star players this year that it is crazy. Below are just some "huge names" that will make the SEL more interesting than ever.

Goalies
Johan Holmqvist
Stefan Liv
Henrik Lundqvist
Fredrik Norrena
Tommy Salo
Rastislav Stana


Defensemen
Per Gustafsson
Radek Hamr
Per Hållberg
Magnus Johansson
Hans Jonsson
Bryan Muir
Antti-Jussi Niemi
Tom Koivisto
Jaroslav Obsut
Fredrik Olausson
Tommy Sjödin
Ronnie Sundin


Forwards
Niklas Andersson
Magnus Arvedson
Mariusz Czerkawski
Andreas Dackell
Johan Davidsson
Robert Döme
Johan Franzén
Mika Hannula
Jonathan Hedström
Jonas Höglund
Jörgen Jönsson
Magnus Kahnberg
Tomi Kallio
Espen Knutsen
Kent Manderville
Tony Mårtensson
Peter Nordström
Mikael Renberg
Jonas Rönnqvist
Andreas Salomonsson
Per Svartvadet
Mathias Tjärnqvist

[Swedelicious]

And Mariusz Czerkawski. I need Canal+.

[Robertsson 4-ever]

And all youngsters we'll see:

Johannes Salomonsson
Robert Nilsson
Daniel Fernholm
Lars Jonsson
Linus Videll
Nicklas Bergfors
Dragan Umicevic
Nicklas Grossman
Jonas Nordquist
Johan Fransson
Tobias Enström
Andreas Jämtin
Robin Jonsson
Carl Söderberg
Marcus Paulsson
Loui Eriksson
Richard Demen-Willaume

More interesting than ever.

If I had the time, I would do a list with all players that left the SEL and all that have come, then we're really see how much better this years SEL is!

[Predatore]

Originally Posted by Robertsson 4-ever

If I had the time, I would do a list with all players that left the SEL and all that have come, then we're really see how much better this years SEL is!

you mean a list like this one?
http://www.eliteprospects.com/transactions.php

[Riddarn]

Originally Posted by Predatore

you mean a list like this one?
http://www.eliteprospects.com/transactions.php

I'm pretty impressed. Almost every team seems to have improved on paper, and it looks as though many teams are planning for the future too. Maybe it's up to the League to improve the standard of swedish hockey, not the federation.

[Robertsson 4-ever]

Originally Posted by Predatore

you mean a list like this one?
http://www.eliteprospects.com/transactions.php

Hehe, exact that list. Damn, I knew this was on EP but didn't think of it.

One reason those rosters look better than ever is of course NONE SEL-player have left for NHL, and a lot of them have come back.

[Riddarn]

Originally Posted by Robertsson 4-ever

One reason those rosters look better than ever is of course NONE SEL-player have left for NHL, and a lot of them have come back.

Yep. Which means that if the NHL and the IIHF works out a deal before next year, we could see a mass exodus. A lot of guys are probably just waiting to go, like Steen, Jämtin, Hagos, the Lundqvists, Liv, Franzén, Tolsa, Kahnberg etc.

[Robertsson 4-ever]

Originally Posted by Riddarn

Yep. Which means that if the NHL and the IIHF works out a deal before next year, we could see a mass exodus. A lot of guys are probably just waiting to go, like Steen, Jämtin, Hagos, the Lundqvists, Liv, Franzén, Tolsa, Kahnberg etc.

... Lars Jonsson, Johnny Oduya, Jonas Frögren, Daniel Fernholm, Joakim Lindström, Jens Karlsson, Jonas Nordquist...

[Riddarn]

Originally Posted by Robertsson 4-ever

... Lars Jonsson, Johnny Oduya, Jonas Frögren, Daniel Fernholm, Joakim Lindström, Jens Karlsson, Jonas Nordquist...

Hey there, not both Oduya and Fernholm at the same time, please. That would be BAD

[Robertsson 4-ever]

Originally Posted by Riddarn

Hey there, not both Oduya and Fernholm at the same time, please. That would be BAD

AND Staffan Kronwall.

Could very well happen.

Maybe Robert Nilsson as well if he has a huge season. And Johannes Salomonsson, although that is a little more uncertain. Björn Bjurling.