When Djurgården lost in four straight games against Timrå and was relegated to the hockey allsvenskan, it was clear that next season will be the first ever without a Stockholm team in the SHL.
A worrying development, says SVT's expert Jonas Andersson.
- It is not at all good for Stockholm's ice hockey that already lacks ice surfaces, lacks an SHL arena and for the interest, having to travel 150 km to see a match is not good for Stockholm's hockey, he says and continues:
- If we watch, for example, football where you have the derby that really draws interest from the media and the economy and everything that comes with it, it will be missing.
That hockey, which is such a big sport, does not have a Stockholm team in the highest league, it is worrying.
"A little early to watch"
But the transition to becoming a league without teams from the capital is not something that people are currently worried about from the SHL side.
- It is something we get to look at during the season how we may be affected by it.
I think it is a bit early to look at what the further consequences or effects of it will be, says CEO Jenny Silfverstrand.
Will you see any difference financially for SHL as an organization do you think?
- No, not at present.
There are 14 teams every year that play and we have our system that works so that every year there is a team we say hello to and then another team comes back, so I do not see any financial impact on it.
"Gets a longer itinerary"
However, she sees a challenge in what the media coverage of the league will look like.
- It is very centered around Stockholm and we have seen for a long time that you have reduced resources and that you are not out as much in the country.
So I could see that it can be a little longer to get close to the sport.
The media gets a longer journey, says Silfverstrand.