The first match that may be relevant after the national team break is the home match in the SHL against Malmö on Saturday 19 November.

- My goal is to play after the break, otherwise something has gone wrong, says Hjalmarsson to HVTV (HV71's web channel).

The 35-year-old trained today with a couple of teammates in Husqvarna Garden and got half an hour on ice with full equipment.

He hasn't played competitive hockey since the spring of 2021 but has been training on the side. 

- It felt good and fun and fun to meet everyone in the team, says the defender.

Three Stanley Cup titles - 958 games in the NHL

He won three Stanley Cup titles with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, 2013 and 2015.

Before his professional career in the NHL, which amounted to 958 games, Hjalmarsson played four seasons in HV71, which he left in 2007. 

- It has been in the back of my mind for a long time to finish in HV and it is something that has grown more and more since I came home last summer and settled in Sweden and got into everything here at home.

He has followed HV71 since he came home and feels that it is an opportunity to play elite hockey again.

- I have watched a few matches and feel that I am sufficiently fresh in my body and motivated.

I would regret it if I don't give it a chance to play some more and pull on the HV jersey and complete the circle.

The goal is to be as good as I can and contribute in a big way and to show it to the audience and fellow players, says Hjalmarsson.

Going to train with the whole team tomorrow

Today he trained with a couple of players and tomorrow he will train with the whole team.

- I have been in the arena as a coach for U9.

It was a bit square getting all the ice hockey gear on but I'll probably find my way back pretty quickly.

Hjallmarsson reflects on the fact that it was so fast to make a career in the USA and take the step from youth to veteran in that time.

- When you meet a junior, I think that I was once there myself and went between the junior team and the A team and that I have now been given the role of helping them in their development.