Brynäs IF will return to the Swedish Hockey League. That is clear after a four-game sweep of Djurgården in the qualification series. Brynäs played in the top flight of Swedish hockey almost continuously from 1960 until being relegated in 2023.

And it seems clear that the team does not plan to return to the top flight as a bottom-feeder, as several prominent names are circulating in Swedish hockey media as possible players on the team in 2024-25.

First of all, it is already confirmed Jakob Silfverberg is returning home.

Two names being mentioned by HockeyNews.se in goal are Magnus Hellberg, who spent most of this season in the AHL but played three games for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Christian Heljanko, who is currently playing for Tappara Tampere in the Finnish Liiga finals.

Hellberg, 33, has been well-travelled since leaving Sweden 12 years ago. He has played 26 NHL games for six different teams and has also played in the KHL and represented Sweden several times internationally.

“We absolutely have a first option,” said Brynäs sports director Johan Alcén. “We are looking at about 10 names but have a main preference.”

Alcén is also trying to attract 27-year-old winger Oskar Lindblom, who played many of his formative years in Brynäs, including his first taste of pro hockey. After seven years in North America, spent mostly in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers, Lindblom played just one NHL game for the San Jose Sharks this season, otherwise suiting up for the AHL Barracuda.

“We have been talking to him since November,” said Alcén. “We’ve been banking on him but he needs to make a choice. We stand with open arms if he wants to go home, he is welcome here whenever he wants.”

According to EliteProspects, veteran defenseman Christian Djoos is also a possibility, although that rumour is now more than two months old. Djoos is currently playing for Lausanne HC in the National League finals in Switzerland.

Last season, Brynäs made it clear they didn’t plan on staying long in the HockeyAllsvenskan, importing several key veteran players such as Canadian defenseman Jordie Benn, Latvian forward Miks Indrašis, American wingers Jack Kopacka and Tyler Kelleher and young Italian goalie Damian Clara, an Anaheim Ducks prospect.

Kopacka, whose 46 regular-season points trailed only Indrašis on the team and 15 playoff points tied Kelleher for the lead, has indicated he will return.

Brynäs’ roster for next season also includes drafted NHL prospects Anton Johannesson (Winnipeg), Noel Nordh (Utah) and Theo Lindstein (St. Louis).