Swedish Hockey League (SHL) Preview & Betting Guide

Updated: 1163 Ice Hockey

Ten-time champions Farjestad BK an the reigning champions Växjö Lakers will be expected to be the bookies pre-season favourites to lift the 2023-24 season Le Mat Trophy.

Swedish Hockey League (SHL) Preview & Betting Guide
Andy Powell Content Editor

Horse Racing stats man, Andy has contributed to OLBG for 18 years - An Ipswich fan and F1 fanatic, he also contributes EFL football and Motor Sport opinion.

2023-24 SHL Preview

There was a massive surprise during the 2022-23 season when one of the most successful teams in Sweden, thirteen times champions Brynäs IF were relegated to the HockeyAllsvenskan after a 4-1 defeat in the play-out to Malmö Redhawks, which ended their 63-year stay in the top flight!

Ten times SHL champions Farjestad BK will be one of the bookie's pre-season favourites to lift the Le Mat Trophy which is presented to the SHL champions each year, they picked up their tenth title in 2022 which was their first since 2011 after seeing off Luleå HF in a fantastic final series in which they came from behind three times to eventually win 4-3.

Last season's winners, Växjö Lakers will also be towards the top of the pre-season market, they had a very good season which ended in success when defeating Skellefteå AIK 4-1 in the final, they were the number one seeds in the playoffs.

We have specialist European-based hockey fans who will be sharing their SHL Predictions all throughout this season so be sure to see which Swedish Hockey League teams they are tipping today.

NHL Stanley Cup Preview & Betting Guide
ALSO READ

NHL Stanley Cup Preview & Betting Guide

How often do Favourites win in SHL?

When comparing the big three leagues, the KHL, the SHL and the NHL, this league falls in line with the NHL more than the KHL, over the past five seasons 60% of favourites have been successful in the SHL, which is not too far of the NHL which is 59.1% with both of those remaining well behind the KHL (64.6%). Home favourites are more favourable with 62.5% of them winning compared to just 52.9% of favourites on the road which makes sense as home-ice advantage can be a big advantage.

KHL, SHL & NHL Favourites

The SHL (60%) ranks second for winning favourites in the big three leagues over the past five seasons, the KHL (64.6%) and the NHL (59.1%) are the others.

Vaxjo is decent at home when favourites, they went on to win 71.3% of their games over the past five seasons and they are not too bad on the road either with a 59.3% win rate which means overall they won 67.4% of their games when favourites. The only team that gets close to them is Farjestad BK who won 69.9% of their home matches and 57.1% as favourites on the road with their overall win rate standing at 66.3%.

Favourites over the last 5 seasons

  • 2018-19
    • Home: 62.5% (168-269)
    • Away: 52.1% (49-94)
  • 2019-20
    • Home: 66.1% (181-274)
    • Away: 52.9% (46-87)
  • 2020-21
    • Home: 63.9% (163-255)
    • Away: 51.4% (56-109)
  • 2021-22
    • Home: 62.3% (162-260)
    • Away: 53.4% (55-103)
  • 2022-23
    • Home: 58.0% (163-281)
    • Away: 55.0% (44-80)
  • Overall
    • Home: 62.5% (837-1339)
    • Away: 52.9% (250-473)

When looking at the underdogs there is only one team who is worth a mention as they have a win rate of 55.3% when underdogs meaning they could well dish up some value throughout the season. Skelleftea is 42-76 as underdogs with all bar six of those also coming on the road. So, have a look at the Swedish ice hockey predictions for today to see if the tipsters are backing either of these teams on the road.

*Favourite statistics only include regular-season games

Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) Preview & Betting Guide
ALSO READ

Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) Preview & Betting Guide

Past SHL Regular Season Winners

Here are the last ten regular-season champions and how they went on to perform in the playoffs.

SeasonTeam (Points)Playoff Outcome
2022–23Växjö Lakers (102)SHL Champions
2021–22Rögle BK (100)Lost in Semi-Finals
2020–21Växjö Lakers (102)SHL Champions
2019–20Luleå HF (106)Playoffs not completed
2018–19Färjestad BK (101)Lost in Semi-Finals
2017–18Växjö Lakers (116)SHL Champions
2016–17Växjö Lakers (99)Lost in Quarter-Finals
2015–16Skellefteå AIK (111)Lost in Final
2014–15Skellefteå AIK (111)Lost in Final
2013–14Skellefteå AIK (111)SHL Champions

Past SHL Champions

Le Mat Trophy is what the SHL Champions receive and have done so since 1926, the trophy was donated by Raoul Le Mat, the man who brought ice hockey to Sweden and is the oldest trophy in Sweden that is competed for by professional athletes.

Djurgårdens IF lead the way in both final appearances and success, from their twenty-eight finals appearances, they have gone on to be crowned SHL Champions a total of sixteen times giving them a 57% success rate when making the finals, however, their last win came back in 2001 and they have only made two finals since losing both times (2010 & 2019).

IIHF World Championships Preview & Betting Tips
ALSO READ

IIHF World Championships Preview & Betting Tips

Brynäs IF have won thirteen SHL Championships and their success rate when making the final is much better as they have only made eighteen finals meaning they have won 72%.

Färjestad BK along with Djurgårdens IF are the only other team to have made twenty or more finals, however, they have lost more than they have won with ten titles meaning they have lost eleven times.

Who will be crowned Swedish Champions for the 2023-24 season? If you are planning on having an ante-post bet or betting throughout the season then have a read of our Best Bookmaker for Ice Hockey guide.

Here are the past SHL Champions

TeamAppsWinsLosses
Djurgårdens IF281612
Brynäs IF18135
Färjestad BK211011
IK Göta1394
Hammarby IF1688
Södertälje SK18711
AIK1376
Frölunda HC1257
HV71651
Leksands IF945
Skellefteå AIK1239
Växjö Lakers440
Modo Hockey624
Malmö IF220
Luleå HF514
IF Björklöven312
Gävle Godtemplares IK211

2022-23 SHL Bracket

Swedish Hockey League Teams

2023-24 Teams in the SHL

TeamCityArenaCapacity
Frölunda HCGothenburgScandinavium12,044
Färjestad BKKarlstadLöfbergs Arena8,647
HV71JönköpingHusqvarna Garden7,000
IK OskarshamnOskarshamnBe-Ge Hockey Center3,275
Leksands IFLeksandTegera Arena7,650
Linköping HCLinköpingSaab Arena8,500
Luleå HFLuleåCoop Norrbotten Arena6,300
Malmö RedhawksMalmöMalmö Arena13,000
Modo HockeyÖrnsköldsvikHägglunds Arena7,350
Örebro HKÖrebroBehrn Arena5,150
Rögle BKÄngelholmCatena Arena5,150
Skellefteå AIKSkellefteåSkellefteå Kraft Arena6,001
Timrå IKTimråNHC Arena6,000
Växjö LakersVäxjöVida Arena5,700

Other Ice Hockey Blogs

As well as those already mentioned in this blog, we also have these articles looking at the tournaments:

Author Information

Andy Powell manages this Swedish Hockey League (SHL) Preview & Betting Guide and other hockey content in this section of the site as well as the Ice Hockey Tipsters in the OLBG tipster competition in his role in the OLBG Expert Team. Andy meticulously updates the date and results for these pieces and is an erstwhile Penguins fan in the NHL. He provides Ice Hockey betting advice in our bookmaker reviews as well as providing a huge contribution to the Best Ice Hockey Betting Sites Guide.

Andy Powell

Andy Powell

Content editor

Andy also possesses a keen interest in American sports with a particular affinity for the NFL and the NHL. He follows the Pittsburgh Penguins, emphasizing his broad palette for diversified sporting events.

No Comments

There are no comments here. Be the first to comment...

Keep Reading

Stunning Sports Venues: Ranked!

Updated: 16

Stunning Sports Venues: Ranked!

Sports venues are cathedrals for passion, delight, despair and fun. Whether surrounded by thousands of fellow fans cheering on your favourite football team or a small indoor venue watching a contest with a bookmaker live stream, these venues help bring...

Continue Reading

By using this site you confirm you are 18+ and consent to our use of cookies and processing of personal data as set out in our Privacy Policy
Got it!