Sportbladet can reveal that AIK Hockey received SEK 40 million over three years to get back to the SHL.
At the same time, Niklas “Pajen” Persson, the new sports director, is presented.
On the player side, the club is working to bring forward Filip Sandberg home.
AIK announces that they have signed a contract for significant financial contributions.
“The majority of the capital is guaranteed for the next three years’ investment in the SHL,” writes the club.
More details about this investment will be released by the club at a later date.
According to information to Sportbladet, it is about SEK 40 million to be pumped in over the next three seasons.
– The grants will enable an even stronger team and in turn greatly increase interest among supporters and sponsors, says chairman Johan Palmgren.
Chasing the successful forward
Sportbladet can also reveal that high on the wish list for the squad is forward Filip Sandberg, who has been successful in Skellefteå in the SHL this season.
The 28-year-old right-shooting forward has an expiring contract with Skellefteå and is the younger brother of long-time AIK captain Christian Sandberg.
Currently, six players are officially under contract with the four high-profile outfielders Richard Gynge, Daniel Muzito-Bagenda, Oskar Magnusson and Dalibor Dvorsky.
Another revelation from Sportbladet is that 20-year-old forward Zion Nybeck has extended his contract.
The “pie” is ready
AIK finished tenth in the Hockeyallsvenskan this season, they then won 2–0 in matches in the round of 16 against Almtuna and pushed series winner Modo to six matches in the quarterfinals.
Sports director Christoffer Malm, who replaced Anders Gozzi two seasons ago, has not been offered a continuation.
Head coach Anton Blomqvist, who replaced Håkan Åhlund, has after three seasons been reported to become an assistant coach behind head coach Tomas Kollar in Malmö.
The new sporting director in AIK will be Niklas “Pajen” Persson, who has held roughly the same role in Linköping for five seasons.
– After a long and robust recruitment process with many very competent and interesting candidates, where we carefully considered and considered where we are as an organization and where we want to be in the coming years, the choice has now fallen on Niklas Persson. We are very happy to be able to associate Niklas Persson with us, who brings the experience and leadership we need to drive both our men’s, junior and youth activities to new and higher levels, says CEO Anders Olson.
“The goal is SHL”
The contract with Niklas “Pajen” Persson is written over two seasons, with an option for an extension.
– It feels incredibly fun, incredibly inspiring and like a ruggedly exciting challenge to come to AIK. I have already noticed how strong the AIK brand is, how great the interest and commitment around the club is. Which feels very inspiring. I think that, for example, it is shown during the playoffs that there is enormous support for the team and we must take advantage of that. The big and long-term goal is obviously to take AIK back to the SHL. To get there, we first need to establish ourselves as a top team and do good things throughout the association. It is a tough goal, but if we are up there and fight on a continuous basis over time, we give ourselves the chance to succeed, says Niklas “Pajen” Persson.
In the 2018/2019 season, it was a superior league victory in the Hockeyallsvenskan, and then lost two chances for advancement against Oskarshamn and Leksand.
