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Last summer, HV71’s back was Johannes Kinnvall at the Calgary Flame development camp.
Almost a year later, he has a highly anticipated two-year contract with the NHL club.
“I have a very good feeling about Calgary,” says the 22-year-old undrafted player.
John Kinnvall was already on Calgary’s radar this summer. He was in the development field and got to know the club and the city.
Since then, Kinnvall and the club have had a close dialogue.
– They have had contact with me during the season and we have had good conversations. So it feels really fun that it has become Calgary considering I was there, he says.
Was Calgary in the driver’s seat the entire time?
– Well, but they looked at me last year. I thought it was a nice city and that everything with the organization was good, and it was a little easier for me to choose which team. It is a dream come true, he says.
Photo: JONAS LJUNGDAHL / BILDBYRÅN
Borrowed
Sportbladet wrote in March that Kinnvall chose from several NHL clubs and that there was a possibility that they would lend it to HV71. And he lends it back.
Kinnvall has been registered for two seasons, but will play next on loan to HV71.
– I think I still have things in the game that I need to improve before I feel completely ready. It feels great and Calgary is positive about it. It may be the best step for me in development. I need to be physically stronger and work with my defensive game and I have a great opportunity to develop in HV71, he says.
Gävle, 22, made his first season on HV71 and flourished well. From his back position he represented 40 points (11 + 29) in 51 games and finished second on the tracks.
“I was a little slow”
In other words, you can’t complain too much about the offense.
– No, I can’t do that. But there are also details where I can improve. I work with everything every day and hope that next season at HV I will become a better hockey player, he says.
What else do you say about your first season on HV71?
– The first part of the season was a little slow for me. I really didn’t get into the game thinking too much. After Christmas I relaxed and had fun. Then it was released, production started to arrive and we, as a team, started to play better. It’s probably somewhere there after Christmas where the breakthrough occurred. I want to take advantage of that to be able to have a very good season.
Linus Sandin also leaves HV71. He has signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Photo: AXEL BOBERG / BILDBYRÅN
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