New York Islanders forward Emil Heineman expressed sorrow over his former club Leksand's relegation from the SHL after a difficult season. The 24-year-old offered guidance on rebuilding through youth development.
Leksand ended the season in last place and lost the qualification series 0-4 to HV71. Heineman, who played 143 SHL games for the team before moving to North America in 2023, described the experience as painful while watching from afar. He noted the players' full effort despite the outcome and highlighted the challenge of following results across time zones due to his old teammates and friends in the squad.