AIK has confirmed that forward Jesper Emanuelsson will leave the club despite having a contract remaining. The team also parted ways with goalkeeper Jonas Gunnarsson, who was not offered a new deal. These moves signal roster changes ahead of the next season under new head coach Viktor Tuurala.
Jesper Emanuelsson joined AIK ahead of the 2024/2025 season and contributed significantly in his first year, recording 21 points over 52 regular-season games. He made key impacts in the playoffs, including scoring decisive goals twice during the quarterfinal series against Björklöven. However, his performance dipped in the most recent season, leading to discussions with the club about his future role amid the shift in playing style under Tuurala. Sportchef Lasse Johansson stated, “In dialog med Jesper har vi kommit fram till att det här är den bästa lösningen för båda parter. Vi vill tacka honom för hans tid i AIK och önska honom stort lycka till framöver.” Emanuelsson has attracted interest from other teams in the league, according to reports from Hockeynews. Meanwhile, 34-year-old Jonas Gunnarsson, who made 24 appearances including playoffs after joining last season, will not return. This decision aligns with Victor Brattström's contract extension and Simon Carlsson's expected retention. AIK first hinted at Emanuelsson's exit through Hockeynews reports earlier in the week.