The four wealthiest icehockey clubs in Sweden; Färjestad, Frölunda, Linköping and HV71 has together with the Stockholm Team, Djurgården decided that they will not prolong their contract with SHL (Swedish Hockey League).
Reason? Well apparently they do not think that they can earn enough money and develop by staying in Sweden and play in Elitserien.

Talks has been going on together with KHL (Kontinental Hockey League, Russia) to start a kind of European league with representative teams from all over Europe.
What does this mean for Swedish hockey?

Of course, above mentioned teams will be even wealthier, shortterm.
Longterm, I think it is devistating for Swedish hockey. Many of the icehockey player "nurseries" are based in teams up North, where we have nature ice all winter so that kid's can start skate at the same time as they learn to walk.

It is natural for parents, who see that their kids got talent and interest for icehockey, to put them in teams connected to the bigger clubs such as Skellefteå, Luleå and Modo.
Many of the top icehockey players from Sweden has their roots up North.
Many of the Northern Swedish Teams has a great junior-activity. An activity that does not generate any money for the clubs. The money comes instead when they can bring up some of the player's that they have worked with for decades, to the senior-team, not having to buy expensive foreign players.
At least they stay a year or two before moving on to another Swedish club or to play abroad.
Usual is also that player's brought up in a certain club, returns after some years to end their career where it was started.

If the senior team stop existing on an elite level, do you think that these clubs will continue with their junior activities?
Do you think that parents would send a talented 12 year old child 1300 km South to be able to play in a club where there is an  elite junior activity going on?
I don't think so!
I am quite sure that the parents will convince their children to play soccer or floorball instead.