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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
Brynäs IF has secured a key signing for the 2026–27 season. The Swedish club has officially announced the signing of Jaret Anderson-Dolan, a 26-year-old Canadian forward who came through the ranks at the Spokane Chiefs in the WHL, on a two-season contract. The former second-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2017 (41st overall) is making his SHL debut after a long career in North America.
A busy career in North America
Before settling in Gävle, Anderson-Dolan played for the Kings, the Nashville Predators and, more recently, the Winnipeg Jets organisation.
Before settling in Gävle, Anderson-Dolan played for the Kings, the Nashville Predators and, more recently, the Winnipeg Jets organisation. In the NHL, he has made 134 appearances, alternating with lengthy spells in the AHL where he continued to hone his game. His CV is further enhanced by a 2021 World Championship title with Canada, won in the midst of the pandemic.
The arrival of a player of this calibre – both experienced and still young – gives Brynäs added depth in attack as the Swedish league prepares to resume. The club can also count on Nicklas Backström, although his availability remains uncertain due to niggling injuries.
A player tailor-made for the SHL
A versatile forward capable of playing both centre and wing, Anderson-Dolan has built a reputation as a well-rounded player, valuable in both penalty-killing and power-play situations. His physique and his understanding of possession-based play are well-suited to the demands of a Scandinavian league where tactical awareness and physical intensity carry as much weight as individual output. Brynäs, which for several seasons has built its playing style around mobile lines and high-pressing, sees this former world champion as the ideal player to bolster its top six.
A carefully considered choice
In a statement, sporting director Johan Alcén praised him as “a very well-rounded player, useful in all areas of the game”. Anderson-Dolan thus becomes one of the most high-profile North American names to move to the SHL this summer, part of a wider trend seen among several Swedish franchises that are turning to proven NHL players to bolster their squads.
For Brynäs, who are looking to return to the top after a more challenging season, the move looks set to be a sound investment. It now remains to be seen how the former world champion will adapt to the Northern European style of play and the demands of a league where the physical and tactical pressure differs significantly from that of the AHL. Anderson-Dolan is not entering uncharted territory: for several off-seasons now, the SHL has been attracting established players from North America, either weary of the NHL’s pace or seeking a different environment. Brynäs is reaping the direct benefits of this and further reinforcing the trend, in a league where North American experience has become a key recruitment factor.
A successful integration
For Brynäs, the real work will now take place behind the scenes. They will need to sort out the administrative formalities involved in the transfer, find accommodation in Gävle and help the player settle into Swedish club culture. The coaching staff, for their part, will need to quickly define Anderson-Dolan’s role within the squad, balancing his time between high-scoring lines and defensive duties. If all goes well, Brynäs will have a forward capable of making an impact in the SHL as soon as the league resumes and, why not, of once again becoming a serious contender for the play-offs.