One of the young players who have impressed the most during the start of the SHL season is Linköpings centerman Filip Bystedt, 18. He’s one of the most productive players in powerplay, and despite his age you’d think he’s been in the league for ages. That’s good news for Linköping – and the San Jose Sharks.
The last six months have been been quite eventful for Filip Bystedt, born 2004 in Linköping. In April he was a dominant force when Linköping won the under 20 championship, defeating Djurgården with no less than three players drafted in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft. Less than a month later he was on the Swedish gold medal team of the U18 World Cup in Landshut, Germany. In the NHL Draft in July he got picked in the first round by the San Jose Sharks. And now he has been a go to guy for Linköping in the beginning of the SHL campaign, centering a third line and being on the second power play unit.
– Playing, and winning, big games is definitely something you can learn from. You learn how you need to play and what it takes to come out on the winning side, Filip Bystedt says while sipping on a cup of coffee in downtown Linköping.
– The two final games, the one in the Swedish championship and the one in U18 WC, was quite different, he adds. In the SM-final we knew we had a really good team and just could go out and play our game, without overthinking things. Against USA we had a game plan and followed it extremely well, no one fell out of the frame.
Filip Bystedt grew up in Ekängen, a residential area just outside of Linköping city. In the same neighbourhood where Adam Ginning, drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2018, grew up.
– He’s four years older than me, but we went to the same elementary school and I’ve always looked up to him and watched him play at the SHL.
Coached by former NHL:er
In fact, Filip Bystedt wasn’t the only player living in Ekängen on that Småkronorna team winning the gold medal in Landshut.
– Yeah, Alexander Tell and I are neighbours, Filip laughs. We hang out a lot, playing video games, golf or padel.
From an early age Filip Bystedt had the former NHL:er Niclas Hävelid as a coach, and thus also having the Hävelid twins, Hugo (goalkeeper) and Mattias (defenseman) as teammates. When you think about it, it’s quite astonishing that Mattias Hävelid and Filip Bystedt not only won the two gold medals together, they were also drafted by the same NHL team.
– Yeah, that was cool, Filip admits. It’s also nice to have someone you know that well to talk to, or just hang out with when you need to kill some time on a hotel room.
Speaking of the NHL Draft, Filip Bystedt was the first ever player born in Linköping to be selected in the first round, but when he sat in Bell Centre during the ceremony, he wasn’t sure what team would pick him.
– No, not quite, I had talked to a lot of teams so I didn’t really know where I was going to end up. It was a bit nervous, but mostly a really cool experience. It wasn’t that important for me to be drafted in the first round, so I never felt stressed before my name was called, he says.
Being a teams number one pick means you’re going to get chances, but it also means more pressure.
– Sure, but first of all I take it as the Sharks see me as a good hockey player, and that they want me in their organization, Filip says.
Worked on details in his game
After the draft, both Filip and his buddy Mattias Hävelid stayed in California to attend the Sharks rookie development camp, which was a good experience.
– I had a lot of talks with the coaches, and they helped me with small details, for example in face offs or in the corners along the boards.
– They said that I could stay for the rookie tournament, which I discussed with my agent but my intention from the beginning was to go back home to Linköping and focus on the SHL to begin with.
Although he’s had a hectic summer, there’s also been time for a good preseason training regime, and apart from working hard in the gym, Filip Bystedt has had a few specific details in his game to work with.
– I’ve tried to get quicker, to reach my top speed faster, he exemplifies. I’ve also tried to improve my defensive game, to be more thorough in my own end before hitting the offense. And also trying to use my size to my advantage, playing more physically.
Already last year Filip Bystedt played 15 games in the SHL, but this season it’s different. He’s no longer just a young guy the coaches toss in when there’s a vacant spot, he’s now playing big minutes, carrying his own line as a center.
– Last season I felt that I got better with every game, and this season I feel like I’m off to a good start, but getting better. Klas (Östman, head coach) has told me that if I just play my game I will be getting ice time. It’s nice to have that kind of trust from your coach, Filip says.
The future is bright
Not only is he getting ice time, he is also making the most of it, being one of the top ten most productive players in the league in powerplay.
– It’s always fun to have a role on the powerplay and scoring points, but my aim is to play my game and stick to my strengths and just take it as it comes, he says.
After having missed the playoffs for four consecutive seasons, Linköping is looking to end the drought, and have been off to a strong start.
– We have implemented a new style of play, which has taken some time for everyone to get used to. Our aim is to have more puck possession and being better at creating scoring chances on our own, Filip explains.
– I think things are looking bright for the future in Linköping, he continues, we have brought in skilled players on longer contracts and want to play an offensive hockey that is fun to watch. That means I have to work even harder to earn my playing time.
The question is for how long Filip Bystedt will stay in his home town Linköping? There’s an organization in California which is surely eager to see what he can bring in the NHL.
– Well, that’s part of the future, my focus is here in Linköping, trying to get better every day, holding my spot in the SHL, Filip Bystedt says with determination.