Anton Malmström joins IK on loan from Björklöven and, according to the club, is available against Nybro on Wednesday, 14 October. Reinforcements on defence, then. They are needed now.
The 193-centimetre defender left Djurgården in 2020 for three NCAA seasons, followed by AHL and ECHL hockey. He returned to Sweden in 2025 and helped Björklöven win promotion to the SHL. Sporting director Arsi Piispanen describes him as a two-way defender and highlights his motivation to play.
What we want to see
For GLID INTE, the league names on a North American CV are not the main point. We want a defender who helps IK exit their zone, keeps the unit connected and makes the next shift easier for his teammates. A team short of defenders does not need more individual rescue missions. It needs defensive pairs that work.
Malmström's experience makes the loan interesting. It does not prove how quickly he will develop an understanding with new teammates. That judgement belongs on the ice, not in a welcome announcement.
IK have also signed Alexander Younan on a game-by-game agreement. Two different responses to an immediate need. It is good to see action. Now we want those additions to make IK more stable.
Source: IK Oskarshamn, 13 October 2026.