In two seasons, he kept himself away from elite hockey. No longer. Dick Axelsson laced up his skates again, took on the task of playing up Djurgården to SHL, and signed for one year with the Stockholm team.
The 37-year-old expressed that he was "extremely psyched" for what was to come.
And that was something he showed against SHL-relegated Oskarshamn, 901 days since his last elite match according to TV4 Play's information.
The veteran scored the season's first HockeyAllsvenskan goal in power play, 1–1 after 4.31 minutes of the first period.
That's something you've done 300-400 times in your career. You come in on that side and take a slapshot at an excellent height. It's rehearsed. The "old man's corner" as everyone says, but it's a "patent", he says to TV4 Play.
Djurgården found themselves in a new deficit after Daniel Brodin's match penalty, but managed to redeem the situation through three goals in the second period; David Blomgren, Albin Grewe, and August Berg.
The turnaround to 4–2 did not, however, mean a guaranteed premiere win.
Oskarshamn saw to it that the match got new life, caught up to 4–4 – Michael Joyaux and Rasmus Bengtsson – and a thrilling but goalless overtime awaited.
After 24 penalties, Djurgården snatched the extra point, as Marcus Krüger decided the match.
Viktor (Andrén, goalkeeper) did well in the box and we got the chance to win, says Krüger.
Dick Axelsson is not the only veteran in Djurgården's squad. The club has also brought in Norwegian Patrick Thoresen, and the 40-year-old will join the team on Monday.
