Emil Sylvegård has signed a short-term contract with Malmö Redhawks in the SHL, returning to his former club after a spell in Finland that ended with a championship title. The 33-year-old forward has been without a club this autumn but has recently trained with the Redhawks junior program, according to local reporting by Sydsvenskan.

The signing comes as Malmö addresses a mounting injury crisis on its forward line. Captain and top-line center Fredrik Händemark suffered an upper-body injury during his first shift in the team’s third match of the season, ruling him out until the November international break, as detailed by Aftonbladet. In addition, forward Hugo Pettersson left Thursday’s 6–0 victory against Örebro following a heavy check, leaving the squad short-handed and forcing 18-year-old William Lind to step in as an extra forward during Saturday’s 3–2 penalty-shootout defeat to Djurgården at Hovet.

Immediate Roster Relief for Malmö Redhawks

Sports director Oscar Alsenfelt moved quickly to secure Sylvegård on an immediate short-term deal to stabilize the lineup. “Emil knows the club, knows what is required here, and comes in with energy and experience,” Alsenfelt said in comments published across multiple outlets, including SVT Nyheter and the Malmö Redhawks official site. “With the absences we have on the forward side, it feels good to be able to bring in a player who can help us here and now.”

Sylvegård expressed immediate enthusiasm about pulling on the Redhawks jersey once more. “It is really fun to be back in Malmö again,” the forward told Expressen. “Malmö is where the heart has always been. It is home—and I will do everything for Malmö.”

A Familiar Face Returning to the SHL

Sylvegård brings extensive domestic and international experience back to Skåne. He has played six senior seasons for his hometown club across his career, alongside SHL stints with Luleå, Linköping, and Växjö, where he played before heading abroad. Last season, the physical forward captured the Finnish championship playing for Tappara.

During the autumn months, Sylvegård maintained his fitness by practicing alongside Malmö’s junior squad while remaining a free agent, fueling local speculation about a permanent return before management finalized the paperwork ahead of this week’s fixtures.

Upcoming Schedule and Squad Availability

Malmö currently sits seventh in the SHL standings. Sylvegård is fully cleared and available immediately, putting him in contention for the team’s upcoming matches against Björklöven and Timrå. The club faces a grueling stretch before the upcoming international break, with five fixtures remaining on the schedule leading into November 1.