Hockeysverige.se’s Uffe Bodin wrote a lengthy article discussing Red Wings signing Matias Brome’s decision to remain with Orebro Hockey of the SHL while awaiting his rookie NHL season. What follows is a roughly-translated version of Bodin’s article:
More than halved his salary: “I wanted to show my appreciation”
Mathias Brome left money on the table to stay in Orebro
Mathias Brome’s time with Orebro is running out. With the NHL season on the horizon, it’s only a matter of time before he leaves the SHL. He will leave behind not only a big void as a player, but also a financial gesture that’s been important to his team.
“I went down quite a bit in terms of my salary,” the forward says to Hockeysverige.se.
Stockholm: For Mathias Brome, a strange season is about to become even stranger.
Recently, the NHL-loaned Orebro forward has stepped on the ice knowing that this may be the last time he represents the team. As things start to move in North America, and the 2020-2021 NHL season is approaching, it’s only a matter of time before the Detroit Red Wings call and ask the forward who signed a one-year contract this past spring to come to the United States.
“I get the question all the time, what is happening, but I’m waiting for an official decision about what’s going to happen. Now there are rumors of January 13th. If that were true, I’d have to go next week if I have time to sit in quarantine for two weeks,” Brome states.
“I try to stay here and now. I feel fantastic with Orebro and I’m very grateful to be there.”
The day the 26-year-old disappears to Detroit, he will leave a big void behind. Mathias Brome was one of the SHL’s best forwards already last year, and he’s continued to be so during the first half of 2020-2021.
“If there are opportunities to replace him–I’m also talking about financial opportunities–we of course want to do it. If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. But a player as good as Mathias wants to be replaced in order to maintain his impact strength,” says Orebro’s coach, Niklas Eriksson.
“IT’S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY”
But if Mathias Brome disappears, shouldn’t it free up a lot of money that [Orebro] could place on a replacement?
Well, according to what Hockeysverige.se knows, the star forward has played for Orebro at a heavily discounted salary during the autumn.
“Yes, it’s true. I went down quite a bit in salary. It’s not about the money, but I wanted to get started and play now and show my appreciation that I can be there,” he confirms.
Since Brome has a valid contract with the SHL team, despite his NHL contract, he could have asked for the salary stated in his agreement. Instead, he chose another path.
“I don’t play for any large sums here. You have to remember that these are special times as well. The team is having a hard time financially, and you need to meet somewhere. We solved it well, I think. We both agreed and are happy with it.”
I heard it was a halving of your salary. Is that true?
“Yes, and a little more, anyway. But I’m just glad I got to play hockey. The money comes second. I have nothing to complain about.”
It’s still a lot of money left on the table.
“Yes, but at the same time, you could have turned it around and said that I wouldn’t be playing anywhere right now, then I wouldn’t have had any income at all instead. This hasn’t been a big deal for me.’
The hope, of course, is that the big money will be made in the NHL in the future instead. Mathias Brome was set on playing in Detroit when the 2020-2021 season began. As you know, it’s gone differently, and he admits that it’s something that he wrestled with a lot at first.
“It’s been a strange season for me personally. I missed the NHL and all of a sudden I was going back to the SHL…When I’d mentally prepared to go over and still ended up in the SHL, it was hard in the beginning. But now I think I’m playing at the top of my ability as I usually do.”
How has it been dealing with the uncertainty that has existed about what’s going to happen?
“The first three or four games I thought it was really hard. I didn’t really know what I was doing on the ice. I had long conversations with my agent, Jacob Hedin. We talked and tried to vent what was so difficult. But it was about being prepared to go over and try to get into the NHL. Then it became a thorn in my side, and I got to play in Orebro instead.”
“I got to see the positives in the whole thing, that I will come to Detroit well-prepared, and I’m proud that I managed to turn it around and I think that’s what makes me feel strong now.”
“BECOMES SPECIAL TO LEAVE THE BOYS”
If Mathias Brome thinks that it’s been difficult, it’s not reflected in his game. With 18 points (3 goals + 15 assists) in 20 games, he’s the biggest scorer of all the NHL loans in the SHL.
“It feels like I’ve made the points that I should do, but maybe there should have been a few more goals as well. This year I may have become more of a passer than a shooter. But it’s clear that I’m happy with the start of my season. I have gained a lot of trust, played a lot and also delivered.”
Does it feel strange that you will soon have to leave this team that you’ve already started a journey with?
“Absolutely so. I was here last year and we had something very good going on then as well. Had we had to play in the playoffs last year, I think we would have gone very far. Now I’m here again and feel the same thing, that we have something going on here in Orebro. It’s so hard to say…I’m grateful for the time I’ve had with Orebro, so it’s clear that it’s special to leave when things are happening. Right now I’m just here and I don’t know when it will happen. But of course it will be special to leave the boys [in the locker room].
How much contact do you have with Detroit?
“They let me focus on Orebro, so they’ve had contact with my agent instead of me. He in turn informs me of the situation. But they keep an eye on me and usually get in touch from time to time to check on the situation.”
Are you, despite the strange circumstances, determined to cross [the Atlantic]?
“Of course I am. It’s a fantastic opportunity I’ve had to sign an NHL contract, it’s something I’ve fought for my whole life. Now the coronavirus came and unfortunately everything became different, but I’m incredibly well-prepared to for what will come over there. It will be a great advantage that I come in having played games and having a game tempo in me, and also that I’ve had real on-ice training. It’s a big advantage. I will do everything in my power to earn a spot, and I’ll see how far I can go.”
