According to the Swedish newspaper Expressen, Ilves star defender Simon Johansson is set to leave the team after this season concludes. The 26-year-old is reportedly moving to the Swiss league for the next season. Details suggest that his new contract with EHC Kloten, currently positioned 12th in a 14-team league, is described as both lucrative and favorable.

At EHC Kloten, Johansson will be under the guidance of Lauri Marjamäki, who continues as the head coach next season as well. This development follows Johansson's intriguing career path, having played his first season with Ilves in 2021-2022 before spending two years in North America in AHL minor league teams, and then returning to Ilves last season. This season, Johansson has demonstrated remarkable performance, amassing 19 goals and 21 assists in 46 league games, placing him at the top of the SM-league’s scoring leaderboard for defenders.

Johansson is also on track to surpass Ilves' record for the most goals by a defender in a single season. This transition marks a significant move in his career, reflecting both his individual success and the evolving landscape of professional hockey in Finland as players seek opportunities abroad for better contracts and competitive play.