Stavn Reveals HEROIC’s Plan After cadiaN’s Removal: IGL or AWP Role Considered

Martin “stavn” Lund has shed new light on one of the most controversial roster moves in recent Counter-Strike history, revealing that his intentions within HEROIC were already shifting well before the dramatic departure of Casper “cadiaN” Møller in 2023.

Speaking on HLTV Confirmed, the Danish rifler-turned-AWPer explained that after cadiaN’s removal, there had been an internal plan for him to transition into a completely different role—either as an in-game leader (IGL) or as the team’s primary AWPer. According to stavn, this was not a spontaneous idea, but rather something he personally wanted and had discussed within the team environment. 

This revelation adds an important layer of context to the events that ultimately led to the disbanding of HEROIC’s core lineup. At the time, cadiaN had been both the team’s in-game leader and AWPer—two of the most influential roles in Counter-Strike. His removal created a leadership vacuum, and stavn was one of the candidates expected to fill that gap internally. 

However, those plans never materialized. Roughly a week and a half after cadiaN’s exit, stavn received an unexpected approach from Astralis. This sudden development changed the trajectory of his career, prompting him to abandon the idea of switching roles within HEROIC and instead pursue a move to their long-time Danish rivals. 

The transfer of stavn and Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard to Astralis became one of the most debated roster moves in recent years. Critics accused the duo of destabilizing HEROIC from within, especially given reports that they had pushed for cadiaN’s removal. HEROIC itself stated that the players had “initiated the push” to replace their captain, even suggesting ultimatums were involved during internal discussions. 

Stavn has consistently denied any conspiracy or intentional sabotage. In interviews, he rejected the idea that there was a coordinated effort to weaken HEROIC for the benefit of Astralis, calling such claims “crazy.” Instead, he described the situation as a combination of personal dissatisfaction, internal disagreements—particularly around leadership—and a rapidly evolving transfer opportunity that he may have misjudged at the time. 

Looking back, the Danish player admits that the outcome had serious consequences for the organization. With cadiaN removed and both stavn and jabbi departing soon after, HEROIC lost its leadership core and was forced into a major rebuild. The team, which had previously been among the world’s elite—reaching Major finals and winning top-tier events—entered a period of instability following the roster collapse. 

Stavn has expressed regret over how events unfolded, acknowledging that the trio’s decisions effectively dismantled the previous iteration of HEROIC. While he maintains that there was no malicious intent, he recognizes the impact from the organization’s perspective and admits that mistakes were made in how the situation was handled. 

After a difficult period that included time away from competition, stavn has now returned to professional play under Ninjas in Pyjamas, where he has finally made the long-discussed transition to the AWP role. His current position can be seen as a delayed realization of the ambitions he originally had during the final days of his HEROIC tenure. 

In hindsight, stavn’s comments help clarify that the “stabbi” saga was not driven by a single calculated plan, but rather by a mix of internal team dynamics, personal career aspirations, and external opportunities arriving at a critical moment. While the controversy surrounding the move continues to shape public perception, his latest statements provide a more nuanced understanding of one of Counter-Strike’s most talked-about roster dramas.