The excitement is building as the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 men's hockey tournament is set to kick off this Wednesday! This tournament marks a significant moment as it will be the first time NHL players have participated since the 2014 Sochi Olympics. All twelve teams will battle it out in three preliminary matches within their respective groups, and then they will advance to a single-elimination playoff that culminates in the gold medal game scheduled for February 22.
Team Sweden, placed in Group B, will launch its campaign against Team Italy on February 11 at 3:10 p.m. ET, with broadcasts available on platforms like Peacock, USA Network, CBC Gem, Sportsnet, TSN, and CBC. Following that, they’ll face Team Finland on February 13 and Team Slovakia on February 14.
While Sweden officially unveiled its roster on January 2, NHL.com has taken the initiative to speculate on what the forward lines, defensive pairings, and goalie depth chart for various countries could look like.
In our analysis today, NHL.com’s senior writers, Amalie Benjamin and Tom Gulitti, step into the role of Team Sweden's coaches and present their anticipated lineup:
Forwards
- Jesper Bratt -- Mika Zibanejad -- William Nylander
- Filip Forsberg -- Elias Pettersson -- Lucas Raymond
- Adrian Kempe -- Joel Eriksson Ek -- Rickard Rakell
- Gabriel Landeskog -- Elias Lindholm -- Alexander Wennberg
- Pontus Holmberg
- Marcus Johansson
One notable adjustment from our previous lineup is the replacement of Leo Carlsson from the Anaheim Ducks with Marcus Johansson of the Minnesota Wild due to a thigh injury. The absence of this emerging talent in Sweden’s first line results in a reshuffle, moving the experienced Zibanejad from a third-line wing position to first-line center. This change allows him to reunite with Bratt and Nylander, with whom he previously played during the Four Nations Face-Off competition. Keeping the same trio from that event ensures some much-needed continuity for Team Sweden. Nylander has been in solid form since his return on January 31, where he racked up four points (one goal and three assists) over his last two games after recovering from a groin injury.
Lucas Raymond will take on a second-line role alongside Forsberg and Pettersson, who also showcased their chemistry during the Four Nations, forming what promises to be an outstanding second line. This is one of the advantages of Sweden's depth, as coach Sam Hallam has a wealth of talented forwards at his disposal. The third line remains robust with Kempe, Eriksson Ek, and Rakell, although Landeskog, captain of the Colorado Avalanche, could easily step into that role. He has been sidelined since January 4 due to an upper-body injury but expressed optimism on Wednesday about being fit for the Olympics.
Defensemen
- Victor Hedman -- Rasmus Dahlin
- Gustav Forsling -- Erik Karlsson
- Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Rasmus Andersson
- Philip Broberg
- Hampus Lindholm
In terms of the defense, there’s been a mix of good and bad news regarding injuries. On the bright side, Victor Hedman, who won the Norris Trophy in the 2017-18 season and has been a finalist six times for the league's top defenseman award, has successfully returned to the Tampa Bay Lightning lineup following elbow surgery on December 15. However, Jonas Brodin of the Minnesota Wild will miss the tournament due to surgery for a persistent lower-body injury. Nevertheless, Sweden's defensive lineup remains strong with Bruins' Hampus Lindholm stepping in for Brodin. Both Karlsson and Andersson are the only right-handed shots in the group, meaning at least one left-shot player will need to play on the opposite side. Dahlin, who regularly plays on the right side for the Buffalo Sabres, is likely to fit in well alongside Hedman. Keeping Karlsson paired with Forsling, after their impressive performance together at the Four Nations, is a strategic move. Furthermore, Ekman-Larsson and Andersson are capable of adding offensive contributions to the third pairing; Ekman-Larsson has experience playing on the right side, making him a viable option for the games in Milano Cortina.
Goalies
- Filip Gustavsson
- Jacob Markstrom
- Jesper Wallstedt
Filip Gustavsson is currently regarded as the frontrunner to start in Sweden's Olympic opener against Italy on February 11, having put together an impressive season with the Minnesota Wild. After initially struggling, he has rebounded with a record of 18 wins, 3 losses, and 5 overtime losses, along with a goals-against average of 2.39 and a save percentage of .913, including two shutouts since November 1. Meanwhile, rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt has made a name for himself by pushing Gustavsson for playing time, boasting an early record of 8-0-2 with a dazzling 1.74 GAA and .944 save percentage in his first ten starts. However, he has faced challenges recently, going 6-5-2 with a 3.51 GAA and .891 save percentage since December 6. Although Jacob Markstrom has had an inconsistent season with the New Jersey Devils, recording 15 wins, 13 losses, and 1 overtime loss with a 3.20 GAA and .882 save percentage, his extensive experience over 16 seasons in the NHL adds valuable depth to the team.
