4 Nations Face-Off: Three Final Roster Projections For Team Sweden
Erik Karlsson and William Nylander
John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off roster announcements take place on Wednesday, and it's time to predict who will be on Team Sweden.
Editor in chief Ryan Kennedy, managing editor of digital media Michael Traikos and senior digital correspondent Adam Proteau each submitted a projected roster for Sweden, just as they did for Canada, the U.S. and Finland, which will be the last to share.
As is the case with every 4 Nations Face-Off team, the first six picks for Team Sweden were already announced:
F: William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs)
F: Mika Zibanejad (New York Rangers)
F: Filip Forsberg (Nashville Predators)
D: Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning)
D: Gustav Forsling (Florida Panthers)
D: Erik Karlsson (Pittsburgh Penguins)
With stars William Nylander (25 points), Forsberg (17) and Zibanejad (17) leading the way, the Swedes have more than enough high-end depth to win it all.
The consensus picks for Team Sweden on all three projected rosters also guarantee a high-paced, offensively dynamic attack.
Up front, Sweden has a strong group of primary producers in Adrian Kempe (24 points), Jesper Bratt (31), Elias Pettersson (21) and Lucas Raymond (25). Mikael Backlund, Gustav Nyquist, William Karlsson and Elias Lindholm can play two-way games.
Veteran D-men Rasmus Dahlin (19) and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (eight) are more than capable of contributing on offense, while Mattias Ekholm (10) will give Sweden a much-needed physical edge while chipping in some offense as well.
All three goalies were the same for each squad. Jacob Markstrom (.902 SP, 2.62 GAA) and Linus Ullmark (.888 SP, 3.07 GAA) have had rollercoaster seasons this year, and that’s why Filip Gustavsson (.929 SP, 2.05 GAA) is widely expected to be the consensus pick to be Sweden’s starter in net.
Here are the full projections.
Adam Proteau's Projected Team
(Don't see the list? Click here.)
Team Sweden doesn't have room for many youngsters, as Raymond and Dahlin are the only players younger than 25 years old on this projection.
At the other end of the age spectrum, Erik Karlsson, Ekman-Larsson, Markstrom and Backlund bring an abundance of veteran know-how to the table.
Otherwise, this Team Sweden is built around elite puck-possession players, and there’s no shortage of finishing power.
Accomplished veterans make for an extremely talented defense corps, including Stanley Cup champions Hedman and Ekman-Larsson and three-time Norris Trophy winner Karlsson. And there’s some bite to this Team Sweden with Ekholm and Arvidsson, who is currently sidelined but should be healthy in time for the tournament.
As for the snubs, Leo Carlsson is below four other centers on Sweden’s depth chart. Hampus Lindholm is currently week-to-week with an injury on a struggling Bruins squad. Adam Larsson just doesn’t have the individual numbers (one goal, three points) to justify him being on this team.
As it stands, this Team Sweden is swift, slick and superb at all positions, and there’s every possibility they can pull off an upset and win the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Ryan Kennedy's Projected Team
(Don't see the list? Click here.)
In announcing six players for each roster during the summer, the NHL put the 4 Nations tournament on the map and into the minds of hockey fans everywhere.
Unfortunately for Sweden, it also locked them in on Erik Karlsson, who has been having a dreadful season with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
With Forsling and Hedman also named, the Tre Kronor only have four open spots on the back end - and many great candidates. Names such as Jonas Brodin, Hampus Lindholm and Rasmus Andersson came up short, though all three would be worthy additions. But Ekholm is a sure thing and Ekman-Larsson's versatile game and championship experience make him very intriguing.
Dahlin is an excellent puck-mover and represents the present/future of Swedish hockey. Perhaps there's an argument that Larsson gets usurped, though the Seattle veteran boasts great size and defensive acumen.
The key for Swedish management is going to be figuring out which combination of blueliners will cover all skill sets needed in the most elite way possible.
Michael Traikos' Projected Team
(Don't see the list? Click here.)
Despite having some offensive weapons in Nylander and Forsberg, Sweden’s strength is its defense. But it’s also where the toughest decisions have to be made.
Had the team not made Karlsson one of its early locks, chances are the Penguins defenseman would be on the outside looking in. As such, there will be at least one — maybe two or three — glaring omissions from a group that includes Lindholm, Brodin and Broberg.
One player who increased his odds of making the team is Ekman-Larsson, who showed during last season’s Stanley Cup run that he is more than just an offensive defenseman. The fact that he plays in under the spotlight in Toronto and has added a bit of physicality to his game should make him tough to leave off.
In net, Gustavsson has gone from someone who may have been considered a third option to the odds-on favorite to be named starter, thanks to a hot start in Minnesota. The only question is whether Markstrom or Ullmark will back him up.
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