'They've Just Talked To Me A Little Bit Maybe To Play With (Mika) Zibanejad': William Nylander Reveals Early Talks With Team Sweden Ahead Of 4 Nations Face-Off
As Team Sweden's 4 Nations Face-Off roster was announced on Saturday, Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander was prepping for a matchup against the Nashville Predators.
All four countries participating in the tournament — Canada, the United States, Finland, and Sweden — revealed their 23-man rosters. Nylander's nation, and Finland, did so on Saturday afternoon.
After scoring in Toronto's 3-2 win over Nashville on Saturday, the 28-year-old forward stepped in front of the cameras inside Scotiabank Arena and was immediately questioned about his thoughts on Sweden's roster.
"I actually haven’t seen it yet. When did it come out?" Nylander asked, before a reporter responded, saying, Saturday afternoon.
"I’ll take a look at it. Probably have a really good team, anyway," the forward added with a cheeky smile.
Nylander was one of six early selections to Team Sweden's roster in June, which included New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad, Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson, and Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling.
The forward admitted on Saturday that — after being selected to Sweden's roster in June — he has had discussions with the country about who he could be on a line with ahead of the tournament.
"I mean, they’ve just talked to me a little bit maybe to play with Zibanejad so I think that would be a lot of fun," Nylander said.
The 4 Nations Face-Off runs from Feb. 12 to 20, with games played inside the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, and TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
There's a lot of firepower on all four teams, plus a ton of good goaltending. Sweden, with the Minnesota Wild's Filip Gustavsson, the New Jersey Devils' Jacob Markstrom, and the Ottawa Senators' Linus Ullmark, could have the second-best trio in goal, behind the United States.
Nylander called those selections, "three incredible goaltenders," on Saturday, before admitting that "it’s hard to say who will take the first spot there."
The Maple Leafs will have one player on each of the four teams in February's tournament: Nylander on Sweden, Mitch Marner on Team Canada, Auston Matthews on United States, and Jani Hakanpaa on Team Finland.
Each hasn't represented their country in several years at a tournament like this, or the Olympics, meaning the 4 Nations Face-Off will be something each of Toronto's players will be looking forward to.
It’s going to be lots of fun," Nylander said when asked what it'll be like to be up against Matthews and Marner in international competition. "I’m excited for that."
