The Maple Leafs play their final home game before the NHL takes a break for the mid-season tournament.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander spoke about playing for Team Sweden ahead of his team's final home game before the NHL breaks for the 4 Nations Face-Off next month.
Nylander was named to the team back in the summer as part of the country's 'first six' players and shared that the team has established a way to communicate.
"I think somebody set up a team chat, nobody said anything," Nylander laughed.
It's not surprising that nobody has made the first move in the group chat given the NHL doesn't break until Feb. 8. The Leafs have five games remaining in their schedule until then and Nylander himself said he's keeping the focus on the task at hand as his club prepared to host the Minnesota Wild at Scotiabank Arena.
But despite the lack of communication in the group chat, Nylander has been engaged in some discussions with teammates for the tournament, including New Jersey Devils forward Jesper Bratt.
"I skate with Jesper a little bit in the summer, a tremendous player, and obviously we have a lot of great guys, but he would be a fun guy to play with, that's for sure," Nylander said
The 28-year-old forward has represented Sweden at many different levels but this will be his first best-on-best tournament.
Nylander at the Junior Level:
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Nylander at the Senior Level:
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