Sweden is taking a measured approach with William Nylander as the 2026 Winter Olympic tournament approaches.
In Milan, during a practice session at the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Tuesday, Nylander was notably absent. Team Sweden's head coach, Sam Hallam, clarified that this absence was simply a precautionary measure, referring to it as "a maintenance thing."
"He’s participated in two full practices with us and felt a bit sore after [Monday]," Hallam explained post-practice. "We decided to give him an extra day of rest and will assess his readiness for Wednesday night’s game against Italy. It might be a last-minute decision depending on how he feels."
Nylander has had a challenging past month, having missed seven consecutive games due to a groin injury in January. He returned to play only three games for the Toronto Maple Leafs before the Olympic break. The decision to give him a maintenance day seems aimed at ensuring he avoids overexertion prior to the more intense competition following the round-robin stage.
In Nylander's absence during practice, Filip Forsberg stepped in, skating alongside Adrian Kempe and Joel Eriksson Ek.
"I’m not overly worried," Hallam reassured. "He’s looked sharp and performed well on the ice during the last two days. Today was just a precaution. We’re still at the beginning of our journey, and there are more significant games ahead, so we need to keep our focus on what matters most."
Rasmus Andersson, a defenseman for Sweden, humorously noted that his recent trade from Calgary to Vegas might have made things "boring" for reporters. This trade saga came to a conclusion just weeks ago when the Golden Knights offered Zach Whitecloud, along with a first-round pick, a second-round pick, and prospect Abram Wiebe to the Flames for Andersson’s services.
“My family remains in Calgary, and I won’t be able to see them for a while,” Andersson lamented. “Thankfully, my wife is flying out to join me soon. However, being away from my kids for about six weeks is tough.”
Coach Hallam has yet to reveal which goaltender will start for Sweden in their opening match against Italy on Wednesday.
"This question has been lingering all year long. Regardless of which three goalies we select for the Olympic roster, I’m confident in any of them," he stated. "We’ve made our choice, but it will remain undisclosed until Wednesday."
Meanwhile, both Team USA and Team Canada took a break on Tuesday. Canadian athletes were spotted enjoying some short-track speed skating, where they celebrated winning a silver medal in the mixed team relay.
