Apr 23, 2018
Karlsson declines spot on Sweden for WHC
Sweden has released the first 12 names on their roster for next month's world hockey championship in Denmark. Dallas Stars defenceman John Klingberg and Arizona Coyotes blueliner Oliver Ekman-Larsson headline the roster for Sweden, who won gold at the tournament last year.
TSN.ca Staff
Dallas Stars defenceman John Klingberg and Arizona Coyotes blueliner Oliver Ekman-Larsson headline Sweden's roster for next month's world hockey championship in Denmark.
Sweden, who defeated Canada in a shootout for gold last year, named 14 NHL players to their roster for the tournament.
Sweden also released a list of players who declined the option to play at the tournament. Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson was among the 18 who declined an invitation, in a group which also includes Detroit Red Wings veterans Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall, along with Vancouver Canucks defenceman Alexander Edler.
New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, as previously reported, declined due to a knee injury. The Rangers will, however, be represented by Mika Zibanejad and rookie Lias Andersson.
The Canadian NHL teams will be represented by Mikael Backlund of the Calgary Flames, Adam Larsson of the Edmonton Oilers, Jacob de la Rose of the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators forward Magnus Pääjärvi and Vancouver Cancuks goaltender Anders Nilsson.
The tournament runs May 4-20 in Copenhagen and Herning, Denmark.
Below is the full Swedish roster
Goaltenders
Filip Gustavsson, Ottawa Senators
Anders Nilsson, Vancouver Canucks
Magnus Hellberg, Kunlun Red Stars
Defence
John Klingberg, Dallas Stars
Mikael Wikstrand, Färjestads BK
Adam Larsson, Edmonton Oilers
Lawrence Pilut, HV 71
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Arizona Coyotes
Erik Branstrom, HV 71
Adam Almqvist, Frölunda HC
Erik Gustafsson, Chicago Blackhawks
Forwards
Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings
Mikael Backlund, Calgary Flames
Johan Larsson, Buffalo Sabers
Mattias Janmark, Dallas Stars
Jacob Nilsson, Mora IK
Dennis Everberg, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk
Patrik Zackrisson, Sibir Novisibirsk
Lias Andersson, New York Rangers
Jacob de la Rose, Montreal Canadiens
John Norman, Jokerit Helsinki
Axel Jonsson Fjällby, Djurgårdens IF
Carl Klingberg, EV Zug
Magnus Pääjärvi, Ottawa Senators
Mika Zibanejad, New York Rangers
The following NHL players declined their invitation:
Anton Forsberg
Henrik Lundqvist
Erik Karlsson
Alexander Edler
Henrik Zetterberg
Niklas Kronwall
Jonathan Ericsson
Patrik Berglund
Oscar Klefbom
Victor Rask
Niklas Hjalmarsson
Carl Gunnarsson
Jesper Fast
Alexander Steen
Jacob Markström
Joakim Nordström
Elias Lindholm
Mattias Janmark
The following NHL players were not asked:
Christian Folin
Oscar Fantenberg
Pontus Åberg
Klas Dahlbeck
Fredrik Claesson
Robin Lehner
Eddie Läck