Sweden picked Jesper Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson of the Minnesota Wild and Jacob Markstrom of the New Jersey Devils as its goaltenders for the Winter Olympics.
Coach Sam Hallam unveiled the country’s 25-player roster on Friday, with a handful of changes from the 4 Nations Face-Off early last year, when Sweden did not lose any of its games in regulation. Gone are goalies Linus Ullmark and Samuel Ersson, defenseman Mattias Ekholm and forward Viktor Arvidsson.
Among the new faces are Gabriel Landeskog, Philip Broberg, Pontus Holmberg and Alex Wennberg. Landeskog, who returned to hockey last spring after missing two full seasons because of a chronic knee injury, is one of just a few players on any team who participated in the Sochi Olympics in 2014.
Victor Hedman, a notable snub 12 years ago, is on injured reserve after undergoing elbow surgery, though the Tampa Bay Lightning expect their captain to return before the Olympic break begins in February. Hedman was among the first six players Sweden named to its roster in June.
AP Olympic coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) clears the puck as Toronto Maple Leafs centre Max Domi (11) gives chase during second period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Tuesday Dec. 30, 2025. T(Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt (30) stops a shot during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Tage Thompson and Clayton Keller helped the U.S. win the world hockey championship for the first time since 1933, while Seth Jones was a key part of the Florida Panthers' second consecutive Stanley Cup run.
Those contributions earned them a spot on the U.S. team at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics as the only three additions from the 4 Nations Face-Off early last year.
USA Hockey unveiled its roster Friday on the “Today” show, with a vast majority of it made up of players who took part in the NHL-run international tournament in February, when the Americans made the final before losing to Canada in overtime. The only ones not back from the 4 Nations are forward Chris Kreider and former New York Rangers teammate Adam Fox, the 2021 Norris Trophy winner as the NHL's top defenseman.
“It was incredibly difficult for our management group to get to the final roster and that’s a credit to so many in our country, including all those at the grassroots level who help make our sport so strong," general manager Bill Guerin said. "There’s nothing like the Olympics and I know our players and staff will represent our country well and work hard to achieve our ultimate goal.”
Keller, who's captain of the Utah Mammoth and tied for their lead in scoring, wore the “C" at worlds. Thompson, who plays for the Buffalo Sabres, was a point-a-game producer.
The U.S. followed Canada's lead after its northern neighbor also chose a 4 Nations-heavy roster. But while Canada made some changes in net beyond starter Jordan Binnington, the Americans went with the same three goaltenders: Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman.
Left off were Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars, who's leads U.S. players in points this season, and a couple other elite goal scorers, Cole Caufield and Alex DeBrincat.
Guerin and his management staff, along with coach Mike Sullivan, prioritized experience and players they knew well. That meant sticking with depth forwards Vincent Trocheck and Brock Nelson over Robertson and others.
Teams are allowed 25 players at the Olympics, up from 23 at the 4 Nations, and can dress 20 skaters — typically 13 forwards and seven defenseman, along with two goalies. The first U.S. game is Feb. 12 against Latvia.
AP Olympic coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
FILE - Florida Panthers Seth Jones carries the Stanley Cup during the NHL hockey team's Stanley Cup championship celebration, Sunday, June, 22, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin, File)
FILE - Sweden's Marcus Johansson falls by United States' Tage Thompson during the semifinal match between Sweden and the United States at the ice hockey world championships in Stockholm,Sweden, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
FILE - United States' Clayton Keller holds up the tropy after the final match between United States and Switzerland at the ice hockey world championships in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
