Sweden has named its 25-man men’s hockey roster for Milano Cortina 2026, blending prime-age NHL stars with familiar Olympic faces — and putting a big spotlight on Florida Panthers defenceman Gustav Forsling.
Sweden’s men’s hockey roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina is official — and it’s built to win tight games. The headline names are easy to spot: William Nylander, Elias Pettersson, and Anaheim’s rising center Leo Carlsson give Tre Kronor a high-skill core that can create offense off the rush and on special teams. But the bigger story is how balanced this group looks from top to bottom, especially on the blue line.
Sweden’s selection keeps much of the identity it showed at the 4 Nations Face-Off earlier this year, while making notable tweaks in key areas — particularly in goal. The roster details were published widely on Friday, including the full breakdown shared by the NHL’s Olympics coverage here.
What stands out: elite defense depth, new faces in net
Sweden may not be universally labelled a “top-tier” favourite like Canada or the United States, but it’s hard to find a cleaner roster build outside those two. On defense, Sweden can roll waves: Victor Hedman, Rasmus Dahlin, and Erik Karlsson offer puck-moving punch, while Jonas Brodin, Rasmus Andersson, and Gustav Forsling bring the shutdown toolkit needed for medal-round hockey.
The crease is where Sweden looks most different compared to its earlier tournament group. Filip Gustavsson returns, joined by veteran Jacob Markstrom and highly rated young goalie Jesper Wallstedt, giving Sweden a fresh look between the pipes. That switch matters in the Olympics, where one hot goalie can tilt the entire bracket.
Forsling’s moment: “first Olympics,” big defensive responsibility
One of the most telling selections is Florida Panthers defenceman Gustav Forsling, who is expected to be a key piece at 5-on-5 and on the penalty kill. The Hockey News framed Forsling’s inclusion as more than a name on a list: he’s the type of defender coaches trust when protecting a one-goal lead, facing top lines, or surviving momentum swings in a single-elimination tournament.
Forsling isn’t picked for highlight-reel points — he’s picked for reliability. If Sweden is going to threaten for gold, it will likely do it the “Sweden way”: structured, efficient, and hard to break down. Forsling fits that blueprint perfectly.
Notable adds — and a few big omissions
Sweden made room for a mix of returning leaders and role upgrades. Up front, the group includes experienced names like Gabriel Landeskog along with versatile NHL pieces such as Pontus Holmberg and Alexander Wennberg. The blend gives Sweden line flexibility: scoring skill on top, plus responsible two-way options underneath.
The flip side is that some recognizable names missed the cut. On the blue line, Mattias Ekholm being left off is the one that will raise eyebrows. And when a team chooses youth and mobility — such as Philip Broberg — over a veteran presence, it signals how Sweden wants to play in Milan: quicker exits, faster transitions, fewer penalties.
Sweden’s 25-man roster for Milano Cortina 2026
Forwards
- Jesper Bratt
- Leo Carlsson
- Joel Eriksson Ek
- Filip Forsberg
- Pontus Holmberg
- Adrian Kempe
- Gabriel Landeskog
- Elias Lindholm
- William Nylander
- Elias Pettersson
- Rickard Rakell
- Lucas Raymond
- Alexander Wennberg
- Mika Zibanejad
Defencemen
- Rasmus Andersson
- Philip Broberg
- Jonas Brodin
- Rasmus Dahlin
- Oliver Ekman-Larsson
- Gustav Forsling
- Victor Hedman
- Erik Karlsson
Goaltenders
- Filip Gustavsson
- Jacob Markstrom
- Jesper Wallstedt
Group stage: Sweden opens vs Italy, then Finland and Slovakia
Sweden will begin group play against Italy before facing Finland and Slovakia in the opening round. The Olympic format rewards fast starts: group winners and the best runner-up get a bye into the quarterfinals, while the rest must survive a knockout qualifier.
Why this roster can medal
Sweden’s path to a podium isn’t about outscoring everyone in track meets. It’s about controlling games. The defense group is deep enough to survive matchup pressure, the forwards have elite finishers and playmakers, and the goaltending trio has legitimate upside if one catches fire at the right time.
If the tournament turns into a series of one-goal games — and Olympics often do — Sweden is built for that reality. And with Forsling anchoring the kind of minutes that decide medal games, this roster feels less like a “dark horse” and more like a real threat.
You may also like: Jason Robertson left off Team USA? Fans furious over the Olympic snub
Written by: Swikriti Dandotia
