William Nylander makes Team Sweden, and one unexpected Maple Leaf joins him
![Feb 12, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Sweden forward William Nylander (88) plays the puck against Team Canada in overtime during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/i/photo/629770.webp "Feb 12, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Sweden forward William Nylander (88) plays the puck against Team Canada in overtime during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
William Nylander already was a part of Team Sweden for the Olympics, however he wasn't the only Toronto Maple Leafs player to find himself on the roster.
With the Winter Olympics a month or so away, it's time for rosters to be announced as we get to see which NHLers are back in the international spotlight after being prohibited from playing in the 2022 Olympics.
Team Canada and Team USA have announced their rosters, with both lineups featuring a star-studded cast of future hall of famers, current day superstars, and icons of the future.
Team Sweden is the next team on the docket to release their roster as they look to play the spoiler to both Canada and the US' quest for international dominance and they are poised to have a strong group.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson earns nod for Team Sweden amidst stellar season
Headed by Gabriel Landeskog, Erik Karlsson, and William Nylander, it's a talented and quite often overlooked group of talent that is no doubt going to make things very interesting this February.
But in addition to Nylander, it looks like another player donning the Maple Leaf has made Team Sweden: Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
In a much-deserved nod, Ekman-Larsson makes the Swedish Olympic team after a very strong start to his 2025-26 season. Not only has he provided solid defense, but he's got 25 points in 40 games including seven goals; it's vintage OEL.
Maple Leafs impact felt throughout the Swedish lineup
Coincidentally, there's another very familiar face added to Sweden as former Maple Leafs forward Pontus Holmberg; who now plays in Tampa Bay, has made the roster as well.
It's not guaranteed that Ekman-Larsson will appear in every game, as Sweden's defense is actually stacked when you look at it. Karlsson, Rasmus Dahlin, Philip Broberg, Victor Hedman, Jonas Brodin, and potential future Maple Leaf Rasmus Andersson.
That's as deep as you can get when it comes to your back end and it's not surprising to see some Maple Leafs love either directly or indirectly.
Former Maple Leaf forward Alex Steen is a Player Personnel Consultant, so working directly with Director of National Teams Anders Lundberg and coach Sam Hallam; he decided to show some love.
We will get our first taste of seeing Ekman-Larsson potentially in action as Sweden kicks off their journey for gold against host country Italy on Feb. 11.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 2 | 1337 ANSWERS William Nylander makes Team Sweden, and one unexpected Maple Leaf joins him Which medal do you think Team Sweden will end up with in the 2026 Olympics? | ||
| Gold | 163 | 12.2 % |
| Silver | 637 | 47.6 % |
| Bronze | 448 | 33.5 % |
| Won't Medal | 89 | 6.7 % |
| List of polls | ||