Team Sweden's Health Improving Ahead of Olympics

Key players returning from injuries ahead of men's hockey tournament

Feb. 3, 2026 at 10:07am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

With the 2026 Winter Olympics set to begin this week, Team Sweden has been dealing with a number of key injuries to star players like Leo Carlsson, Jonas Brodin, William Nylander, Victor Hedman, Gabriel Landeskog, and Elias Lindholm. However, the outlook is improving as Nylander and Hedman have returned to play, while Landeskog and Lindholm's status remains uncertain but hopeful.

Why it matters

Sweden is considered one of the top contenders for the men's hockey gold medal at the Olympics, so the health of their star-studded roster is crucial to their chances. The team will need its full complement of talent to compete with powerhouses like Canada, the United States, and Finland.

The details

Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson and Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin have already been ruled out with injuries, dealing a major blow to Sweden's chances. There was also uncertainty surrounding Toronto Maple Leafs star forward William Nylander, Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman, Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog and Boston Bruins center Elias Lindholm. However, Nylander and Hedman have since returned to play, while Landeskog and Lindholm's status remains uncertain but hopeful.

  • The 2026 Winter Olympics are set to begin this week, with men's hockey commencing Feb. 11.
  • Nylander made his return against the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 31.
  • Hedman also came back into the fold against the Bruins in the NHL's Stadium Series on Feb. 1.
  • Landeskog has missed the last 13 games with an upper-body injury he sustained on Jan. 4.
  • Lindholm has missed the past couple of games for the Bruins and didn't make the trip to Tampa for the Stadium Series.

The players

Leo Carlsson

An Anaheim Ducks forward who has been ruled out with an injury.

Jonas Brodin

A Minnesota Wild defenseman who has been ruled out with an injury.

William Nylander

A Toronto Maple Leafs star forward who has returned to play after dealing with an injury.

Victor Hedman

A Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman who has returned to play after dealing with an injury.

Gabriel Landeskog

A Colorado Avalanche forward who has missed the last 13 games with an upper-body injury.

Elias Lindholm

A Boston Bruins center who has missed the past couple of games with an upper-body injury.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“He's pushing the timeline pretty tight, right? So, after Wednesday, I think it's still like another week before those games in the Olympics, and there's some practices in there. With the amount of time before they actually start playing competitive games over there, I think it's probably one of those where you're like, if you're not ready on Wednesday, you can still be ready to start the Olympics.”

— Jared Bednar, Avalanche coach

“Lindholm is day to day and that he does not believe the injury will affect his status for the Olympics.”

— Marco Sturm, Bruins coach

What’s next

Team Sweden will start its quest for Olympic gold Feb. 11 against Italy. It will then face rival Finland on Feb. 13 before rounding out group-stage competition with a matchup against Slovakia on Feb. 14.

The takeaway

With key players like Nylander and Hedman returning from injury and the status of Landeskog and Lindholm still hopeful, Team Sweden's health is improving ahead of the Winter Olympics. Their ability to field a fully healthy roster will be crucial to their chances of competing for the gold medal against the tournament's top contenders.