Ekholm omission from Olympic roster ‘tough’ decision for Sweden, coach says
NHL.com••sports
Key Points:
- Team Sweden announced its roster for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, with 18 players returning from the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, but veteran defenseman Mattias Ekholm was notably excluded.
- Coach Sam Hallam described the decision to leave out Ekholm, who expressed disappointment, as difficult but based on the strength and depth of Sweden's defensive core, including stars like Victor Hedman and Erik Karlsson.
- Young defenseman Philip Broberg, recently signed by the St. Louis Blues, was selected over Ekholm, praised for his strong play and mobility despite being 11 years younger.
- Other new additions to the Olympic team include Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Gabriel Landeskog, Pontus Holmberg
