Sweden, Finland announce men’s hockey rosters for 2026 Olympics: Snubs, surprises and expectations
The New York Times••sports
Key Points:
- Sweden and Finland have announced their men's hockey rosters for the 2026 Winter Olympics with less fanfare compared to Canada and the U.S., but both teams remain strong contenders.
- Sweden's roster features a highly competitive defense group, with notable snubs like Mattias Ekholm and Hampus Lindholm, while young defenseman Simon Edvinsson’s absence is particularly surprising.
- Finland’s roster excludes Jesperi Kotkaniemi due to recent performance issues, and the inclusion of Mikko Lehtonen, a non-NHL player, is a notable surprise; injuries to key players like Patrik Laine and Aleksander Barkov impact their lineup strength.
- Sweden is considered the best non-North American team with strong defensive
