Gabriel Landeskog named captain of Sweden’s Olympic men’s hockey team

Sweden has a veteran leadership heading into one of the biggest Winter Olympic tournaments in years.

On Sunday, the Swedish Ice Hockey Association announced its captains for the men’s team set to play in Milan this month. Leading the charge is Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, who will be wearing the ‘C’ in Italy. Supporting the veteran center will be Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson.

Karlsson and Landeskog are two of the four players who helped Sweden take home the silver medal at the 2014 Sochi Games, the last time NHLers were allowed to participate, who are also set to play in Milan. Toronto Maple Leafs defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Johansson are also ready to play for Tre Kronor once again. Hedman was expected to play on that team 12 years ago, but an injury kept him from appearing in Russia.

The three captains all played for their country at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

This is the first time Landeskog has represented his country since the 2019 IIHF Men’s World Championship. Along with an Olympic silver medal, he also helped the Swedes win gold at the 2013 and 2017 Men’s Worlds.

Hedman and Karlsson both played at the 4 Nations Face-Off last February, which saw Sweden finish third. Karlsson finished tied for the team lead in scoring with Lucas Raymond, both posting three points in three games.

In the “NHL era” of Olympic hockey, Sweden has one gold medal to its name during that time, earned in 2006, the last time the Winter Games were held in Italy. Tre Kronor missed out on the medal table in 1998, 2002 and 2010.

Sweden opens its Group B schedule on Wednesday when they face the host nation, Italy.