Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Sweden forward William Nylander (88) plays the puck against Team Finland in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Team Sweden officially announced their captaincies for the 2026 Winter Olympics and for William Nylander fans, his lack of a letter is going to be a bit surprising.

Backed by superstars like William Nylander, Rasmus Dahlin, Gabriel Landeskog, Victor Hedman, and even rookie sensation Jesper Wallstadt, the Swedes have a real shot at making the Gold Medal Game; their first since 2014 in Sochi.

Sweden names their leadership group ahead of the 2026 Milan Olympics

The team has named their captains for the tournament and it’s clear they are taking a veteran approach, but it has left William Nylander out of the picture as a leader for Sweden (at least for now):

The official Team Sweden X page posted that the team has named Landeskog as captain with Hedman and Erik Karlsson taking reins of the assistant role.

That means that Nylander won’t be part of the leadership group at the Olympics however it shouldn’t be ignored that not only will he have a huge part overall, but with players like Karlsson retiring before the next Olympics — it could be an audition.

Why Nylander missing out makes sense

It’s unfortunate considering that Nylander was selected last year as part of the 4 Nations leadership group alongside with Hedman, Karlsson and Mattias Ekholm.

Granted, you can’t really argue with the picks. Hedman has been a superstar for the past 15 years, has won two Cups, a Norris Trophy, and has led the Tampa Bay Lightning as captain since 2024-25; when Steven Stamkos left.

Filling those shoes is no easy task but Hedman has done so with aplomb. Then you have Karlsson, the future Hall of Fame defender with three Norris wins and also captained the Ottawa Senators for five seasons after long-time staple Daniel Alfredsson.

Landeskog has led the Avalanche since 2012, and even through a slew of injuries has come in and been a critical piece of the Avs lineup and the team is so much better with him (shocking to say).

He’ll add a bit more of an edge to Sweden too. When you have a captain who doesn’t mind getting in the thick of things; it can change momentum quickly.

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Team Sweden made a leadership call that’s going to surprise William Nylander fans

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