Team Sweden head coach doesn’t hold back on Elias Pettersson’s Olympic performance so far
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Elias Pettersson’s coach has given an honest assessment about his play thus far at the 2026 Winter Olympics after Sweden failed to get a bye to the quarterfinals.
Pettersson was able to turn back the clock a little but during Sweden’s final preliminary round game against Juraj Slafkovsky and Team Slovakia, with the Canucks forward scoring twice to give his nation the win, setting up a date with the Latvians in the qualification play-off round on Tuesday.
Elias Pettersson’s coach gives honest assessment of his play at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Note: the following has been translated from Swedish
“I loved his speed from the midfield when he scored his first goal. It was a nice pass from Forsberg. But from the start he plays with good presence, he does the right things, tackles and plays the right way tactically. It means a lot to him to add two goals to that today. All these players need goals like that to get a better feeling.” Hallam said following Saturday’s win over Slovakia.
With the trust of his coach, Elias Pettersson is bound to play an even bigger role on Tuesday after moving back to the middle of the ice this weekend, where he played alongside Filip Forsberg of the Nashville Predators and William Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Now that we’re in win-or-go-home territory at the Winter Olympics, everyone will need to tighten up their game a bit and limit their mistakes and that goes for the Swedes too as Latvia has what it takes to pull off an update.
Tomorrow’s game between Elias Pettersson & Team Sweden and Team Latvia, who’s roster features Vancouver Canucks forward Teddy Blueger, former goaltender Arturs Silovs and Abbotsford Canucks forward Anri Ravinskis, is set for 12:10 pm PT (9:10 pm local).
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Team Sweden head coach doesn’t hold back on Elias Pettersson’s Olympic performance so far
Are you satisfied with how Elias Pettersson has played so far at the 2026 Winter Olympics?