Sweden continues to strengthen its defense – the defending champion “Lightning” will also play in the WC

Victor Hedman | Photo: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Defenseman Victor Hedmans of the Tampa Bay Lightning club of the National Hockey League (NHL) will also help the Swedish hockey team in this year’s world championship.

The 33-year-old Hedman played 78 games in the NHL regular season this season, where he scored 76 (13+63) points and a +18 efficiency rating. Meanwhile, in five “play-off” duels, he has seven (1+6) points and a negative +/- indicator of -1.

Hedmans has been playing for Lightning since 2009. With this team, he won the Stanley Cup twice, became the Stanley Cup Most Valuable Player (MVP) once, was recognized as the best defenseman of the NHL season once, and has been one of the most effective defensemen in the NHL for the last several seasons.

The last time Hedmans played in the world championship was in 2017, when he won gold medals together with the Swedish national team. He helped the team with four (2+2) points and a positive efficiency ratio of +8 in 10 matches. Therefore, Sweden already has 15 NHL players before the World Championship. Buffalo Sabers hockey players have already joined the national team Rasmus Dalin and Viktor Olofssonrepresentatives of the Pittsburgh Penguins Eric Carlson and Marcus Johanssonas well as Andre Burakovskis from Seattle “Kraken”.

The national team still has a puck catcher from the Philadelphia Flyers Samuel Ersonas well as Minnesota Wild goaltenders Philip Gustavson and Jesper Valstedta defender Jonas Brodinas well as attackers Joel Erickson Ex and Marcus Johansson. Sweden will also be represented at this year’s WC Fabian Setterlund (San Jose Sharks), Isaac Lundström (Anaheim “Ducks”) and Lucas Raymond (Detroit Red Wings).

Sweden will play in Group B with Latvia, USA, Germany, Slovakia, France, Kazakhstan and Poland at the World Championship. It should be reminded that last year Latvia defeated Sweden in the 1/4 finals, overcoming this tournament barrier for the first time in history.