Olympics: 2026 Team Sweden Defence

[Wings4Life]

What could Sweden's defence look like in 2026, when the Hedmans of the league are past their best days?

Twist: choose only defencemen that were drafted from 2016-2020. These guys will be in their primes come the 2026 Winter Olympics. Taking handedness into account, my picks would be:

LD - RD

Dahlin-Liljegren
Broberg-Boqvist
Björnfot-Söderström
Brännström

Click to read more...

 

[Habs76]

I think a 35-year-old Hedman is still going to be an elite defenseman.

In 5 years:
Hedman will be 35
Karlsson will be 35
Klingberg will be 33
Klefbom will be 32
Ekhlom will be 35
OEL will be 34
Lindholm will be 31
Brodin will be 32

If I were to guess, I'd bet on Hedman, Karlsson, Klingberg, Klefbom, Lindholm all still being plenty good enough. Dahlin is a shoe-in, so that leaves one spot for a Broberg/Boqvist/Soderstrom/Bjornfot/Brannstrom/Sandin. I'm not saying only one of them makes it, just that we're only getting a bare minimum of 1 and you went way too heavy on the prospects.

 

[16thOverallSaveUs]

Some more players will definitely emerge between now and then. Right now, probably Dahlin, Hedman, Soderstrom, Broberg, Boqvist for sure. Edvinssom maybe. Brodin/Lindholm very wel could still be very good players. They’re in a good spot

 

[sportsfan944804]

Hedman, Karlsson, Klingberg, OEL, and Dahlin are probably all locks even in 2026. Klefbom is probably done as a player already due to his shoulder.

 

[Puikiou]

LOL at Liljegren being a first pairing defenseman on team Sweden 6 years from now. Can he first prove something in the NHL?

 

[Wings4Life]

Guys, please read the OP:

choose only defencemen that were drafted from 2016-2020.

If I were to guess, I'd bet on Hedman, Karlsson, Klingberg, Klefbom, Lindholm all still being plenty good enough. Dahlin is a shoe-in, so that leaves one spot for a Broberg/Boqvist/Soderstrom/Bjornfot/Brannstrom/Sandin. I'm not saying only one of them makes it, just that we're only getting a bare minimum of 1 and you went way too heavy on the prospects.

It may turn out as you say, particularly if the older crop ages gracefully over the next 6 years, or the younger guys fail to meet their potential. But that is not the premise of this thread.

 

[Wings4Life]

LOL at Liljegren being a first pairing defenseman on team Sweden 6 years from now. Can he first prove something in the NHL?

Alright, aside from Dahlin, which Swedish defencemen drafted 2016-2020 have already proven themselves in the NHL?

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Just realized there were no Swedish D taken in the first round this year. For 2026 I’d do:

Dahlin - Liljegren
Broberg - Soderstrom
Bjornfot - Boqvist

Sweden probably has the best crop coming up for 2026, when these guys will be 25/26 years old.

Hedman will be 35
Karlsson will be 35
Klingberg will be 33
Klefbom will be 32
Ekhlom will be 35
OEL will be 34
Lindholm will be 31
Brodin will be 32

If I were to guess, I'd bet on Hedman, Karlsson, Klingberg, Klefbom, Lindholm all still being plenty good enough.

Good enough for the old yeller treatment Get these geezers outta here.

 

[TheDoldrums]

I guess it's the handedness difference in this case, but as a Leafs fan I think Sandin is much more likely to be a talent worthy of a future Olympic team compared to Liljegren.

 

[ORRFForever]

In 5 years:
Hedman will be 35
Karlsson will be 35
Klingberg will be 33
Klefbom will be 32
Ekhlom will be 35
OEL will be 34
Lindholm will be 31
Brodin will be 32

Wow... Where did the time go?

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Alright, aside from Dahlin, which Swedish defencemen drafted 2016-2020 have already proven themselves in the NHL?

Brannstrom has proven he is too small for the NHL.

Boqvist has proven he still doesn’t know how to defend. Five years might be enough time to sufficiently improve in that area.

 

[theslatcher]

Brannstrom has proven he is too small for the NHL.

Boqvist has proven he still doesn’t know how to defend. Five years might be enough time to sufficiently improve in that area.

I'm with you, 40 games is a great measuring stick for 19, & 20 year olds. If you aren't in your prime by then you better head to Italy, but even that might be too good for you, Kent Nilsson played in that league, and you aint Kentan!!!

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Dahlin-Boqvist
Hedman-Lindholm
Broberg-Soderstrom
Brannstrom/Brodin/Edvinsson

 

[Habs76]

Guys, please read the OP:





It may turn out as you say, particularly if the older crop ages gracefully over the next 6 years, or the younger guys fail to meet their potential. But that is not the premise of this thread.

Ah. I read the premise as being a prediction for the 2026 olympic team. My bad.

In that case, I think you put the lesser of two Swedish Leafs D prospects on your roster. So that'a an area to fix.

 

[Chimpradamus]

Although it's fun to speculate on, since the NHL is in charge of all international competition that matters, we won't see any international competition that matters for a long time. It's like we're back into the cold war and the 70s. Thanks NHL, you make sure no one can miss the cold war era. It's the Murican way!

 

[theslatcher]

Although it's fun to speculate on, since the NHL is in charge of all international competition that matters, we won't see any international competition that matters for a long time. It's like we're back into the cold war and the 70s. Thanks NHL, you make sure no one can miss the cold war era. It's the Murican way!

New CBA has NHL players able to participate in next 2 olympics. Of course, players had to bargain for that right.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

I'm with you, 40 games is a great measuring stick for 19, & 20 year olds. If you aren't in your prime by then you better head to Italy, but even that might be too good for you, Kent Nilsson played in that league, and you aint Kentan!!!

 

[Blacephalon]

Brannstrom has proven he is too small for the NHL.

You must be joking

 

[Tomas W]

I have given up a bit on Karlsson. Hedman at 35? If he can stay out of injuries, he will be a great team Captain.

Klingberg fore sure.

OEL...

I think Larsson is a player team Sweden like so him as well.

Dahlin will be there.

From this WJC? Hard to say...maybe one of Söderström or Broberg.

 

[LeafChief]

I don't know why but it surprised me that Karlsson and Hedman are the same age.

 

[GREENs Guardian]

Hedman, Karlsson, Klingberg, OEL, and Dahlin are probably all locks even in 2026. Klefbom is probably done as a player already due to his shoulder.

Completely ridiculous take. Locks 6 years from now? To believe this is to display a complete lack of understanding for player development and how strong the youth are in the swedish hockey system. Completely preposterous take, had to read it over three times to make sure my vision hadnt gone.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

I guess it's the handedness difference in this case, but as a Leafs fan I think Sandin is much more likely to be a talent worthy of a future Olympic team compared to Liljegren.

As a guy who saw most of their AHL/NHL games last year, I disagree.

Sandin is a ‘safe’ prospect who is a good bet to become a middle pairing D in the NHL one day, possibly a little bit more than that with some luck. That said, he has no elite qualities that are required to be an Olympic level defenceman on a powerhouse roster. He is below average in size, average to above average in skating, average to below average defensively. Short of a massive injury crisis to Tre Kronor, I don’t ever see Sandin playing on Sweden’s Olympic roster.

Liljegren on the other hand has some elite tools, including his skating, hands, and stretch passes. He is bigger and faster than Sandin. Though a less ‘safe’ prospect than Sandin, if Liljegren reaches close to his potential he can definitely play on the right side for Sweden one day.

I do agree with your point about handedness though. Having Dahlin pinned ahead of him on the left side makes life a lot tougher on Sandin relative to Liljegren.

 

[LMFAO]

Congrats to Liljgren to go from demoted to ECHL couple of years ago to a first pairing olympian baby!!!

 

[Eye of Ra]

Oduya is coming out of his retirement and will take a spot.

 

[Frozen Lake]

Broberg has looked terrible recently - I truly dont understand the hype there. Simply because hes Swedish?

Hes been one of Sweden's worst players by far this tournament