Team Sweden mysteriously benches Leafs’ Ekman-Larsson, Predators’ Forsberg
Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
In Sweden's first game of the Olympics, they beat Italy 5-2, but there was a mysterious benching of Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg.
The 2026 Olympics are officially underway, and Team Sweden picked up a 5-2 win over Italy in their opening game.
But there were multiple mysterious beachings on the part of Sweden that have fans pondering what it means.
Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in 2024, played exactly zero minutes during the win.
Additionally, Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg played a single shift consisting of 1:07.
It was a mysterious roster decision by the Swedish coaching staff to bench two of the more veteran players on their roster.
Ekman-Larsson has 34 points (8G, 26A) in 57 games this year, his second in a Maple Leafs sweater after signing as a UFA from the Stanley Cup-winning Panthers in 2024.
Forsberg, one of the top forwards for the Predators, has 47 points (24G, 23A) in 57 games.
Whether or not both players will be getting more ice time in Sweden's next game, which is against Team Finland on Friday, remains to be decided by the coaching staff.
Team Sweden Beat Team Italy 5-2 In The Opening Game Of The Olympics
Even though Ekman-Larsson didn't play, his Maple Leafs teammate William Nylander scored the GWG for Sweden.
Gabriel Landeskog, Gustav Forsling, Mika Zibanejad and Victor Hedman all scored for Sweden.
Italy's Luca Frigo and Matthew Bradley scored for Italy, who were the heavy underdogs.
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