Team Sweden unveiled its hockey roster for the Sochi Olympics on Tuesday.
Unsurprisingly, the team was dominated by NHL players; the lone exception was Jimmi Ericsson of Skelleftea AIK in the Swedish League.
The majority of the choices are no-brainers. Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers is the starter despite a rough season while Jhonas Enroth and Jonas Gustavsson are solid backups. Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Alexander Edler are the leaders of the team's defense but have help from other stars including Jonathan Ericsson, Niklas Kronwall, Erik Karlsson and Johnny Oduya among others. The surprise omission from the team's defense is Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman. Hedman is a huge massive presence, but may have been left off due to questions about mobility on the larger ice surface.
At the forward position, the team is loaded with such stars as Henrik Zetterberg, Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Daniel Alfredsson, Nicklas Backstrom, Johan Franzen, Gabriel Landeskog and Loui Eriksson among others.
The Swedes are seen as solid contenders due to their depth but they will rely heavily on Lundqvist to steal games. Unfortunately, he has had minimal success doing that this season for the New York Rangers and is losing his job to rookie Cam Talbot. Lundqvist has lost more games than he has won and has only stopped .906 percent of the shots he has faced this year; his career save percentage stands a .920.
Goaltenders: Jhonas Enroth, Buffalo Sabres; Jonas Gustavsson, Detroit Red Wings; Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers.
Defensemen: Alexander Edler, Vancouver Canucks; Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Phoenix Coyotes; Jonathan Ericsson, Detroit Red Wings; Niklas Hjalmarsson, Chicago Blackhawks; Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators; Niklas Kronwall, Detroit Red Wings; Johnny Oduya, Chicago Blackhawks; Henrik Tallinder, Buffalo Sabres.
Forwards: Daniel Alfredsson, Detroit Red Wings; Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals; Patrik Berglund, St. Louis Blues; Jimmie Ericsson, Skelleftea AIK (SWE); Loui Eriksson, Boston Bruins; Johan Franzen, Detroit Red Wings; Carl Hagelin, New York Rangers; Marcus Kruger, Chicago Blackhawks; Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche; Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks; Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks; Jakob Silfverberg, Anaheim Ducks; Alexander Steen, St. Louis Blues; Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings.