MILAN — Team Sweden is taking a cautionary approach with William Nylander.
The Maple Leafs forward was absent from Sweden’s practice at Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Tuesday, which head coach Sam Hallam described as “a maintenance thing.”
“He’s done two full practices with us and felt after [Monday] a bit sore,” Hallam said after stepping off the ice. “Just give him an extra day and then we’ll see for [Wednesday night against Italy]. If he’s ready to go or it’s gonna be a pretty late situation.”
After missing seven straight games with a groin injury in January, Nylander competed in just three games for Toronto before the Olympic break.
The maintenance day is presumably to ensure Nylander doesn’t overdo it before the real competition begins after the round-robin format.
Without Nylander, Filip Forsberg skated in his place next to Adrian Kempe and Joel Eriksson Ek.
“Not overly concerned at all,” Hallam said. “He’s been looking pretty sharp and good on the ice for two days. Thought that we’d give him today. It’s short term, but we’re still in the beginning of it, and bigger games coming up. So let’s keep our priorities and focus there.”
Sweden’s Rasmus Andersson joked that it was “boring” for the writers that he was traded from Calgary to Vegas before going to the Olympics.
It’s been a whirlwind few weeks for the defenseman, whose protracted trade saga ended just a few weeks ago when the Golden Knights dealt Zach Whitecloud, a first-round pick, a second-round pick and prospect Abram Wiebe to the Flames for his services.
“My family is still in Calgary and obviously I don’t get to see them for a little while,” Andersson said. “I’m fortunate enough that my wife is flying here in a couple of days. It sucks that I can’t see my kids for about six weeks. That part is tough.”
Hallam did not name his goaltender for Sweden’s opener on Wednesday against Italy.
“That question’s been up there pretty much all year, and I’ve said nevertheless which three goalies we’re going to pick to this group and to the Olympic squad, I’m confident playing either one of them,” he said. “That’s still the feeling, but of course we have made our decision. We’re not going to announce that until [Wednesday].
Team USA and Team Canada were both off Tuesday.
The Canadians were spotted attending short-track speed skating, where their country won silver in the mixed team relay.
