Markstrom Injury Brings Changes to Sweden’s Four Nations Roster

Sweden’s Goaltending Duo

The injury to Markstrom raises concerns about Sweden’s goaltending depth, but the situation may not be as dire as it seems. Heading into the tournament, Filip Gustavsson is likely to serve as Sweden’s starting goalie. Gustavsson has had a solid season, posting a .913 save percentage, and appears ready to take on the challenge.

Backing him up will be Ersson, who has experienced some struggles at the NHL level but has proven he can keep his team competitive in tight games. With the Philadelphia Flyers, Ersson has helped the team win seven of his last nine starts. While his save percentage may not stand out, his ability to deliver consistent victories has been evident this season.

A tandem of Gustavsson and Ersson is a realistic possibility for Sweden, although the status of Linus Ullmark remains a wildcard. The Ottawa Senators netminder has yet to be ruled out and would provide a significant boost if healthy. Ullmark was in outstanding form before his injury, making him the most reliable option should he be available.

Although Markstrom’s absence is a setback, Sweden’s goaltending group still has the potential to hold its own in the tournament.

Other Swedish Injury Problems

Aside from Jacob Markstrom and Linus Ullmark’s injuries, forward William Karlsson has been announced to be injured week-to-week. Karlsson would be a massive loss for Team Sweden.

He has been having a bit of a down season compared to his 60-point campaign in 2023-24 however, the veteran still brings a lot to the table. Karlsson is a valuable two-way forward who was part of a Stanley Cup championship in 2023. His experience playing in highly important games would be missed as Sweden’s roster lacks deep playoff experience. The only other forwards on the team with that kind of experience are Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson, and Mika Zibanejad.

Hopefully, William Karlsson will be healthy by the tournament, as fans want to see the best from all teams.

The Four Nations tournament begins February 12th, with Sweden taking on Canada.

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