William Nylander Questionable For Sweden’s Olympic Opener

“It’s a maintenance thing,” Hallam told reporters. “He’s done two full practices with us and felt after yesterday a bit sore, so just give him an extra day. We’ll see for tomorrow if he’s ready to go or it’s going to be a pretty late decision.”

Teammate Oliver Ekman-Larsson tried to downplay the concern. Ekman Larsson, who also plays for Toronto, said Nylander is doing fine and suggested there is no panic inside the Swedish camp.

“I don’t want to get into it too much, but I think he’s fine,” Ekman-Larsson said while speaking with TSN.

Groin Injury Continues To Trouble William Nylander

Nylander’s absence from practice is especially notable given his recent history. The 29-year-old has missed 17 games this season for the Maple Leafs, mostly because of a lingering groin injury. That issue has followed him for much of the year.

He returned to Toronto’s lineup on January 31 after missing seven straight games with the same injury. While Nylander has been productive when in the lineup, the Leafs have been cautious about overworking him, and that approach appears to be carrying over to the international stage.

While Sweden is trying to stay calm publicly, Nylander’s health is something the team must be watching closely. As one of the stars of the Swedish roster, any doubt about his availability naturally draws attention just before the Olympics begin.