Meet the Team: Sweden's roster for the 2025 World Juniors

Magnus Hävelid surprised many of us with his selections during this year’s press conference when the team was announced. Players like Olof Glifford, Noel Fransén, Leo Sahlin Wallenius, Alfons Freij, Axel Landén, Noel Nordh, and Noah Dower-Nilsson were more frequently projected among writers to make the team compared to some of the players who were ultimately selected. Hävelid is known for building good chemistry and getting his teams to perform in short tournaments; he deserves the benefit of the doubt in this case.

He has explained some of his thoughts in interviews, noting that he favoured a third goalie playing in North America because he plans to use only two goalies during the tournament. He reasoned that it’s better for the Sweden-based players to continue playing games rather than travel overseas and not play. He also stated that the team would likely rely heavily on their top defencemen in all situations and only chose seven defencemen for this reason. Additionally, he selected the final roster immediately, opting to forego a pre-camp. I interpret this as Sweden aiming to conserve all their players' competitive energy for the actual tournament. Some of the selections also appear to be role-based rather than purely talent-based, prioritizing players who excel at high-paced play.

As usual with Swedish World Junior Championship teams, a significant question mark is how the players who don’t play at the top of the lineup on their club teams will handle the pressure in this high-stakes tournament. Sweden has a history of excelling in the group stages of the WJC but often falls short of winning the gold medal. This Swedish roster isn’t as strong as last year’s team, which featured a blend of two strong age groups (2004 and 2005), but they should still be competitive for medals.

The Roster:

Forwards:

Otto Stenberg – LW, Malmö (SHL)

St. Louis Blues, 2023 NHL Draft, first round, 25th overall

Otto Stenberg has been a reliable point producer at junior events putting up big numbers both at the U18’s as U20’s last season. He will be a key part of Sweden’s offense this year as well playing on a topline and in key situations. He has yet to succeed at the SHL level though. After a strong stint in Hockeyallsvenskan last season he changed the SHL team to Malmö in hope of getting a bigger role. So far, it hasn’t worked out and his ice-time has diminished and he has practically been a fourth line player heading into this tournament. Luckily for Sweden, he doesn’t have to play SHL-hockey at the World juniors. His puck skills and instinct based offensive game will be a dangerous threat.

David Edstrom – C, Frölunda (SHL)

Nashville Predators, 2023 NHL Draft, first round, 32nd overall (By Vegas)

David Edstrom will be the top center for this team. He comes into this tournament with a strong SHL campaign. He checks all kinds of boxes in his SHL game with impressive defensive plays as well as he is quick to find open space and scoring chances offensively. He isn’t an offensive manipulator but a strong connector and his impressive athleticism and elasticity along with his hockey IQ makes him effective in all three zones although not being a technically strong skater. I could see a case of him not being as dominant in the junior game as his game fits a more structured type of hockey, but nonetheless, a key player for Sweden.  

Felix Unger Sörum – C/RW, Chicago (AHL)

Carolina Hurricanes, 2023 NHL Draft, second round, 62nd overall

Felix Unger Sörum is a highly intelligent forward who played at the Men’s worlds championship last spring. The way he sees, plans and executes plays with strong awareness makes him effective. Carolina has him playing in the AHL this season and as a center as well. Sweden has many natural centers which gives them a luxury to use Felix as a winger too if they want to build a top-heavy forward group. Felix will either way be a driver on the line he plays and should be a productive playmaker at this level.

Felix Nilsson – C, Rögle (SHL)

Nashville Predators, 2023 NHL Draft, second round, 43rd overall

Felix Nilsson’s offensive game has improved this season in the SHL. He’s a full-time centre there now and plays on the power play. Felix protects the puck well and moves the puck with good reach. He doesn't need much space to create scoring chances and opens up space, too. He plays an intense defensive game and gives good puck support. He sees the ice well and has a strong passing and playmaking game. He can create from various positions and in different ways. He should be a top 6 forward on this team and I like what he can bring down the middle even if he is a good winger as well.

Anton Wahlberg – LW, Rochester (AHL)

Buffalo Sabres, 2023 NHL Draft, second round, 39th overall

Anton Wahlberg is a power forward prospect who can move up and down a line-up. His NHL projection is as a bottom-six player while he will most probably play in a top-six role here. Wahlberg’s skating is a strength. He has some speed in straight lines and tends to create individually through carries and cuts to the inside. He can also show good timing at popping into open spaces and is a good net-front player as well. He plays full-time AHL hockey this season. He started the season well but his production and ice-time have been lowered as of late so it will probably be good for him to get a chance to contribute more to his team here.

Victor Eklund – LW/RW, Djurgården (Hockeyallsvenskan)

Draft eligible 2025

Victor Eklund is the most interesting forward on the roster being a consensus top-10 player in the upcoming draft and the only DY-player on this team. Eklund is an energy player with a lot of skill. He is very agile and quick on his feet in combination with impressive puck skills and can turn opponents inside out in small areas. He also plays with impressive awareness and is a puck retrieving machine. He generates a lot of offensive plays per shift and isn’t afraid to get his nose dirty. Although being small you have to look out for his reverse hits and inside-drive in the offensive zone. He is also quite a good shooter. He can play in any role or situation in this tournament. 

Isac Hedqvist - LW, Luleå (SHL)

Undrafted

We liked Isac Hedqvist in his draft year and he also got a camp invite with the Toronto Maple Leafs that year although not being drafted. He now is a good bottom-six winger at the SHL level. He plays with intensity and energy but also reads the game very well. He is a smart forechecker, good at recovering pucks as well as he has an inside-drive to create and is a decent passer. He will be a very effective player for Sweden shutting down games or to create energy and puck possession. A good skater and smart checker with good hands and playmaking. An underrated player.

Zeb Forsfjäll C, Skellefteå (SHL)

Seattle Kraken, 2023 NHL Draft, sixth round, 180th overall

Zeb Forsfjäll was on the team last year in a bottom-six role and I see a similar role for him this year but with bigger responsibilities. He is a mobile and smart player in all three zones. He doesn’t have any standout puck skills but is a decent playmaker. He will be important as a defensive assignment player here first hand. His hockey sense helps him to make fast decisions at high speed where he also handles the puck well. He positions himself well in all three zones and gives good puck support for both his wingers and defensemen. 

Oskar Vuollet LW/RW, Skellefteå (SHL)

Carolina Hurricanes, 2024 NHL Draft, fifth round, 133rd overall

Oskar Vuollet had a strong start to the season and produced points at the SHL level early on. The production has staggered since but at this level I see him as a good scoring threat on this team. He has a knack of popping in open spaces with good timing. He is a quick player but with a not-so-good skating technique. He shows explosiveness and makes quick decisions with the puck. He creates give-and-go’s to move the puck in the offensive zone and he is also capable of carrying the puck through an offensive zone entry and making a separating play inside the offensive blue line to start an attack. He is a top-six candidate for this team and a player that will be able to produce chances and goals.

Herman Träff – RW, HV71 (SHL)

New Jersey Devils, 2024 NHL Draft, third round, 91st overall

Herman Träff is a big and skilled power forward who likes to attack the middle with speed. He often retrieves the puck through give-and-go plays. He is inconsistent but has a good highlight package and looks like a powerful player in his best looks. He can make skilled dekes at high speed but lacks playmaking, spacing and the ability to control the pace of the opponents. He is a type of WJC-player that you can see score impressive goals at the event but end up with three or four points in seven games. He has looked good in his first full senior year and his strengths translate quite well to the senior level as well.

Jack Berglund – C/LW, Färjestad (SHL)

Philadelphia Flyers, 2024 NHL Draft, second round, 51st overall

Jack Berglund has made some good developmental strides this season and shown adaptability to the senior game. He is a player that seeks the net often with good timing and uses his size and reach to be a dangerous player there. Berglund is very strong on the puck and strong along the boards also. He wins battles against men and can make good boards-to-the-middle plays. He is a sluggish skater and struggles to generate speed from his strides but it rarely gets him into trouble as he takes smart routes. He lacks standout offensive tools but could be an effective player at this event, especially physically.

David Granberg – C/LW, Luleå (SHL)

Undrafted

David Granberg is a low-paced skilled forward with good size who works hard. Granberg has adapted well to senior hockey in a bottom-six role after being a top-line player at junior level. He positions himself smart and wins puck duels due to good positioning and good stick work. He is good at covering the puck and a decent playmaker as a decent shooter. He isn’t drafted and probably is fast enough for the NHL but he has a quick mind and some skills. He will be a bottom-six provider on this team. 

Linus Eriksson – C, Djurgården (Hockeyallsvenskan)

Florida Panthers, 2024 NHL Draft, second round, 58th overall

Linus Eriksson is a well-rounded center that hasn’t had a smooth start to this season. He has struggled with injury and ice-time which may affect his chances of getting a key role on this team. He’s a responsible two-way player and a prototypical third-line centre. He isn’t flashy but reliable and can move the puck at pace. He positions himself well defensively who covers up and supports teammates.

Dennis Altörn - C/LW, Leksand (SHL)

Undrafted

Dennis Altörn is the biggest surprise on this forward roster.. He hasn’t played a single game with a national team through his junior career but gets selected here at the last and biggest tournament. He probably won’t see much ice-time as Sweden has 14 forwards on the roster but he is a big forward that can play at a high pace. He makes quick decisions with the puck and has a decent shot.

Defensemen:

Axel Sandin-Pellikka – D, Skellefteå (SHL)

Detroit Red Wings, 2023 Draft, first round, 17th overall

Axel Sandin-Pellikka is one of the biggest stars going into the tournament and undoubtedly the best player on this team. He has dominated at the SHL level and his offensive skills are elite. His fantastic four-way mobility, puck handling and shot will be a dominant factor for Sweden’s offense. It will be interesting to see how he handles forechecking pressure on smaller ice as that might be a key on how fast he can step in at the NHL once he moves to North America. He can be prone to make mistakes there at the SHL level. His all-around defensive game is solid though and he plays with aggression and timing. I would be surprised if he isn’t an All-Star team selected defenseman at the end of the tournament.

Theo Lindstein – D, Brynäs (SHL)

St. Louis Blues, 2023 NHL Draft, first round, 29th overall

Theo Lindstein was a great comeback story last year at this event as he wasn’t selected to the team at first, but got in as a reserve and had a fantastic tournament and got selected on the All-Star team. I wouldn’t expect the same this year. He is more of a subtle puck-moving defenseman rather than a skilled top pair type of player. He will see a lot of ice-time though and if he can be effective with a low mistake percentage in his plays he will be a key part of Sweden building success. He checks boxes in most situations as a player but doesn’t stand out. 

Viggo Gustafsson – D, Timrå/HV71 (SHL)

Nashville Predators, 2024 NHL Draft, third round, 77th overall

Another surprise in this roster is to see that Viggo Gustafsson is the only 2006-born defenseman to make the team. He has done so by taking advantage of an injury situation with Timrå in the SHL and played rather well doing so. He has become more offensively active and plays more of a puck-moving two-way game now rather than a shutdown defenseman which was his selling point last season. It isn’t only a positive as he also plays with more risk now. It could be beneficial for him long-term but risky in a short tournament.

Tom Willander – D, Boston University (NCAA)

Vancouver Canucks, 2023 NHL Draft, first round, 11th overall

Tom Willander plays big minutes every game in the NCAA and is a fantastic four-way skater with good defensive habits and reach. His mobility is impressive while his puck handling isn’t, at NCAA level, always good enough to get him out of tight spaces and moving the puck. It will be interesting how it looks at this event. He has some nice moves though and will be used in every situation playing big minutes here too. At this event, his mobility and passing will be an asset on one of the PP units, his defensive habits on the PK and he should be able drive play and defend well at even strength as well. His mobility stands out.

Rasmus Bergqvist – D, Skellefteå (SHL)

Montreal Canadiens, 2024 NHL Draft, seventh round, 224th overall

Few foresaw that Rasmus Bergqvist would  get drafted, play in the SHL and be selected to play at the WJC a year ago. He was a solid defensive minded J20 player then. This season, injury trouble in his club gave him an opportunity to step in with Skellefteå and his play has had its ups and downs. It has been a big step for the defensive defenseman to find his game at that level. I think he will play a defensive role for this team and probably will see playing time on the PK.

Wilhelm Hallquisth - D, HV71 (SHL)

Undrafted

Theodor Hallquisth is a bottom-pair SHL defenseman with potential to play himself up in that hierarchy. He is an impressive skater with strong defensive habits. His backwards skating is smooth and he can have full control in everything in front of him. He moves well sideways also. When he retrieves pucks down low he pre-scans and can shift direction to fool opponent checkers. He moves the puck quite well and activates offensively when he has the chance. His skating is what mostly drives his plays. He will likely be the third right guy on the right side on this team.

Axel Hurtig – D, Calgary (WHL)

Calgary Flames, 2023 NHL Draft, seventh round, 208th overall

Axel Hurtig is a big defensive presence that shuts down time and space for opponents. He stepped over this year to play at the WHL and is a top-pair defenseman in minutes played for Calgary. He plays big minutes on the PK and if he gets to play regularly in this tournament, he will be used there as well. He isn’t a strong puck-mover but with 28 games on smaller rinks this season might have given him an advantage over some of the other depth defenseman on this team.

Goalies:

Melker Thelin – G, Björklöven (Hockeyallsvenskan)

Utah HC, 2023 NHL Draft, fifth round, 134th overall

Melker Thelin keeps taking steps every season and I wouldn’t be that surprised if he is the guy that Björklöven goes with in the playoffs this upcoming spring. The same goes at this event, it will be a close contest but I think he has a chance of being Sweden’s starter. Thelin is a good skater and has strong lateral movement in the crease. He is also strong in handling rebounds in close range and rarely overplay himself out of position to make the first saves. He seems to have a strong upper body strength and rarely goes too deep down with his upper body. He tracks pucks quite well too. His blocker side can be a weakness.

Marcus Gidlöf – G, Leksand (SHL)

New York Islanders, 2024 NHL Draft, fifth round, 147th overall

Marcus Gidlöf is a towering goalie that impressed greatly when he surprisingly got thrown into the SHL this season. He has played eight games and has saved over five goals above expected in those games. Last year, he often struggled in his lateral movements, which left him reaching too often and leaving big holes under his arms. He’s since tightened up and moves laterally with greater control, aided by strong puck tracking. He occasionally loses his posture and gets too low when the game pace increases. He is definitely contesting for the starting job.

Melvin Strahl – G, Youngstown (USHL)

Columbus Blue Jackets, 2023 NHL Draft, fifth round, 156th overall

Melvin Strahl looks to be the third goalie in this tournament and probably won’t play at the event. He was an easier choice, but also earned the spot by posting two solid starts with the U20 national team this season. He will be capable of playing well if the team needs him. He has good covering size, a calm presence and with good reverse-VH positioning.