Nicklas Bäckström Dropped from Tre Kronor Ahead of Finland Hockey Games
Nicklas Bäckström has been excluded from Sweden's Tre Kronor roster for the 2025 Finland Hockey Games, with new players added ahead of the November tournament.
- • Nicklas Bäckström removed from Sweden's national team for Finland Hockey Games.
- • Bäckström's first selection in eight years, last played in 2017 World Championship final.
- • Anton Lindholm, Max Friberg, and Felix Nilsson also dropped from roster.
- • New players added include Isac Heens, Sebastian Hartmann, Fredrik Olofsson, and Simon Ryfors.
Key details
Nicklas Bäckström, the 37-year-old veteran, has been removed from Sweden's national ice hockey team roster for the upcoming Finland Hockey Games, as confirmed by the Swedish Hockey Federation. This exclusion marks a significant roster change given that Bäckström was selected for the first time in eight years, his last international appearance dating back to the 2017 World Championship final. Alongside Bäckström, Anton Lindholm, Max Friberg, and Felix Nilsson have also been dropped from the team.
In place of the outgoing players, new additions to the Tre Kronor lineup include forwards Isac Heens from Frölunda, Sebastian Hartmann from Timrå, Fredrik Olofsson from Rögle, and Simon Ryfors from HC Davos. The Finland Hockey Games, formerly known as the Karjala Cup, will be held from November 6 to 9, with Sweden set to open against the Czech Republic before facing Switzerland and host nation Finland.
The Swedish squad features a range of talent from European clubs, including goalkeepers Arvid Holm (Rögle BK) and Jacob Johansson (Timrå IK), defensemen Axel Andersson (Brynäs IF) and Erik Brännström (Lausanne HC), and forwards such as Rasmus Asplund (HC Davos) and Anton Bengtsson (Rögle BK). These adjustments reflect strategic roster updates as Sweden prepares for this competitive international tournament.