Tre Kronor Faces Significant Injury Challenges Ahead of 2026 Winter Olympics

With the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan just weeks away, Sweden's national ice hockey team, Tre Kronor, is grappling with a slew of injuries impacting key players, potentially affecting the team's readiness for the tournament. Among the most serious cases is Anaheim forward Leo Carlsson, 21, who has been sidelined with a lower-body injury without a confirmed return date, despite his impressive NHL season tally of 18 goals and 26 assists prior to the injury. Gabriel Landeskog, the captain of Colorado, is also facing weeks out after suffering a new injury following a collision during a recent game, though Swedish national team coach Sam Hallam remains confident about the team's Olympic roster staying intact. Minnesota’s Joel Eriksson Ek sustained a minor lower-body injury but is expected to return promptly, according to his coach John Hynes. Philip Broberg, recently contracted with St. Louis, is recovering well from a concussion, with positive progress noted by his coach. Defenceman Erik Karlsson is managing a lower-body injury that will bench him for at least two weeks; however, he has reassured fans of his readiness for the Olympics. Victor Hedman continues to recover from an elbow injury sustained in December and remains optimistic about participating in the Games. Adding to the team's injury concerns is Jonas Brodin, whose ongoing injury issues have been worsening over time, causing him to miss several games. Coach John Hynes mentioned that Brodin's injury is chronic rather than a recent occurrence, creating uncertainty about his availability for the Olympics. Tre Kronor is scheduled to arrive in Milan on February 8 ahead of their opener against Italy on February 11. Despite the worrying injury list, the Swedish coaching staff is maintaining a positive outlook regarding the squad's Olympic preparedness.