William Karlsson Out of 2026 Olympic Ice Hockey Due to Injury

William Karlsson, the 32-year-old center for the Vegas Golden Knights, will miss the 2026 Winter Olympics due to a lower body injury that has kept him sidelined since early November. This confirmed by reports from TSN and shared by Swedish sources today. Karlsson's injury makes him ineligible for selection by Swedish national team coach Sam Hallam, who is set to announce the Olympic roster imminently.

Karlsson has been a key player for Sweden, winning World Championship bronze with the national team in the spring and previously securing gold in 2017. Earlier this season, he also reached the milestone of 400 career points with the Vegas Golden Knights, positioning him as one of the franchise's all-time top scorers, with only one player having scored more points in the team's history.

The men's ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Olympics will feature twelve nations, including Sweden in Group B alongside Finland, Slovakia, and Italy. The group stage is scheduled from February 11 to 14, with Sweden's matches against Italy, Finland, and Slovakia. The tournament progresses into knockout rounds culminating in the final on February 22.

Sweden will enter the games without one of their influential forwards, a significant blow given Karlsson's experience and scoring ability. However, several key Swedish players, such as Adrian Kempe, Gabriel Landeskog, Lucas Raymond, Rasmus Dahlin, Victor Hedman, and William Nylander, are already confirmed for the Olympic squad.

Karlsson's absence means the Swedish team will have to adjust the lineup and rely on other talents to maintain their competitive edge in the tournament. His sidelining reduces Sweden's offensive depth as they aim to contend with strong hockey nations like Finland, the reigning Olympic champions, and others.

The impact of Karlsson's injury will unfold as Sweden finalizes its roster and prepares for one of the most prestigious international ice hockey competitions.