It is the seasoned and credible hockey reporter Chris Johnston, who covers the Toronto Maple Leafs for the Toronto Star and TSN, who wrote on Twitter that he had information.
The speculation has gained momentum because the new national team management in Tre Kronor had a policy of not commenting on players who are not already in the WC squad.
It is a 180 degree turn from how previous national team managements chose to do. They have answered straight questions which NHL players they are interested in and announced when they have received information from the players.
In recent years, Tre Kronor has even published via the association’s website exactly which players have accepted or declined to avoid speculation.
Took a week
Only a week after Nylander had left the Stanley Cup playoffs, the news came that he would not be coming. And when Hallam delivered the message on Saturday morning, it was without mentioning William Nylander by name. Instead, he communicated that the players who are here and now would continue the tournament to the end.
After the France match, Hallam ended up in a heated discussion about the scarce information in SVT’s broadcast.
When he got to the mixed zone, where journalists and players and managers meet, he once again tried to explain his attitude.
— It is a professional relationship and I cannot go out and talk about what I talk to different players about. For me it’s building the relationship with the players, just like we have things we discuss internally in the team here. I understand that it opens up for speculation, he says.
Did not comment
Alexander Nylander was not made available to the media after the France match. He has received sparing playing time in the tournament after starting in the first chain with Leo Carlsson and Lucas Raymond.
Against France, he was the 13th forward and got only 5.27 in ice time. On the Canadian reports that William Nylander did not want to go to the World Cup and push his brother out of the team, Hallam says:
— I cannot comment on what you have read from Toronto. William is William and Alex is Alex, two different players.