“It’s absolutely not like that”

Sam Hallam stepped out of SVT’s studio – and was not happy with the presenter Johan Kücükaslan.
Now SVT strikes back.
– It is important in the role that Johan has to not just be satisfied, says SVT’s sports manager Max Bursell to Expressen.

Several media had reported that William Nylander was ready for the WC, and it was no secret that he wanted to play. Nylander talked about it right after Toronto went out of the NHL playoffs, but then it went quiet, and the days went by without any word.

Said words

This weekend finally came the news that there will be no Nylander for Tre Kronor in this year’s WC. In North America, there were reports that it was because Nylander did not want to take his little brother Alex’s place in the squad, but the national team has been silent. We don’t seem to be told why Nylander doesn’t join the WC, but SVT made a proper attempt to get an answer from national team captain Sam Hallam over the weekend.

Photo: SVT

When Hallam visited the television channel’s studio, he received the following question from Johan Kücükaslan:

– Was it a decision from you that he is not in the squad then? When a player says he wants to play, of that caliber?

That made Hallam roar.

– Now we have chosen to hold a line. But when you say that, you are incredibly arrogant. You are talking about a world player, William Nylander. The question is poorly posed, he said.

READ MORE: The unexpected data in North America: Why William Nylander snubbed the WC – the truth about the world star

SVT’s answer

The interview received considerable attention within hockey Sweden, and just about everyone thought about whether Hallam was right in his answers, or whether it was actually crossing the line. Now SVT is speaking out about the whole thing.

– It is a discussion where Johan tries to get answers to what actually happened with William Nylander and where it is not possible to get much out. That’s how he formulates the question and it’s live TV, I don’t think it turned out exactly as he intended, says sports manager Max Bursell to Expressen.

230212 Head coach Sam Hallam of Sweden during the Beijer Hockey Games final between Sweden and Finland on February 12, 2023 in Malmö. Photo: Maxim Thoré / BILDBYRÅN / code MT / MT0446

At the same time, Bursell believes that Kücükaslan did nothing arrogant, but that he simply sought answers from the national team captain.

– It is important in the role that Johan has to not just settle, but really try to get these answers that many in our audience want to know. It’s absolutely not arrogance, I’m sure, but he was just trying to find out what happened.

READ MORE: The unknown drama in the hockey World Cup – the Swede is now being celebrated for the heroic act against the Finn: “Had crushed him”

spbln-sports