PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Elias Pettersson had accepted the hockey WC.
But now the Swedish NHL star is still being stopped.
– I think it’s very boring and very strange, says a critical Per Svartvadet to Radiosporten.
The Hockey World Cup will start soon and Tre Kronor is about to assemble a very strong World Cup squad. On Wednesday, it became clear that the Swedish NHL players Rasmus Sandin, Lucas Raymond, Jakob Silfverberg, Alexander Nylander and Jonathan Berggren has agreed to play for the national team and will join the WC squad shortly.
Suspended from the WC
Even the big star Elias Pettersson had accepted Tre Kronor and was set to play in the hockey World Cup in May. But on Wednesday came the news that changes everything for Tre Kronor and Pettersson.
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Because even though he said yes, the star forward, who reached over 100 points in the NHL this season, is stopped from playing in the hockey World Cup for Sweden. The very last detail that remained was that the Swedish Ice Hockey Association would agree with the Vancouver Canucks about the insurance issue during the world championship.
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Swedish criticism
But there will be no reunion for the national team captain Sam Hallam and Elias Pettersson in the hockey World Cup, the duo has a past from the Växjö Lakers in the past. As the association cannot afford the insurance which is expected to cost a couple of million kroner as the Swedish NHL star earns 80 million kroner per season in the NHL.
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Unfortunately, it will be far too expensive and Tre Kronor has informed the Vancouver Canucks that they cannot pay Pettersson’s insurance. Now the Swedish hockey expert directs Per Svartvadet harsh criticism of the decision.
– I think it is very sad and think that it is very strange communicated by Secretary General Johan Stark in this case. A few days ago, Sam Hallam would be allowed to pick any player he wanted. It had nothing to do with the economy. That he is now too expensive sounds a bit strange, says Svartvadet to Radiosporten.
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Another obstacle is that Elias Pettersson is about to sign a new NHL contract with the Vancouver Canucks that is both longer and more lucrative. That makes it even smarter for Tre Kronor to solve the insurance issue and bring in the dream boost from North America.
– It is the case that he will enter into negotiations now with his club about a new, long contract. And it is difficult to insure something that is not yet on paper, but it is sad for all hockey lovers that Elias Pettersson is not playing in the WC, says expert Svartvadet to the radio channel.
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