Sweden was hoping for the last.
But there will be no WC for William Nylander.
Now comes information about why.
William Nylander is one of our absolute biggest stars in the NHL, and that’s why many immediately started hoping when his Toronto Maple Leafs went out of the NHL playoffs early in the second round. Nylander also said directly that he was positive about the World Cup games.
Nobbed WC games
Several reports in Sweden also indicated that Nylander was completely ready to play, but then… nothing happened. At the same time as Nylander’s teammate showed up in Finland to play with Tre Kronor, Nylander made up for it with his absence. And finally came the news that many feared.
During the weekend, Sam Hallam announced that he chooses to drive on that team in Finland, and thus there will be no World Cup for the big star Nylander.
– The squad we have right here and now is the one we aim to join the rest of the WC. What can change that is any damage. We feel that the time factor is a part and we have had some dialogue during the week with various parties and come today we have made the decision that this is the squad we are going with, said Hallam.
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Revealing the truth
But why Nylander didn’t join has been unknown. The national team has not wanted to answer the question clearly, but now there is information in North America about the whole thing. According to respected journalist Chris Johnston, it must be that Nylander did not want to come in late and take someone’s place in the squad. Especially since that player could very well have been Williams’ little brother, Alexander.
Alexander Nylander had to play a lot during the opening of the WC, but has been poked in the last few games and was the 13th forward in the games. Had William Nylander made it to the WC, it would probably have been at the expense of his little brother, Alexander.
“I hear he was hesitant to join late and take someone’s place in the squad, especially if it would have belonged to his brother Alex,” writes Johnston on Twitter.
Sweden faces Denmark on Monday, and then the USA tomorrow, before the group stage is completed.
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