Hampus Lindholm has been one of the NHL’s best defensemen this season.
He wanted to go to the WC – but is now forced to decline.
It’s another nightmare announcement for Sam Hallam.
– I love playing for Tre Kronor and always say yes otherwise, says the Boston star.
Initially, the hockey World Cup looked like it could be quite star-studded for Sweden. Some of our absolute players were not close to the playoffs, and for a long time it looked like stars like Elias Pettersson and Erik Karlsson could join the WC.
One of the league’s best backs
But Elias Pettersson was stopped when his insurance was too expensive, Erik Karlsson was also forced to refuse – and the number of refusals has replaced each other before the championship, which starts on Friday. When the Boston Bruins were surprisingly eliminated in the first round, after breaking records in points and wins during the regular season, many hoped for reinforcements from there.
In Boston, one of the league’s best goalkeepers plays in the form of Linus Ullmark, and backs in Hampus Lindholm. Ullmark has already declined, but there were hopes that Ullmark would join. This season, he’s been hailed as one of the league’s absolute best backs, and he’s been given a ton of confidence and playing time on by far the best team in the regular season.
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The reason for the decision
But now comes the nightmare message. Lindholm tells SVT that he is forced to decline – and the sad reason behind the decision.
– I really wanted to go. But I have a fracture in my foot and then Boston doesn’t want me to play, he tells SVT.
Hampus Lindholm believes that he would without a doubt have stood up if it had not been an injury.
– It stings extra because Sam Hallam is a great coach. I was waiting to hear back from the MRI and got it this morning. Then the club doesn’t want me to go when I have a fracture. I love playing for Tre Kronor and always say yes otherwise.
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