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Team Sweden makes a major call on Erik Karlsson ahead of its Olympic campaign
![Feb 12, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Sweden defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) plays the puck against Team Canada in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre.](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/i/photo/640737.webp "Feb 12, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Sweden defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) plays the puck against Team Canada in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre.")
Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Team Sweden, who has high expectations in the Winter Olympics, has made a major call on Erik Karlsson's leadership role for the team in the tournament.
There are NHL players back in Olympic competition for the first time in over 10 years, as players will be competing for the first time for their respective nations since the 2014 Sochi Olympics that took place in Russia.
Not surprisingly, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has been named the captain of Team Canada, and Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has been named captain of Team USA.
Crosby's Penguins teammate Erik Karlsson, on the other hand, has been named an assistant captain of Team Sweden. They will be led by Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, and Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman will be an assistant captain along with Karlsson.
Gabriel Landeskog has been named captain for Sweden 🇸🇪 at the Milan Olympics, with Victor Hedman and Erik Karlsson serving as alternate captains. - Chris Johnston
Erik Karlsson Helped Sweden To A Silver Medal 12 Years Ago In Sochi
Karlsson and Team Sweden advanced to the gold medal game 12 years ago in the Sochi Olympics, but would fall short against his future Penguins teammate Sidney Crosby and Canada, having to settle for the silver medal.
Karlsson was at one point the captain of the Ottawa Senators and helped lead them to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final in double OT, again against Crosby.
He's since played for the San Jose Sharks and, since 2023, the Penguins. Despite being heavily involved in trade rumours before the year began, Karlsson remains in a Penguins sweater.
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Special scene as Sidney Crosby leads Team Canada off the plane at the Olympics in Milan
Special scene as Sidney Crosby leads Team Canada off the plane at the Olympics in Milan