2025 World Junior Hockey Championship: Team Sweden preview

When Rasmus Bergqvist was selected in the seventh round by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2024 NHL Draft, not many people knew who he was. Many still don’t — and that includes most Swedish hockey writers. However, as the injury list grew for Skellefteå AIK, Bergqvist’s responsibilities increased and he’ running with his chance to play in the SHL.

Bergqvist reminds me a lot about former Canadien Peter Popovic, though tougher and meaner, and his game should suit the North American rinks. He is stable defensively and plays that game very well. It will be interesting to see him against his peers.

His solid defensive game was a perfect match to the offensive flair that his defence partner, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, provides. That said, his game is sound enough on its own that he could play with any of the defencemen as the secure lock and that pairing would be one of the cornerstones of Team Sweden in this tournament

Strengths

While Bergqvist is an important piece, Sandin-Pellikka is the star of the team. The returning defenceman was selected as the best blue-liner in previous World Under-18 and Under-20 tournaments. He leads the SHL in points by a defenceman by three, ahead of more seasoned professionals. His overall game has become even better compared to last year, and Sweden’s offence will continue to run through him.

Tom Willander and Theo Lindstein will bring some high-quality defence into the tournament, but even with their pedigree they will be in the shadow of Sandin-Pellikka from the outset. The question is if their star can be enough of a difference-maker to win gold.

Looking at the forwards, there are offensively gifted players such as Felix Unger Sörum, David Edstrom, and Otto Stenberg. Recognition is due for one my personal favourites, Felix Nilsson, for a great year in Rögle, and who has been on the Eyes On The Prize radar since before the 2023 NHL Draft.

Victor Eklund, a 2025 draft-eligible, will be the joker that Sweden will rise and fall with. He is top-10 ranked in all preliminary rankings for the upcoming NHL draft. He brings a lot to the table and 15 points (8G, 7A) in 28 games in Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan.

Weaknesses

Sweden might have left its best goalie at home. Olof Glifford has had to play for HV71 in the SHL due to injuries, and he has been outstanding. He came in when HV71 was far in arrears in the table and has posted a .956 save percentage and 1.17 goals-against average in five games, with one shutout, dragging the team out the doldrums and into the fight to avoid the relegation series. Marcus Gidlöf has played eight games for Leksand and has been solid, bit not out-of-this-world hot like Glifford, and the other two goalies are there to make up numbers.

Sweden also has a lack of depth. For all the offensive flair that can be seen on the two top lines, the question is if the bottom two can keep it together. None of the names really scream success.

Since Magnus Hävelid took over as coach of the Swedish “Junior Crowns” he has finished third (2022), fourth (2023) and, last year, second. Those are impressive results to say the least, even if gold continues to elude the team. Hävelid has favoured the two-and-two approach: two lines to score and two lines to keep things clean. It doesn’t give a lot of options if injuries or lack of form hits, as the difference between the top and bottom of the squad is as wide as the Atlantic. I am also not sure about Hävelid’s strengths as a matchup coach. I rarely see him moving players up and down the lineup, or line-matching to success. This is partly up to team selection, and the lack of high-end depth in the Swedish system at the moment.

Projection

Sweden will reach the playoffs for sure, but could meet the same fate as Canada at last year’s tournament and fall to a hot team in the quarter-finals. Sweden has the talent to reach the semis on the top two lines alone, however that’s what will dictate their level of success. The question is less about if they can claim the title, and more if Sweden will win a medal of any colour.