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William Nylander ignores the restroom and I knew it.
Just when I was dreaming of a new Tre Kronor frat, Alexander Nylander ended up being sidelined from the team.
I think William felt the same way.
It could be the difference between World Cup gold and smoking in the quarter-finals.
During the restroom, I’ve seen the pictures when Alexander goes by himself and works out, when the rest of the gang have either taken a vacation or opted for the gym.
And after starting in the first series with Lucas Raymond and Leo Carlsson, he was benched for the fourth group stage match against Finland and then completely left out of the squad for the match against Hungary.
Named as the 13th forward, he got just nine minutes into ice time and Jonathan Berggren celebrated his first World Cup goal in his former first-string spot.
Sam Hallam clearly lost faith in the 25-year-old.
This of course did not escape the Nylander family, who of course disagreed – if I know them correctly.
If that was the whole reason why one of Sweden’s biggest stars turned down, only William himself knows.
I’m free to speculate, but I struggle to see that he shouldn’t have contributed to this shocking announcement.
Then we’re still talking about one of Sweden’s most loyal hockey families, Tre Kronor.
Father Michael Nylander always packed the box when he finished playing in the NHL and sat waiting for a phone call from home.
He appeared in ten FIFA World Cup tournaments, more than any Swedish player with such a long career in the NHL.
When Sweden won World Cup gold in Riga in 2006, it was one of the biggest reasons the Swedes pushed forward.
He scored an amazing nine points (1+8) in just six games.
William followed in his skiing footsteps.
He has participated in three FIFA World Cups and made history when he touched 57-year-old Ness Nelson’s all-time record of 18 points in a World Cup tournament.
Sad day for the Swedish WC team
I was absolutely sure that he would come this time too.
Maybe it was Sam Hallam too, when he brought home Joel Pearson and Christian Follen, brought back Timothy Lillegren and left an open spot.
But the first warning sign came when Nylander’s teammate Lillegren appeared alone with a Toronto chest on his shoulder.
Now we didn’t get to see the Neylander brothers in the restroom and the question is if we can see anyone when it gets tight, given Alexander’s increasingly short ice time.
Last time we had a rapper in WC, he ended up in gold.
Then Henrik and Joel Lundqvist celebrated together at Cologne 2017.
I was hoping for similar happy pictures this time.
For William Nylander, it was indeed essential.
It has been the final piece of the puzzle in this World Cup defensive powerhouse that there is potential to go all the way.
But the odds would have been better with Nylander on the team.
His attacking edge seemed almost decisive and now the Swedes stand in Switzerland’s shadow with their stars.
Right now, defensive midfielders Jacob de la Rose and Oscar Lindbergh lead the Swedish shooting league with two goals each and with three of the four total goals coming in the match against Hungary.
No, it’s a day of mourning for Team WC Sweden and one of the heaviest days of thanks I’ve ever received during a WC tournament.
All seemed clear with the last place going to William Nylander.
The place is empty for the rest of the tournament
Now it will be empty for the rest of this tournament and only what appears to be a failure.
Then, of course, the turmoil and contract situation at Williams Toronto affected the situation as well.
It’s been less than 24 hours since team general manager Kyle Dubai was fired after yet another Stanley Cup playoff failure.
It is unclear who will take over, but who will determine Williams’ future at the club.
The Swede has one year left on his contract and faces a new long-term deal that will make him one of the best NHL players.
Contract not covered by any insurance for World Cup matches.
This was the same reason why Elias Peterson disappeared from the restroom.
I think this also played a role.