MILAN, Italy — William Nylander did not join his Swedish teammates on the ice for Tuesday’s practice at Milano Santagiulia Arena and is questionable to suit up Wednesday for the country’s opening Olympic game versus Italy.
“It’s a maintenance thing. He’s done two full practices with us and felt after yesterday a bit sore, so just give him an extra day,” head coach Sam Hallam told reporters. “We’ll see for tomorrow if he’s ready to go or it’s going to be a pretty late decision.”
Nylander has missed 17 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season, mostly due to a lingering groin injury.
Shortly before flying to Italy, however, the superstar said his groin injury never had him worried about missing his first Winter Games.
“That experience is going to be incredible,” Nylander said last week. “Playing with Team Sweden and playing against the best players in the world at an Olympics is something that doesn’t happen too often. And it’ll be a first for me, so I’m going to be very excited for it.”
The Maple Leafs’ leading scorer tops all countrymen by averaging 1.3 points per game and is considered the face of Sweden hockey. His game-breaking offence will be integral if the country has any hope to upset for a gold medal.
“I’m fine with it, and I’m happy to be in that position for sure,” Nylander said. “Going there for the mindset to be happy with the silver or bronze, I mean, why are you going there?”
Teammate and Olympic village roommate Oliver Ekman-Larsson suggested to reporters Tuesday that Nylander will be “fine.”
Maintenance days for Nylander are not out of the norm this winter, and he’s too important to both his teams to not arrive fresh for game action.
“He’s always kind of been the guy. Whenever he’s wearing that (Tre Kronor) jersey, a lot of fans get excited,” Ekman-Larsson told Sportsnet.ca.
“The Toronto market is big back home, so that feeds into the national team. I think he’s always, like, the face in that way. But obviously he’s an unbelievable player and important player in the tournament.”
