The announcement of rosters for major international hockey tournaments always brings a few surprises, and the Swedish men's hockey team for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games is no exception. In a move that has raised eyebrows across the hockey world, former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Pontus Holmberg has been named to the squad set to compete in Milano-Cortina, Italy.
A Surprising Selection
Pontus Holmberg, who joined the Tampa Bay Lightning as a free agent from Toronto in the summer of 2025, stands out as one of the more unexpected inclusions on any Olympic roster revealed so far. His selection comes despite modest production in the current NHL season. Through 33 games with the Lightning, Holmberg has recorded just six goals and six assists, averaging 12 minutes and 53 seconds of ice time per game in a bottom-six role. He ranks tenth among Tampa Bay forwards in average ice time and has not been a significant contributor on the penalty kill.
His tenure with the Maple Leafs, which spanned three seasons, was similarly understated. Holmberg tallied 49 points in 159 games for Toronto and found himself as a healthy scratch on multiple occasions. After the 2024-25 season, he became an unrestricted free agent and signed a two-year, $3.1-million contract with the Lightning, a move that came after it was clear the Leafs were not interested in a reunion at that price point.
Olympic Experience and Toronto Connections
While his current NHL stats make his selection a shock, it is worth noting that Holmberg is not without Olympic pedigree. He was a member of the Swedish team that captured the bronze medal at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. During that tournament, he contributed two assists over six games. His prior experience on the international stage likely played a role in the decision by Sweden's management.
In Italy, Holmberg will be reunited with former Maple Leafs teammates. Star winger William Nylander and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who also made the Swedish roster, will provide familiar faces in the locker room. Ekman-Larsson's inclusion was announced alongside the news that Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies was left off the U.S. roster.
Who Was Left Out?
Holmberg's spot on the 26-man roster inevitably means another deserving player was left off. The most notable omission appears to be Calgary Flames captain Mikael Backlund. At 36 years old, Backlund is in the latter stages of his career but remains a highly effective two-way center and one of the league's most dependable penalty killers.
This season, Backlund has 25 points in 40 games and has won 51.3% of his faceoffs. He has received Selke Trophy votes in eight of the past nine seasons, underscoring his defensive excellence. His exclusion in favour of the less statistically productive Holmberg is a key point of discussion surrounding Sweden's final roster decisions.
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games will kick off in February in Italy, where Pontus Holmberg will look to defy expectations and help Sweden improve upon its bronze-medal performance from four years prior.
