The next series of blogs are going to focus on players and their nationalities. I am going to select the best starting six for many of the world’s top hockey playing countries. The only parameters I have are to select three forwards, two defensemen, and a goalie. I don’t care about moving centers to wing or a defenseman on their off side. These players are elite and they’ll figure it out. Each day I am going to offer up a new country until I run out of countries that can provide a quality starting six. I don’t care about their previous histories playing for their country. I don’t care about “waiting their turn” to make the team. I’m picking the six players I want on the ice to maximize success.
So far I have picked Canada's best starting six. You can find that
here
Team USA can be found
here
Today’s team is Sweden. Sweden has been one of the very best hockey playing countries for a long time. The 2006 Gold Medal in Turin is the only time Canada has not come away with top honors at the Olympics since 2002 (with NHL players). They are always skilled and supply some of the world’s finest players. However, they are in a transiational phase. Some of the names you’ve been used to seeing on Sweden’s top lines over the years aren’t available anymore like Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, and Henrik Zetterberg. That leaves room for some new blood and it has. The top line I have for Sweden is completely fresh.
Here are the best six I would put on the ice.
Center – Elias Pettersson
One of the very best players in the league already. He’s got amazing puck skills and is incredibly smart on the ice. The Canucks will be backing up a Brink’s truck to his house next year because he’s going to be more than worth the investment. He is the future and present of Swedish hockey. The sky is the limit.
Left wing – William Nylander
I think highly of Nylander as a player and a lot of the negativity that surrounds Nylander has nothing to do with his on ice play. It all stems from the fact he held out as an RFA. I don’t care about that in the least bit. He’s going to be a 30 goal guy for the foreseeable future and knows how to put the puck in the net. Could Gabriel Landeskog been the choice here? Sure.
I happen to like Nylander’s skill set better. I’m not looking for grinders I’m looking for skill (not that Landeskog lacks skill). I feel like Nylander is a better fit with Pettersson.
Right wing – Mika Zibanejad
Don’t overthink this one. He had a MONSTER year for the Rangers. He scored 41 goals in only 57 games. Sure, it was boosted by his 19.7% shooting percentage, but it isn’t a fluke he’s scoring a lot of goals. In the full seasons he has had since joining the Rangers he’s scored 27, 30, and 41 goals. He’s been a really good player for quite a while flying under the radar due to playing on some not so great teams.
There are certainly other forwards worthy of mentioning for Sweden that includes Landeskog, Elias Lindholm, Nicklas Backstrom, Filip Forsberg, William Karlsson, and Rickard Rakell. I just happen to like the makeup and skill sets of the trio I chose.
Left defense – Victor Hedman
Not really much to say here. He’s one of the best players of his generation at the position and he is still playing at a very high level. One of the easiest selections I’ll make for this entire series of blogs.
Right defense – Erik Karlsson
He may not be the Erik Karlsson who should have basically won the Norris every single year anymore, but he’s still really good. He’s still the alpha right defenseman for Sweden. Imagine trying to play against a pairing of Hedman and Karlsson. You’d be hard pressed to find too many better pairings than these two if you could find one at all.
Goalie – Robin Lehner
For the longest time you didn’t have to think much about this position. Henrik Lundqvist is one of the best to ever play the position. Unfortunately, time gets all of us and in 2020 I think Lehner is the better player. Lehner has had some really good seasons recently. Since being traded to Buffalo Lehner has gone .924, .920, .908, .930, .920 in all situations save percentage. In the same sample Lundqvist has been .920, .910, .915, .907, .905. A changing of the guard has transpired. Jacob Markstrom and Linus Ullmark are really the only other two options for Sweden so Lehner it is.
Thanks for reading!
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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