What’s Going On With Filip Forsberg and Team Sweden? A Closer Look at the Olympic Lineup Decision
Filip Forsberg has been a staple of Swedish hockey for over a decade, a proven scorer with a resume that speaks for itself. So when the Nashville Predators star took just one shift in Sweden’s 5-2 win over Italy and then rode the bench the rest of the way, eyebrows were raised - both in Nashville and across Sweden.
Let’s be clear: Sweden got the job done without him. But the decision to sideline a player of Forsberg’s caliber - especially one with 24 goals already this NHL season - doesn’t go unnoticed.
It’s not just about one game. It’s about what this could mean going forward, and what message it sends.
Two Ways to Read the Situation
There are a couple of ways to interpret Sweden’s decision.
The optimistic view? This was a calculated move to give younger players a chance in a low-risk game.
Sweden is a perennial Olympic contender, and with preliminary matchups like this, it’s not unusual for coaches to experiment with lineups, test combinations, and manage minutes. Maybe Forsberg’s limited role was more about flexibility than anything else.
Then there’s the other side - the one that’s harder to ignore. Could there be some friction between Forsberg and head coach Sam Hallam?
Maybe it’s a stylistic clash, maybe something behind the scenes. Whatever it is, benching a top-tier forward after one shaky shift doesn’t exactly scream “trust.”
A One-Shift Sample Size
Let’s talk about that shift. Forsberg tried to make a cross-ice pass that didn’t connect - it was picked off by an Italian forward and quickly turned into a dangerous rush the other way.
Italy didn’t score, but it was a close call. Still, one miscue in a single shift feels like a thin reason to park a player with Forsberg’s track record.
This is a guy who sits sixth all-time in goals by Swedish NHL players and 12th in points. He’s not just a veteran - he’s a foundational piece of Swedish hockey’s modern era.
If the idea was to ease him into the tournament or rest him, that’s one thing. But if this was a performance-based benching, it feels like an overreaction.
Coach Hallam Weighs In
After the game, Hallam addressed the situation, and while he didn’t single out Forsberg, his comments gave some insight into the team’s approach.
“You have to be really good to make it into 25, and we can't play 25. That's the honest truth about it,” Hallam said.
“You're here to play for our country and it's a tournament. We're going to need each and every one of them.
That's the way it is, but everybody can't play.”
That sounds like a coach trying to balance a deep roster - which is fair. But it still doesn’t explain why Forsberg, who could arguably be Sweden’s top left winger, was listed as the 13th forward and barely touched the ice.
Who Got the Nod Instead?
Looking at the lineup, there are some head-scratchers. Adrian Kempe and Jesper Bratt are both solid players - no argument there. But when you scan the bottom six, it gets murkier.
Rickard Rakell, with just 10 goals this season for Pittsburgh, is a surprising choice ahead of Forsberg. Then there’s Pontus Holmberg, a depth forward for the Lightning with nine goals on the year. Holmberg’s a fine player in his role, but when you’re choosing between him and a proven scorer like Forsberg, the decision feels lopsided.
It’s not about tearing down Holmberg or Rakell - it’s about recognizing Forsberg’s pedigree. Even if he’s not in the top six, there’s a strong case that he should be somewhere in the mix. Slotting him as the 13th forward feels like a missed opportunity.
Time to Panic? Not Yet.
Let’s not hit the panic button just yet. This was just the first game of the Olympic tournament, and it came against an Italian team that, while scrappy, isn’t expected to make noise in the later rounds. Sweden has the luxury of experimenting early, and Hallam may well rotate Forsberg back into the lineup in the next game - especially with Finland up next, a much tougher matchup on paper.
The bottom line: there’s still time for this roster to settle. Chemistry takes time, and the coaching staff has room to adjust. Viktor Hedman, for instance, was listed as a third-pair defenseman behind Philip Broberg - another sign that the lineup is still a work in progress.
If Forsberg is back in the mix against Finland and beyond, this whole situation could end up looking like a blip. But if he stays glued to the bench, the questions will only get louder.
For now, Sweden’s winning, and that buys them some patience. But when you’ve got a weapon like Forsberg in your arsenal, it’s only a matter of time before fans - and maybe even teammates - start wondering why he’s not being used.