Malte Setkov is headed to the Olympics-and while it’s a dream come true for the towering Danish defenseman, it comes at a cost for Team Denmark.
The Vegas Golden Knights’ Jonas Røndbjerg has officially been ruled out of the 2026 Olympic Games due to injury, forcing Denmark to adjust its roster just days before the puck drops in Milan. Originally, Denmark planned to carry 15 forwards and seven defensemen, deviating slightly from the more traditional 14-and-8 split. With Røndbjerg out, the Danes now fall back in line with the rest of the field, carrying eight blueliners into the tournament.
Røndbjerg, 26, was expected to be a key piece of Denmark’s forward group-and not just in a depth role. The former junior standout was in line to compete for top-six minutes on what many consider the most talented Danish team ever assembled for international play.
And he was trending in the right direction. Though his NHL numbers with Vegas sit at 11 points through 80 games, he’s been producing at a strong clip in the AHL this season-23 points in 36 games, on pace to break his previous best of 28 points in 2023-24.
His absence leaves a noticeable gap in Denmark’s offensive plans.
Enter Setkov-a 6-foot-8 defenseman who brings size, reach, and a steady presence on the back end. Drafted 100th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 2017, Setkov has quietly carved out a consistent role in Denmark’s top domestic league over the past four seasons. He’s been a reliable 30-point producer from the blue line, but his international résumé is relatively light, limited mostly to exhibition games and smaller tournaments at the senior level.
Still, Setkov’s addition gives Denmark a different look on the back end. His sheer size makes him a matchup problem in the defensive zone, and while he may not bring the offensive upside of a Røndbjerg, his presence could help Denmark lock things down against some of the tournament’s higher-powered offenses.
This will be Denmark’s second appearance in Olympic men’s hockey, and there’s real hope they can build on their surprise quarterfinal run from four years ago. Since earning promotion to the top division of the IIHF World Championship in 2003, Denmark has become a steady presence on the international stage, even if deep tournament runs have remained elusive. NHL representation has been sparse over the years, which makes this current group-headlined by NHL-caliber talent-one of the most promising in Danish hockey history.
The road won’t be easy. Denmark opens group play against Germany on February 12, followed by a tough matchup with the United States two days later.
They’ll wrap up the round robin against Latvia on February 15. Every game will matter, especially with Olympic seeding and elimination rounds looming.
Setkov may not have expected to be on this stage, but now that he’s here, he’ll have a chance to make his mark. And for Denmark, the goal is clear: build on the momentum of 2022 and prove they belong among the world’s best.