There are some differences from the leaked list that was published last week, but there was never any question, Carl Grundström in on the roster and he will stay there.
The closest thing to a shock is that Timothy Liljegren did not make the roster. He is one of the most talked about draft-eligible players, but he is just barely back in action after suffering with mononucleosis so perhaps shock isn’t warranted. Two other young defenders expected to make the list are also not there, so this looks like a choice for an older, more experienced defence corps.
Official Preliminary Roster
Goaltenders
Felix Sandström, Brynäs
Filip Gustavsson, Luleå
Adam Werner, Björklöven (Färjestad)
Defenders
Gabriel Carlsson, Linköping
Jacob Larsson, Frölunda
Oliver Kylington, Stockton Heat (AHL)
Lucas Carlsson, Brynäs
Jacob Moverare, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
Kristoffer Gunnarsson, Frölunda
David Bernhardt, Djurgården
Rasmus Dahlin, Frölunda
Forwards
Lias Andersson, HV71
Rasmus Asplund, Färjestad
Jonathan Dahlén, Timrå
Jonathan Davidsson, Djurgården
Joel Eriksson Ek, Färjestad
Carl Grundström, Frölunda
Jens Lööke, Timrå
Alexander Nylander, Rochester Americans (AHL)
Sebastian Ohlsson, Skellefteå
Elias Pettersson, Timrå
Tim Söderlund, Skellefteå
Andreas Wingerli, Skellefteå
Fredrik Karlström, AIK
John Dahlström, Medicine Hat (WHL)
Filip Ahl, Regina (WHL)
Other names to watch out for are draft-eligible players on the roster.
Rasmus Dahlin, who at 16 isn’t eligible until the 2018 draft and may well not make the final cut, is a darling of the hockey world lately for some highlight reel goals. He is playing very limited minutes in carefully managed situations for Frölunda, and likely will vanish off their roster entirely as they approach the grind down the end of the season to the playoffs, but doing that at all at his age is impressive.
Elias Pettersson, who is second in the Allsvenskan in points at 18, is ranked in the top 10 by some draft watchers, and just out of the top ten by others.
Lias Andersson, who is playing in the SHL and getting a lot fewer minutes than either Pettersson or Grundström, is still ranked as a possible top twenty draft pick by many.
Andersson and Pettersson will almost certainly start out as linemates of Grundström.
This is a stacked team with very good goaltending, and they aren’t missing as many of their stars as other teams are. They have a very solid shot at the gold medal.
Also released today was the roster for Team Finland:
Goaltenders:
Karolus Kaarlehto – TuTo (on loan from TPS)
Markus Ruusu – JYP Akatemia
Veini Vehviläinen – JYP
Defenders:
Miro Heiskanen – HIFK
Olli Juolevi – London OHL
Otto Leskinen – KalPa
Jesper Mattila – Boston College NCAA
Jarkko Parikka – Ilves
Juho Rautanen – Jokerit
Vili Saarijärvi – Mississauga OHL
Robin Salo – Sport
Urho Vaakanainen – JYP
Juuso Välimäki – Tri City WHL
Forwards:
Kasper Björkqvist – Providence NCAA
Henrik Borgström – Denver NCAA
Jouka Juhola – Ässät
Otto Koivula – Ilves
Janne Kuokkanen – London OHL
Joona Luoto – Tappara
Julius Mattila – Boston College NCAA
Julius Nättinen – Windsor OHL
Petrus Palmu – Owen Sound OHL
Arttu Ruotsalainen – Ässät
Aapeli Räsänen – Sioux City USHL
Eeli Tolvanen – Sioux City USHL
Kristian Vesalainen – HPK (on loan from Frölunda)
Aaro Vidgren – Lukko
Teemu Väyrynen – TPS
There are some draft-eligible names there too, with Eeli Tolvanen, Kristian Vesalainen and Robin Salo all ranked in an area the Leafs may draft from. So is Urho Vaakanainen, and I’m rooting for him just for the sheer joy of his glorious name.
