Captain Roman Josi and forward Filip Forsberg are among seven Nashville Predators players who will join teams for the World Championships in Denmark. The announcement comes one day after the team was eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Winnipeg Jets.
Josi and forward Kevin Fiala will represent Switzerland, Forsberg, forward Viktor Arvidsson and defenceman Mattias Ekholm will represent Sweden, Nick Bonino will join the United States and rookie Eeli Tolvanen will skate for Finland.
Josi had 14 goals and 53 points this season and added four assists in 13 playoff games. This will be the seventh time representing Switzerland at the World Championship, and he was named tournament MVP in 2013.
Fiala picked up 23 goals and 48 points this season, his second full-year with the Predators. He also had three goals in the playoffs. This will be Fiala’s third appearance in the World Championship.
Tolvanen will represent Finland for the third time this season. He had six points in five games at the World Junior Championship and then had nine points in five games at the Olympics.
Arvidsson will make his World Championship debut and is coming off his second-consecutive 61 point season.
Forsberg only appeared in 67 games this season due to injuries, but still managed 26 goals and 64 points. This will be the second time he’s represented Sweden at the World Championship.
Ekholm has represented Sweden three previous times, including winning the bronze medal at the 2014 tournament.
Bonino, a free agent acquisition by the Predators before the season, is representing the United States for the second time in his career, after picking up a bronze medal in 2015.
The World Championship began on May 4 and the preliminary round runs until May 15. Currently, Sweden and the United States hold the top spot in each group.
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