Maple Leafs’ Nylander to play for Sweden at world championships

Sweden's William Nylander, left, shoots the puck in a game against Canada at the world championships in 2017. (Petr David Josek/AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander will play for Sweden at the upcoming world championships in Slovakia.

Nylander, Calgary Flames forward Elias Lindholm, Nashville’s Mattias Ekholm along with Marcus Pettersson and Patric Hornqvist of the Penguins were all added to the roster after their teams were eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

They join a group of previously announced players including goaltender Henrik Lundqvist; Elias Pettersson, Jacob Markstrom and Loui Eriksson from the Canucks and Oilers defenceman Adam Larsson.

According to the Swedish national team website, the Maple Leafs’ Andreas Johnsson declined an invitation to the tournament due to contract concerns. Other players who declined to play for Sweden include Victor Hedman (injury), Oscar Klefbom (injury) and Rasmus Dahlin (undisclosed).

Below is the full roster for Team Sweden, which opens the tournament on May 10 against the Czech Republic.

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Players who have accepted an invitation to Team Sweden

Marcus Pettersson, Pittsburgh Penguins

Elias Lindholm, Calgary Flames

William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs

Mattias Ekholm, Nashville Predators

Patric Hornqvist, Pittsburgh Penguins

Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers

Jacob Markstrom, Vancouver Canucks

Adam Larsson, Edmonton Oilers

Erik Gustafsson, Chicago Blackhawks

Robert Hagg, Philadelphia Flyers

Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Arizona Coyotes

Oskar Lindblom, Philadelphia Flyers

Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks

Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings

Marcus Kruger, Chicago Blackhawks

Loui Eriksson, Vancouver Canucks

Mario Kempe, Arizona Coyotes

Jesper Bratt, New Jersey Devils

Players who have declined an invitation to Team Sweden

Mika Zibanejad, New York Rangers (injury)

Jesper Fast, New York Rangers (injury)

Hampus Lindholm, Anaheim Ducks (injury)

Rickard Rakell, Anaheim Ducks (injury)

Jakob Silfverberg, Anaheim Ducks (injury)

Joel Eriksson-Ek, Minnesota Wild (injury)

Jacob de la Rose, Detroit Red Wings (injury)

Johan Larsson, Buffalo Sabres (contract)

Oscar Lindberg, Ottawa Senators (contract)

Alexander Edler, Vancouver Canucks (contract)

Jonas Brodin, Minnesota Wild (undisclosed)

Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres (undisclosed)

Niklas Hjalmarsson, Arizona Coyotes (undisclosed)

Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning (injury)

Anton Rayman, Tampa Bay Lightning (injury)

Oscar Klefbom, Edmonton Oilers (injury)

Victor Rask, Minnesota Wild (injury)

Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators (injury)

Viktor Arvidsson, Nashville Predators (injury)

William Karlsson, Vegas Golden Knights (contract)

Calle Jarnkrok, Nashville Predators (injury)

Andre Burakovsky, Washington Capitals (injury)

Andreas Johnsson, Toronto Maple Leafs (contract)

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