William Nylander under fire for selfish decision at Olympics

On Tuesday, William Nylander missed Team Sweden’s practice, and head coach Sam Hallam wouldn’t confirm whether the forward would suit up for Sweden’s tournament opener later today.

Teammate Oliver Ekman-Larsson kept things vague when speaking with TSN’s Mark Masters, saying he didn’t “want to get into it too much, but I think he’s fine.”

That assessment hasn’t satisfied TSN hockey analyst Jeff O’Neill, who didn’t hold back. “I would tell him to get his ass home,” O’Neill said, criticizing Nylander for potentially taking up a roster spot while not fully healthy.

Nylander has battled injuries throughout the season, missing 17 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs, primarily due to a lingering groin issue. Despite this, he remains Sweden’s top offensive talent, averaging 1.3 points per game and widely considered the face of the country’s hockey program.

Many pundits, analysts, and fans are questioning whether it’s fair for Nylander to stay on the roster while potentially limited by injury, labeling the decision as selfish given the stakes of Olympic competition.

For now, Nylander’s status for Wednesday’s opening game against Italy remains uncertain. Whether he can overcome his ailments and contribute at full strength, or if he should step aside for the good of the team, will be a storyline closely watched by fans around the world.