Detroit Red Wings
Another Red Wings Player Poised to Join Sweden at Worlds
Gustafsson awaiting his country’s call
A Detroit Red Wings player is waiting in the wings for a call to join his homeland.
There is uncertainty whether Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin will be a go to play for Sweden at the upcoming IIHF World Championship. If it turns out that he must pull out of the tournament due to injury, Red Wings defenseman Erik Gustafsson will be the one drawing into the squad in his place.
Published reports in Sweden are indicating that Gustafsson is first in line to be added to the squad.
Här är Sveriges trupp till hockey-VM 🇸🇪🏆 pic.twitter.com/Uqf8jguOpy
— Viaplay Hockey (@ViaplayHockeySE) May 5, 2025
“We are awaiting some news,” Swedish coach Sam Hallam confirmed to Swedish website Aftonbladet. “The fact that we have places open means that things are going on.
“It could be anything from practical things that need to be resolved to medical questions that need to be straightened out. Things could happen in the next few days.”
Yzerman Praises Red Wings Gustafsson
An undisclosed injury kept Gustafsson out of Detroit’s final 14 regular-season games. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s heart grew fonder for Gustafsson during the defenseman’s absence.
“We’ve talked about it down the stretch when Erik Gustafsson was out, we felt we missed him,” Yzerman said. “We missed his mobility, his skating.”
In 2018, Gustafsson was part of the Swedish team that won the gold medal at the world tourney. Gustafsson, 33, also previously played for Sweden at the 2016, 2019 and 2022 world championships.
When Sweden’s team was announced on Tuesday, the roster included just six defensemen.
Simon Edvinsson is confirmed as part of Sweden's World Championsship roster.
Tre Kronor coach Sam Hallam about him:
"Him and Detroit have done an incredible job with his development. His play this year has earned the trust to play a lot, and play in key situations."#LGRW
— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) May 5, 2025
Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson and forward Lucas Raymond, the club’s leading scorer this season with 80 points, are already part of the Swedish squad. Former Red Wings forward Christoffer Ehn is also on Sweden’s roster.
The IIHF World Championship is slated for May 9-25 in Stockholm, Sweden and Hernig, Denmark. The Swedes are slated to open the tournament on Friday against Slovakia.
