Washington Capitals: A First Look at Who Could Play in Beijing

Team Sweden

Nicklas Backstrom will once again be a lock to compete for Team Sweden in 2022. Backstrom won silver with Team Sweden back in 2014. Backstrom was held out of the gold-medal game in Sochi due to a failed drug test for excess levels of pseudoephedrine, caused by the allergy-medication Zyrtec-D. At the time, he was shocked.

"“I want to say I have absolutely nothing to hide; I have allergy problems,” Backstrom explained “I’ve taken Zyrtec-D for many years. It was a little shocking to me, to be honest with you, but at the same time I am here right now and I’ve got to deal with it,” Backstrom continued. “I feel like I haven’t done anything differently than the last seven years and I’ve been playing internationally for the last seven years and lots of games and haven’t seen this before.”"

This sentiment was backed up by many, including the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Chief Medical Officer who at the time said that Backstrom was “an innocent victim of circumstances.”

Now, with another chance at gold, Backstrom will surely be motivated. The slick-handed Swede has scored 1 goal and added 9 assists in 9 Olympic games.

Carl Hagelin is a dark horse to once again represent Sweden; he was on the silver-medal winning team back in 2014, but Sweden has a deep pool of players to choose from. Will his speed, hustle, and defensive-prowess be enough to make an ultra-talented Swedish team in 2022? Probably not.