International best on best hockey returns Feb. 12-20 in the form of the 4 Nations Face-Off hosted by the National Hockey League.

The final rosters are due on Dec. 2, with the announcement of those rosters occurring a couple days later on Dec. 4.

Every team had six players that were initially announced for their rosters. For Sweden those players were:

Using those players lets try and fill out the roster!

Honourable mentions: Marcus Johansson, MIN; William Karlsson, VGK; Gustav Nyquist, NSH; William Eklund, SJS; Rickard Rakell, PIT; Kevin Stenlund, UTA

Sweden has some skilled high end playmakers leading the way at the top of their lineup. William Nylander can weave through traffic as good as anybody in the NHL. Filip Forsberg and Jesper Bratt are consistently putting up tremendous point totals while Zibanejad and Pettersson can go up against any 1-2 punch thrown their way at 5v5.

Sweden also has a young stud in Leo Carlsson who I would 100% have on this team. People in Calgary know anybody can play next to Mikael Backlund and have success – having the young Swede ride shotgun next the Flames captain can allow his offensive game to flourish.

Joel Eriksson Ek reminds me of a younger Backlund with better point production. It’s a formidable centre grouping 1-4 with Elias Lindholm, Leo Carlsson, Adrian Kempe, and Kevin Stenlund all capable of playing centre in a pinch.

Stenlund is such a versatile extra forward – especially being fresh off a Stanley Cup championship – but he misses out only because of the 20 player roster limit.

I would have loved to include William Eklund but I believe the Swedes will only bring one true young gun and Carlsson has the edge.

Honourable mentions: Jonas Brodin, MIN; Oliver Ekman-Larsson, TOR; Philip Broberg, STL; Simon Edvinsson, DET.

The defence has all sorts of top notch players on it an some specialists as well.

The right side of their blueline is quite weak. Erik Karlsson of the Penguins is not the Karlsson that was with the Senators. If he was not one of the players announced to this tournament ahead of time it would be worth asking if he should/should not be on this team.

Pairing him with Gustav Forsling gives him a safe floor and takes the defensive responsibility off of both Dahlin and Hedman who can play more free offence without Karlsson next to them.

The single best right hand shooting defenceman the Swedish team could pick right now is Rasmus Andersson. He has a more controlled defensive game than the others and has more than enough experience against top competition to not be in over his head. Playing next to Hedman – or even Dahlin – he would not be out of place. He has thrived next to Kevin Bahl but has shown capable of playing with the Noah Hanifins of the world as well.

I think Simon Edvinsson becomes a pillar on this national squad for years, but this year is too fresh in the NHL for him to cut this roster. Brodin is an extremely effective defensive defenceman so leaving him off hurt a bit.

Honourable mentions: Anton Forsberg, OTT; Samuel Ersson, PHI (on IR)

In net it is about as easy as it gets to pick because of the injury to Ersson.

You’ve got the two established veterans in Markstrom and Ullmark and then the up and comer who is making a name for himself in Filip Gustavsson.

Ullmark has struggled with Ottawa this season while Gustavsson has thrived. For this reason I have Gustavsson as the back-up goaltender.