Fabian Lysell to play for Team Sweden at World Juniors
The Boston Bruins will have at least one representative at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, as Fabian Lysell has been selected to Team Sweden.
Here’s Team Sweden’s roster for the World Juniors.
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) December 8, 2021
Notable omissions: William Wallinder (DET), Simon Robertsson (STL), William Stromgren (CGY).
The Swedes are also waiting on a decision from the Devils on Alexander Holtz. pic.twitter.com/eEAQOvCpLh
Lysell, who was the Bruins selection at No. 21 in the 2021 draft, played for Sweden last year at the 2021 World Juniors. In six games, he was held without a point with a -5 rating, despite 13 shots on goal, good for third on the team.
The 18-year-old previously played on Sweden in the U18, U17 and U16 international tournaments.
So far this season in the WHL, Lysell has nine goals and 17 assists, good for 26 points in 20 games with the Vancouver Giants.
Fabian Lysell could see top minutes on a deep Sweden squad
The Swedes are looking to bounce back after a disappointing showing in 2021. The team went 2-0-1-1 (two wins, one OT loss and one loss) in the preliminary round to finish third in Group B behind the United States and Russia. Sweden was then bounced in the quarterfinals 3-2 by Finland.
But this year’s team is strong. Lysell joins a Team Sweden roster that features a number of 2021 first-round picks – Simon Edvinsson (No. 6 to DET), William Eklund (No. 7 to SJS), Isak Rosen (No. 14 to BUF), Jesper Wallstedt (No. 20 to MIN) and Oskar Olausson (No. 28 to COL).
Scott Wheeler of The Athletic projected what he believed the roster makeup and lines would be for each of the five powerhouses in junior hockey. He had Lysell slotted in at RW2 playing with Rosen and Theodor Niederbach, a second-round pick of the Red Wings from 2020.
The big question mark for Sweden is whether or not Alexander Holtz will play for the team. It’s up to the New Jersey Devils if they want to send him or not, as their prospect as bounced between them and the AHL this season. If the Devils decide to hold onto him, that could mean Lysell is bumped to the top line and could play with the likes of Eklund and Olausson.
Regardless of whether he’s on the first or second line, expect Lysell is to be an integral part of Sweden’s effort to win gold for the first time since 2012. He likely will see top minutes and be a part of the power play as well.
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The World Juniors is set to start on Dec. 26, with teams playing in Edmonton and Red Deer.