Eriksson EK did not miss the face-off McDavid and Hedman Praise Brodin

Athletics has a living reporting of Canada against Sweden in the 4 nations

Montreal-Joel Eriksson EK missed the last game of the game before the 4 nations, but his teammates knew that none of the most grazing fighters of the game would represent this week in Montreal and next week in Boston Sweden.

“No chance,” said Matt Boldy.

“No shock at all,” added Brock Faber, team -mate of the USA team. “He is a warrior. He goes through night in night. He is underestimated in the blows that he takes for the team. Simply such a selfless, incredible player and deserves to be here. There was never doubts that he would push it through. “

“I had no doubt,” said Swedish team -mate Jonas Brodin.

Nevertheless, the Swedish teammate Filip Gustavsson said that Eriksson EK had received a rib from his wild teammates.

“We gave him a little because we didn’t play (against the islanders, but then to Montreal),” said Gustavsson. “But that’s ecker. This is his style of play. He stands online all the time and gets many intersections behind the back. You have Facoffs and he also beats there.

“Many players hate playing against him because he is a bit dirty … in a nice way when he plays. And people want to put cheap shots to him, and it takes a while as if 82 games are playing. But he is a machine. He will play even if he broke bones. “

Says Gus #Mnwild Teammates gave Eriksson eK “Sh*t” because he missed the last game before the 4 nations. 😆 pic.twitter.com/xfeooTrff4

– Michael Russo (@Russohockey) February 11, 2025

Eriksson EK said what kept him away from the islanders’ game is “something that I couldn’t beat through that night.”

But he is confident that this is an injury that will not worsen during the 4 nations, and it will be ready to go as soon as the wild schedule takes on February 22 with a home home series In Detroit against the red, wings begin.

Eriksson EK, who has an aggressively a down year, but according to coach John Hynes everything else like the Eriksson EK from Old, was beaten all season with countless injuries with lower assault.

“Somehow it goes hand in hand,” said Eriksson EK. “One thing leads to the next and then it heals and something else happens. But I feel good and didn’t miss this opportunity. “

Ekker next pic.twitter.com/xt7f05QR11

– Michael Russo (@Russohockey) February 11, 2025

Eriksson EK and the Swedes open on Wednesday evening at the Bell Center against Canada in a rabid atmosphere. Eriksson Ek plays in a line with Jesper Bratt and Lucas Raymond, and Bratt calls Eriksson EK “Maybe the best net front type in the league, so Lucas and I only have to use our speed and skills through the neutral zone if he knows that he “. I will be online. “

And when he knows Eriksson EK, the human Tormouth Scrum will enter into many Canadians. Don’t be surprised if he gets into some disputes with Boldy and Faber when Sweden plays the United States in Boston on February 17th. Eriksson EK and Boldy had some push and thrust games during the World Cup in May, and Eriksson EK said: “You are now in various teams. I will try to do everything to help this team win games. “

Faber joked: “The chances are my stick or something could hit him in the nose or teeth or something because something always finds a way to hit his face.”

Hedman brodin against McDavid

As wild fans know, Connor McDavid’s production against the game was not as effective as other teams because he competes against Brodin. This is a big reason why Sweden has Brodin with Lightning Star Victor Hedman on the upper couple. For this purpose, the left -wing Brodin will play his side from the side, as he did at the beginning of his wild career and often internationally.

Of course, Brodin knows that he may not only see McDavid’s line with Sam Reinhart and Mitch Marner. He could see Canada’s de-facto top line from Sidney Crosby-Nathan Mackinnon-Markenstein.

Jonas Brodin is looking forward to playing on Sweden’s top pair alongside Victor Hedman pic.twitter.com/tm5pzgmztf

– Michael Russo (@Russohockey) February 11, 2025

“I love these matchups,” said Brodin. “In Minny, who plays against these teams, they always look forward to making it difficult for them. You don’t want you to skate so much. You love when you close it. “

McDavid said Brodin was one of the most underestimated defenders of the NHL.

“He skates great,” said McDavid. “He defends himself with his legs, which is always good. Clever.”

Hedman, who previously played twice with Brodin, said he was “super excited” when he learned that he would play with Brodin.

“He is just a phenomenal two-way defender,” said Hedman. “The way he plays the game and how he reads the game just makes it.”

Brodin said when he blocked his foot on January 7th to block Colton Parayko, he was worried that he would miss the tournament.

“It took four weeks to heal,” he said. “It was boring because the whole body felt good, but it hurt when (I) put it in the skate.”

Matthews surprises Hynes

Monday was Hynes’s 50th birthday, so Team USA captain Auston Matthews surprised the Wild Coach and the team USA assistant with a dessert with the American team.

“And everyone sang” Happy birthday, “said Hynes. “That didn’t expect that.”

The team USA captain Auston Matthews surprises assistant coach John Hynes with a dessert on the 50th birthday at Team Dinner in Montreal on Monday. (Photo with the kind permission of USA Hockey)

Hynes trained Matthews at the 2016 World Cup in Russia. The Americans were fourth and Matthews scored six goals and nine points in 10 games.

“The fiftieth birthday is a big one,” said Matthews before he laughed. “We wanted to surprise him a little and try to keep this birthday cake from Billy Guerin as far as possible.”

Bracelet

• Boldy said he was in the last two practices about the caliber of the players with whom he was on the ice.

“It’s really something special,” he said. “You look around and see the boys who can get around the puck out there. You are awesome to be honest. Everyone is so good. Everyone can play every game in the world. You can do anything. It is pretty cool to be with these boys. I think it’s good for everyone to be with men from whom you can learn so well to take things. “

Boldy will open the tournament in a line with Brady Tkachuk and JT Miller and on the second power play unit.

• Sweden has not announced whether Gustavsson, Linus Ullmark or Sam Ersson will start against Canada on Wednesday, and Gustavsson held his poker intact on Tuesday. However, he was seen as he watched Canada’s training from the Zamboni tunnel.

Go deeper

Brock Faber’s 4 Nations diary: In the first days of the Wild defender in Montreal with Team USA

• Faber is not disturbed by all its wild teammates, who post the pictures from the beach on Instagram.

“I hope you all enjoy it. You deserve it, ”said Faber. “This group obviously needs a bit of a break injury. So it will be good and it will just be so much fun to win this thing and come home and see all the boys again and prepare for the last third of the year. “

• The former wild captain Mikko Koivu was sitting in the Bell Center and watching Finland’s training with assistant GM Jarmo Kekalainen. Kekalainen was Columbus’ GM when Koivu signed with the blue jackets to end his NHL career.

(Topto by Joel Eriksson EK: David Banks / Imagn Images)