2018 was the last time Tre Kronor won a hockey championship, when they won World Cup gold in Denmark. 2006 was the last time Sweden won Olympic hockey when NHL players participated.
For the first time since the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Tre Kronor's Olympic team this year consisted only of NHL players.
Expectations were high for the team ahead of this year's Winter Games in Milan, but the exit in the quarterfinals against the USA was yet another in a series of failures.
“Suffocates the freedom”
Former national team captain and radio expert Johan Garpenlöv believes he has the explanation.
We are a country with a culture that creates a certain type of player. We create solid team players. Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to train top players. By that I mean "superstars" who will be the best in the NHL. Everyone should be there; it's frowned upon to stand out. That's how we are. We are very focused and we stifle freedom. You then create "average" players, gray players, whom you love to play with but who are not that special, he says.
“Wet blanket on emotions”
Someone who agrees with Garpenlöv is Pär Mårts, also a former national team captain.
We have a good society in Sweden. We take care of everyone. In other countries, the climate in sports is tougher. I like the Swedish model, that everyone should be involved, but it's a bit of a pain; that's why we don't win as often.
Garpenlöv explains in more depth:
You should pass the puck, not stand out. We are masters at removing tackles. You must not get angry; we put a wet blanket on all emotions in hockey. It is in the culture of Sweden, in society at large. It is good in many situations, but not in hockey.
“For equal player types”
Mårts believes that the players are cast in the same mold.
I don't think Tre Kronor has all the player profiles that you need. Unfortunately, Swedish hockey has become a bit too similar. The types of players are too similar to each other. It's about competing and winning. I would like Swedish hockey to change things up a bit. Sweden is skilled at playing, but too cumbersome. There is work to be done. They can't handle the duels and aren't powerful enough.
TT has repeatedly contacted Tre Kronor's national team manager Anders Lundberg for comment. Communications manager Linus Hugosson says they do not want to comment.
2026 Olympics: out in the quarterfinals.
World Cup 2025: bronze.
Four Nations 2025: third.
World Cup 2024: bronze.
World Cup 2023: quarter-finals.
World Cup 2022: quarter-finals.
2022 Olympics: four.
World Cup 2021: out in the group stage.
World Cup 2019: quarter-finals.
