It is the first time that Nylander, who turns 21 years old today, will compete in an international tournament against men as a professional player. It is also the first time Nylander has represented Sweden since the 2016 World Junior Championships, a tournament that was cut short after Nylander sustained an apparent concussion on an open-ice hit in the first game against Switzerland. All told, Nylander represented Sweden in five international junior tournaments.
A chance to win a championship for the Tre Kronor will cap off a highly successful rookie year in the NHL for Nylander. He was twice named rookie of the month (in October and March) and set a franchise rookie record with a 12-game points streak, which is also the fifth longest in NHL history.