The Azzurri face 56 NHL players

SWEDEN Compared to the "4 Nations Face-Off" last February, two new goaltenders have been added to the 25-man roster, which consists entirely of NHL players: NHL rising star Jesper Wallstedt (Minnesota Wild) and Jacob Markström (New Jersey Devils). They replace Samuel Ersson (Philadelphia Flyers) and Linus Ullmark (Ottawa Senators). Perhaps the biggest surprise is the omission of veteran Mattias Ekholm (Edmonton Oilers), who has to relinquish his spot on the defensive line to 24-year-old Philip Broberg (St. Louis Blues). An additional spot compared to last year's tournament goes to Oliver Ekman-Larsson (34, Toronto Maple Leafs), as well as Erik Karlsson (35, Pittsburgh Penguins) and Victor Hedman (35, Tampa Bay Lightning), both highly experienced defensemen with offensive skills. The forward line has been replaced by Viktor Arvidsson (Boston Bruins) and Gustav Nyquist (Winnipeg Jets). New additions include Pontus Holmberg (Tampa Bay Lightning), Gabriel Landeskog (Colorado Avalanche), and Alexander Wennberg (San Jose Sharks). The squad: Gate: Filip Gustavsson (Minnesota Wild), Jacob Markstrom (New Jersey Devils), Jesper Wallstedt (Minnesota Wild); Defense: Rasmus Andersson (Calgary Flames), Philip Broberg (St. Louis Blues), Jonas Brodin (Minnesota Wild), Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo Sabres), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Toronto Maple Leafs), Gustav Forsling (Florida Panthers), Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning), Erik Karlsson (Pittsburgh Penguins); Attack: Jesper Bratt (New Jersey Devils), Leo Carlsson (Anaheim Ducks), Joel Eriksson Ek (Minnesota Wild), Filip Forsberg (Nashville Predators), Pontus Holmberg (Tampa Bay Lightning), Adrian Kempe (Los Angeles Kings), Gabriel Landeskog (Colorado Avalanche), Elias Lindholm (Boston Bruins), William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs), Elias Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks), Rickard Rakell (Pittsburgh Penguins), Lucas Raymond (Detroit Red Wings), Alexander Wennberg (San Jose Sharks), Mika Zibanejad (New York Rangers). SLOVAKIA The Slovakian team, which sensationally won the bronze medal four years ago in Beijing, includes seven of its eight NHL players. Samuel Honzek is out injured. This group also boasts the biggest names on the roster: Juraj Slafkovsky, Martin Pospisil, and Simon Nemec. National coach Vladimir Orszagh has also called up three players from the Russian KHL. Goaltender Adam Gajan, from the NCAA, has also earned a spot in Milan. Only one player on the roster, Samuel Takac, plays for Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia. The squad: Gate: Adam Gajan (University of Minnesota-Duluth/NCAA), Samuel Hlavaj (Iowa Wild/AHL), Stanislav Skorvanek (Mountfield Hradec Kralove/TCH); Defense: Peter Ceresnak (HC Dynamo Pardubice/TCH), Erik Cernak (Tampa Bay Lightning), Martin Fehervary (Washington Capitals), Martin Gernat (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl/KHL), Michal Ivan (Bili Tygri Liberec/TCH), Patrik Koch, Martin Marincin (both HC Ocelari Trinec/TCH), Simon Nemec (New Jersey Devils); Attack: Peter Cehlarik (Leksands IF/SWE), Dalibor Dvorsky (St. Louis Blues), Marek Hrivik (HC Vítkovice Ridera/TCH), Libor Hudacek (HC Ocelari Trinec/TCH), Milos Kelemen (HC Dynamo Pardubice/TCH), Adam Liska (Severstal Cherepovets/ KHL), Oliver Okuliar (Skelleftea AIK/SWE), Martin Pospisil (Calgary Flames), Pavol Regenda (San Jose Sharks), Adam Ruzicka (Spartak Moscow/KHL), Juraj Slafkovsky (Montreal Canadiens), Matus Sukel (HC Litvinov/TCH), Samuel Takac (Slovan Bratislava/SVK), Tomas Tatar (Zug/SUI). FINLAND With defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell, and forwards Mikko Rantanen and Roope Hintz, four Dallas Stars players form an indispensable quartet for defending champions Finland. On defense, Mikko Lehtonen (ZSC Lions) is the only non-NHL player on the roster. The Finns are without Urho Vaakanainen (New York Rangers). In addition to star center Aleksander Barkov (Florida Panthers), Patrik Laine (Montreal Canadiens) is also unavailable due to injury. The squad: Gate: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Buffalo Sabres), Kevin Lankinen (Vancouver Canucks), Juuse Saros (Nashville Predators); Defense: Miro Heiskanen (Dallas Stars), Henri Jokiharju (Boston Bruins), Mikko Lehtonen (ZSC Lions/SUI), Esa Lindell (Dallas Stars), Olli Määttä (Utah Mammoth), Nikolas Matinpalo (Ottawa Senators), Niko Mikkola (Florida Panthers), Rasmus Ristolainen (Philadelphia Flyers); Attack: Sebastian Aho (Carolina Hurricanes), Joel Armia (Los Angeles Kings), Mikael Granlund (Anaheim Ducks), Erik Haula (Nashville Predators), Roope Hintz (Dallas Stars), Kaapo Kakko (Seattle Kraken), Oliver Kapanen (Montreal Canadiens), Joel Kiviranta (Colorado Avalanche), Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen (both Florida Panthers), Mikko Rantanen (Dallas Stars), Teuvo Teräväinen (Chicago Blackhawks), Eeli Tolvanen (Seattle Kraken) .

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The Azzurri face 56 NHL players

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