Internationally, Sweden has long been a threat to win any tournament, and expect much of the same when the World Cup of Hockey kicks off in Toronto Sept. 17.
Sweden has assembled one of the most experienced and consistent lineups in the tournament rebirth, and should be a tough test for any country.
With an eye-popping blueline, a deep platoon of forwards, and a future Hall of Famer in goal, the Tre Kronor have a solid foundation at both ends of the ice.
That said, every roster faces adversity, and here are three key questions facing Sweden.
Redemption from Sochi?
Earning an Olympic silver medal is nothing to snuff at, but 2014's loss to Canada stung Sweden for multiple reasons.
Henrik Sedin missed the tournament due to a hand injury, and Henrik Zetterberg withdrew after one game because of a nagging back ailment. Tied in with Nicklas Backstrom being wrongfully deemed ineligible for the gold-medal match, and there's a pressing feeling of "what if?"
Zetterberg unfortunately had to withdraw once again, but Backstrom and Sedin will play a key role for Sweden this time around, and memories from 2014 could serve as extra motivation.
Can Lundqvist shake off playoff rust?
Of all Henrik Lundqvist's 10 playoff appearances throughout his career, last season's run was his worst.
Sure, Hank's Rangers were heavily outplayed in all aspects by the eventual champion Pittsburgh Penguins, but in five games, Lundqvist posted a .867 save percentage and a 4.39 goals against average, astoundingly lower than the .921 clip and 2.28 GAA he's averaged throughout his sparkling postseason career.
Simply put, Sweden goes as far as Lundqvist does, and a bounce back from The King is imperative to his country's success.
Can talented D-corps take team all the way?
Hockey fans - from any country - will have the pleasure of watching some of the games most talented defenseman work in unison on Sweden's blueline.
Erik Karlsson, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Victor Hedman, Anton Stralman, Mattias Ekholm, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Hampus Lindholm compose arguably the best defensive corps in the tournament, and much of Sweden's offense should be generated from the backend.
Karlsson paced the NHL in assists with 66 last season, while Ekman-Larsson was seventh in scoring among defenseman with 55 points. Stralman and Hedman are partners in Tampa Bay, while Hjalmarsson delivers a steady defensive hand.
Sweden's offensive game plan is sure to involve the swift skating and elite puck moving skills of Karlsson and company, and the defensive talent at the Swede's disposal could prove to be a huge difference maker.
