Emil Heineman and Simon Holmstrom among the NY Islanders to compete at the World Championship

After the news was announced that Mathew Barzal would be competing for Canada at the 2026 World Championship, two NY Islanders will join him in Switzerland, as Emil Heineman and Simon Holmstrom will make the trip to represent Sweden.

Holmstrom, in his fourth season with the Islanders, finished 2025-26 with 41 points (19 G, 22 A) - four points shy of his career high set last year. Holmstrom, who seems to be gaining confidence with every game played in the NHL, was an integral part of the Islanders' penalty kill, which ranked 10th in the league.

This will be Holmstrom's first time representing his country at the World Championship and the first time donning the Tre Kronor since 2021, when he played at the World Junior Championship. He could see himself in a top-6 role, while playing on the power play and penalty kill.

Heineman, who was tarded to the Islanders in the deal that sent Noah Dobson to the Montreal Canadiens, was a player GM Mathieu Darche targeted from the Habs.

The 24-year-old had set career bests this season in goals (22), finishing third on the Islanders behind Bo Horvat and Matthew Schaefer, and assists (19).

Making his second World Championship appearance, Heineman played for Sweden at the World Championship before being traded to the Islanders. There, Heineman scored once while adding two assists on the road to a Bronze Medal playing in his home country.

Heineman and Holmstrom were both hopefuls to make the Swedish Olympics roster, but in the end, missed out. Both should be on Sweden's short-list for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey, and this could be the first step to making that happen.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow