Los Angeles Kings’ Adrian Kempe Calls Olympic Selection Dream Come True for Team Sweden

Adrian Kempe experienced something new last February when he suited up for Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-Off. The tournament gave him his first real taste of best-on-best international hockey, and the intensity left an impression.

He described his opening game against Canada as "like a playoff game, but even more intense, with even more pace." That level of competition is about to escalate even further when Kempe and Team Sweden take the ice at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

Adrian Kempe is ready to represent Team Sweden after last year’s 4 Nations experience

The King's forward was named to the Olympic roster over the summer as one of the first six players selected by each participating nation. While his inclusion was expected, given his emergence as one of the NHL's premier Swedish players, being among the initial selections carried special significance.

"I am super excited; it's a dream come true to compete in the Olympics, for sure," Kempe said. "4 Nations was kind of a tournament where you didn't really know; no one really knew what it was going to be like. Olympics, we have guys who have played before; they have experience. For me, I'm just very excited, proud, and just looking forward to it."

Kempe remains a big part of a national side that is entering the tournament with considerable firepower, with names like William Nylander and Filip among their forward unit. Any of the names could turn a game in their favor with their scoring and once Sweden’s campaign starts, they will hope Kempe can be the point of contention.

Most projections have Kempe somewhere in the top nine forwards, though his exact placement will depend on how Sweden chooses to distribute talent and build chemistry. He brings top-six skill and should play a prominent role at five-on-five while contributing on special teams as he does with the Kings.

The elevated intensity should suit Kempe perfectly. Despite limited team success, he has been the Kings' leading playoff scorer in each of the past four seasons. He has posted 29 points in 24 playoff games over that span, proving himself as a player who rises when the stakes increase.

The biggest game on Sweden's schedule comes on February 13 against Finland in group play. The rivalry runs deep regardless of roster construction or tournament stakes. Kempe mentioned that with 20+ NHL players in their squad, he is looking to have another battle once the Men’s hockey kicks off.

Sweden opens tournament play on February 11 against host Italy before the Finland rivalry game and a final group stage matchup against Slovakia on February 14. The Swedes enter as medal favorites and are expected to advance from their group with a bye directly to the quarterfinals.


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