The Calgary Flames forward will replace Henrik Zetterberg, who is unable to participate due to injury.
#TreKronors förbundskapten har tagit ut Mikael Backlund, till #WCoH. Henrik Zetterberg, är skadad och kan inte delta i turneringen.— Tre Kronor (@Trekronorse) September 1, 2016
Backlund, 27, has played for his country on multiple occasions. He captured a bronze medal at the 2007 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, a silver medal at the 2008 and 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship, a silver medal at the 2011 IIHF World Championship and a pair of bronze medals at the 2010 and 2014 IIHF World Championship tournaments.
Most recently, he suited up for Sweden at the 2016 IIHF World Championship, scoring three goals and four points in eight games. He also acted as one of the team's assistant captain's at the tournament.
At the NHL level, the forward set new career highs in all offensive categories in the 2015-16 season with 21 goals, 26 assists and 47 points through 82 games. He finished fourth in team scoring, trailing just Johnny Gaudreau (78 points), Sean Monahan (63 points) and Mark Giordano (56 points).
"We feel that with Mikael Backlund, we will get an internationally experienced player that is very versatile and responsible. His second half of the season with the Flames was very strong, where he showed that he is a premier all-round player in the NHL," Swedish coach Rikard Gronborg said in a release issued by the Swedish Ice Hockey Association.
Sweden's World Cup training camp runs Sept. 5-14 at the Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Sweden and the Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Washington, DC.
The 2016 World Cup of Hockey will be played Sept. 17 to Oct. 1 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. All games will be televised by Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada and ESPN in the United States.
TEAM SWEDEN ROSTER
Forwards:
Mikael Backlund, Calgary Flames; Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals; Loui Eriksson, Boston Bruins; Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators; Patric Hornqvist, Pittsburgh Penguins; Carl Hagelin, Pittsburgh Penguins; Marcus Kruger, Chicago Blackhawks; Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche; Rickard Rakell, Anaheim Ducks; Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks; Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks; Jakob Silfverberg, Anaheim Ducks; Carl Soderberg, Colorado Avalanche
Defencemen:
Mattias Ekholm, Nashville Predators; Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Arizona Coyotes; Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning; Niklas Hjalmarsson, Chicago Blackhawks; Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators; Hampus Lindholm, Anaheim Ducks; Anton Stralman, Tampa Bay Lightning
Goalies:
Jhonas Enroth, Toronto Maple Leafs; Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers; Jacob Markstrom, Vancouver Canucks
SWEDISH EXHIBITION AND PRELIMINARY ROUND SCHEDULE
** Sept. 8: Sweden vs. Finland at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, 10:00 AM MT
** Sept. 9: Sweden vs. Finland at the Scandinavium in Gothenburg, 10:00 AM MT
** Sept. 14: Sweden vs. Europe at the Verizon Center in Washington, 5:00 PM MT
Sept. 18: Sweden vs. Russia, 1:00 PM MT
Sept. 20: Sweden vs. Finland, 1:00 PM MT
Sept. 21: Sweden vs. North America, 1:00 PM MT
** Exhibition games
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