Florida Panthers prospect wins gold at World Juniors with Sweden

Sweden finally grabbed World Juniors gold on Tuesday, beating Czechia 4-2 after hanging on late. It's their third title ever, and the first since 2012, which is why that celebration felt so loud.

Sweden played it like a playoff game, closing lanes early and protecting the slot once they had a lead. They went up 3-0, then survived two late Czech goals before sealing it with an empty-netter.

In the middle of all that noise was Florida prospect Linus Eriksson, who handled minutes that don't show up on highlight clips. Drafted 58th overall in 2024, he logged a one-goal, one-assist, plus-two tournament.

He also took his share of bumps and scrums, finishing with four penalty minutes, but Sweden never lost its structure. At 19, he's already playing pro in Timrå, and that forecheck-first identity fits Florida.

The Hockey News captured Sweden's gold scene with one simple line, a golden moment 14 years in the making.

That's the vibe every prospect chases when the crowd is roaring.

Eriksson wasn't Sweden's leading scorer, but he stayed inside the system, supporting low in the zone and arriving as the third man on entries. Those details translate when you're fighting for a fourth-line job.

On the senior side, Sweden's Olympic roster dropped this week, and it includes Florida defenseman Gustav Forsling. He's the only Florida Panthers player on Tre Kronor's list for Milano Cortina.

Forsling isn't flashy, but Sweden loves his reach, his first pass, and how he holds a gap without panicking. Watching him get that nod should land as a morale boost in Florida's room.

Forsling going to Milano and Linus Eriksson winning gold with Sweden give the Panthers an intangible lift, even from afar.