Karl Henriksson to miss the WJC due to COVID-19

The New York Rangers prospect was supposed to center Sweden’s top line

The pandemic has claimed another victim as New York Rangers prospect Karl Henriksson will not take part in the World Junior Championships after testing positive for COVID-19  This was first reported in Sweden by Adam Johansson of Expressen.  Henriksson was a WJC veteran who was expected to center Sweden’s top line at the tournament.

The news comes on the heels of a report that Djurgården’s William Eklund will also miss the tourney after testing positive.  The center is expected to be a high pick at the 2021 Entry Draft. The tournament is due to begin on December 25 in a bubble format in Edmonton.

Henriksson plays for Frölunda in the Swedish Hockey League and he confirmed to the newspaper that he had been notified by the team that he had tested positive.  He told the newspaper that he was under the weather and said of Team Sweden  “Somehow they have prepared for it to happen, but it still came as a shock when the news came. It’s the way it is right now.”

According to the Frölunda website, he fell ill on Saturday night and was tested.  He said  that he “very sad, but it is as it is.”  He did say that the one positive is that he will be able to play with Frölunda when he has recovered.  Frölunda is in first place in the SHL.

Henriksson has been playing regularly on the second line for line Frölunda with linemates Joel Lundqvist (Henrik’s twin) and Lucas Raymond.  He is still looking for his first goal this season, with four assists in 20 games. Although he starred in the Swedish junior hockey leagues, he has always been more of a playmaker than a goal scorer. Last year in various levels of Swedish hockey he scored nine goals, but had 45 assists.

Karl Henriksson, 19, was drafted in the second round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, 58th overall.  He played for Sweden at the WJC last year with one goal and two assists in seven games.

It’s a disappointment for the Rangers as well as Henriksson.  This was going to be a great showcase for the young center who is still a year or two away from making the jump to North America.