Atlantic Notes: Nylander, Senators, Caufield

While Maple Leafs winger William Nylander was expected to play for Sweden at the World Championship, Dagens Nyheter’s Malin Fransson reports that this is no longer the case.  Instead, the Swedish Federation has opted to lock in its roster as is.  The team has registered 21 skaters for the tournament, one below the maximum of 22.  That slot will now be held free for a possible injury replacement over trying to bring Nylander in during round-robin play, a move that would have given them a big boost.  The tourney will come to an end next Sunday.

More from the Atlantic:

• A pair of former NHLers have gotten in on the bidding for the Senators. In an interview with Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch, former Canadian sprinter Donovan Bailey indicated that he along with Anson Carter and Grant Fuhr are all part of the bid led by Neko Sparks.  A total of four groups put forth a bid for the franchise with Garrioch suggesting that bids led by Canadiens minority owner Michael Andlauer and the Kimels, who once were partners in the Penguins, might be the ones that the NHL has at the top of their preferred list.
• Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette wonders if Canadiens winger Cole Caufield might prefer to sign a bridge deal this summer and then try to cash in on a richer long-term agreement a couple of years down the road. The 22-year-old tied for the Montreal lead in goals this season with 26 despite missing 36 games due to shoulder surgery.  Caufield will be a restricted free agent this summer but only has 123 career regular season appearances under his belt so if he thinks he can get a 40-goal campaign under his belt in the next couple of years, taking a bridge agreement might be better off financially for him in the long run.