(SportsNetwork.com) - Vancouver Canucks star Henrik Sedin will not be participating for the Swedish national team in the Winter Olympics due to a nagging rib injury that has plagued him over the past month.
Sedin confirmed his withdrawal from Team Sweden to Sportsnet.ca on Thursday, shortly after Canucks head coach John Tortorella told reporters that the former Hart Trophy winner would be held out of the team's two remaining games prior to the Olympic break.
The veteran center missed six consecutive contests after initially hurting his ribs in a Jan. 16 matchup at Phoenix. Sedin returned to the lineup on Monday, but failed to register a point in two outings since coming back.
Prior to his recent absence, Sedin had played in 679 consecutive games in a streak that dating back to the 2003-04 season.
Sedin, who has tallied nine goals and 31 assists in 52 games this season, was a part of Sweden's gold-medal winning team at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy. His twin brother and fellow Canucks teammate, Daniel, was also a member of the squad.
Sportsnet.ca also reported that Calgary Flames center Mikael Backlund is expected to replace Henrik Sedin on Sweden's roster.
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