Nashville Predators to loan Filip Forsberg to Team Sweden — report

The wheels are in motion for the world junior championships' host to put their tally to returnees up to 11, since 19-year-old Filip Forsberg needs to regain his skating legs.

Forsberg sustained a brain injury during a game with the Nashville Predators on Nov. 15 and has been dispatched to the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals for a conditioning stint. During TSN's extended pregame coverage for the Finland-Canada pre-competition game on Friday, analyst Bob McKenzie reported that the 19-year-old right wing who's been part of Sweden's gold- and silver-winning teams at the past two WJCs could be loaned to Team Sweden on Monday.

"If he has a good weekend, doesn't show any ill effects, then the expectation is on Monday he'll be going to Sweden," McKenzie said.

Milwaukee has a three-in-three weekend before Nashville will ultimately decide to loan Forsberg. The Admirals play only five games during the span of the world junior championship and Sweden should play up to seven, plus Forsberg would probably get some high-intensity minutes in the tournament. So it makes sense to make the move, especially since the 19-year-old has to regain his timing.

Forsberg had a strong tournament for Sweden in Calgary two years ago and was an important contributor in Ufa. A third-time world junior championship competitor is coming to be a rarity in this era, yet it looks like the wheels are motion for Sweden to enjoy just such a luxury.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet. Please address any questions, comments or concerns to btnblog@yahoo.ca.