With five NHL seasons and almost 300 games already under his belt, Adam Larsson seems less like a 23-year-old than a seasoned veteran.

Larsson collected 18 points (3g-15a) and posted a career-best plus-15 last season while playing in all 82 games for the first time in his career. His average ice time of 22:30 was second among Devils only to his defense partner, Andy Greene. As he continues his development into a top shutdown defender, Larsson shifts his focus to Russia, where he'll represent Sweden for the first time at the IIHF World Championship.

The Swedes, who are seeking their first gold since 2013, open the tournament against Latvia in Moscow on Friday.

“It is a young squad here," Larsson told IIHF.com. "A couple of guys arrive late from the NHL and the SHL (Sweden) final too. Seeing all the young guys here too, I’m not old but I have been around, to watch them play is pretty exciting and fun. I think that has been what makes us a successful team so far, that we are young and hungry and there are not a lot of guys that have a World Championship on their backs. It is different, but I think that can be a good thing sometimes.”

Larsson previously skated for Sweden at the 2010 and 2011 world juniors, collecting bronze in 2010. He's looking to help the Tre Kronor medal for the sixth time in the last eight years.

Read more at IIHF.com