Predictions: World Cup Rosters (to be held in 2013?)
 

Well now that it looks like this tournament is going to happen in two years, lets get some looks at what some of these rosters might look like....

With 2014 being a tad bit too far away, I think the 2012 World Cup will be a bit more easier to predict, but still much fun in thinking about who might be ready...

Will Sweden be able to get some of that youth ready by 2012?

Will Russia get some defense and grinders by then?

Will Canada and the US be the top dogs again?

Lets see what some of you guys think...

I will start it off with giving my good ol' Red, White, and Blue a shot....

Here is my projection of Team USA for the 2012 World Cup of Hockey

Goaltending x 3

Ryan Miller
Craig Anderson
Jimmy Howard

Defense x 8

Ryan Suter
Erik Johnson
Jack Johnson
Zach Bogosian
John Carlson
Brooks Orpik
Paul Martin
Keith Yandle

Forwards x 15

Zach Parise
Patrick Kane
Phil Kessel
Paul Stastny
Bobby Ryan
Colin Wilson
James van Riemsdyk
Dustin Brown
Ryan Kesler
David Booth
David Backes
Joe Pavelski
Ryan Malone
Peter Mueller
Dustin Byfuglien

Lines

1. Parise, Wilson, Kane
2. Ryan, Stastny, Kessel
3. Booth, Pavelski, Mueller
4. Backes, Kesler, van Riemsdyk
ex: Brown, Byfuglien, Malone

1. E. Johnson - Suter
2. Bogosian - Carlson
3. J. Johnson - Orpik
4. Martin - Yandle

1. Miller
2. Anderson
3. Howard


Just missing the cut: T.J Oshie, Ryan Callahan, Eric Tangradi, Kyle Okposo, Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Connolly, Drew Stafford, Ryan Stoa, David Legwand, Nick Foligno, Jordan Schroeder, Blake Wheeler, Chris Higgins (he will revive in Florida) and Justin Abdelkader

Just Missing the cut: Cam Fowler, Tom Gilbert, Kevin Shattenkirk, Jon Blum, Tim Gleason, Mike Komisarek, Andy Greene, Matt Greene, Mark Stuart, Chris Butler, Jack Hillen, Jamie McBain, and Matt Carle

Just missing the cut: Jon Quick, Corey Schnieder, Rick Dipietro, Ben Bishop, Jon Curry, Ty Conkilin, Alex Stalock, Jack Campbell

I went with the extras because I remember the World Cup rosters usually having around 4-5 extra players, so I would imagine around the same this time around....

I think this team is pretty damn lethal if you ask me. Plenty of size and grit to go around, and plenty of scoring touch as well. This obviously hinders on the play going forward of guys like Peter Mueller, Colin Wilson, and James van Riemsdyk. If Wilson and JVR can continue to rise this season and next, I have very little doubt that these two big bodies will make this squad.

Same goes for Bogosian and Carlson on defense, as both of those young studs are going to be absolute beasts!! I would put this defense up against any other countries any day of the week. This could probably be the best core group of dmen we have ever assembled.

Goaltending looks extremely solid again with plenty of #1 guys to choose from. Miller is still da man!

Cant wait for this thing to begin, bring em on baby!!!

Team USA:


Forwards (x15):

Zach Parise (C) - Paul Stastny - Bobby Ryan

James van Riemsdyk - Joe Pavelski - Patrick Kane

David Booth - Ryan Kesler (A) - Dustin Brown (A)

Brandon Dubinsky - David Backes - Ryan Callahan

Phil Kessel

Extras: Peter Mueller, Colin Wilson


Defense (x8):

Ryan Suter (A) - Erik Johnson

Jack Johnson - Brooks Orpik

John Carlson - Zach Bogosian

Paul Martin - Tim Gleason


Goalies (x3):

Ryan Miller (starter)

Craig Anderson

Jimmy Howard


- Other forwards under consideration: Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez, Dustin Byfuglien, RJ Umberger, T.J. Oshie, Ryan Malone, Kyle Okposo.
- Other Defenseman under consideration: Keith Yandle, Brian Rafalski, Mike Komisarek, Jamie McBain.
- Other Goalies under consideration: Jon Quick.
- Prospects to watch: Cam Fowler, Chris Kreider, Jonathan Blum, Derek Stepan.

Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Loui Eriksson

Johan Franzen - Nicklas Backstrom - Henrik Zetterberg

Fredrik Sjostrom - Alexander Steen - Patric Hornqvist

Mikael Backlund - Tom Wandell - Patrik Berglund





Niklas Kronwall - Henrik Tallinder

Niklas Hjalmarsson - Alexander Edler

Douglas Murray - Nicklas Grossman

stamkos-crosby-iginla
nash-getzlaf-perry
morrow-toews-richards
heatley-thornton-marleau
carter-tavares-staal

ketih-doughty
phaneuf-weber
boyle-myers
seabrook-green

luongo
fleury
ward

*i think the only real variables are how the san jose line is doing and how iginla is doing

hemsky-cervenka-jagr
michalek-plekanec-elias
fleischmann-krejci-havlat
rolinek-hudler-erat
frolik-cajanek-hanzal

kubina-kaberle
zidlicky-michalek
hejda-kuba
polak-blatek

vokoun
pavelec
neuvirth

hagman-m.koivu-miettinen
leino-jokinen-jokinen
ruutu-immonen-ruutu
bergenheim-s.koivu-filppula
granlund-kapanen-nokelainen

pitkanen-timonen
salo-lydman
lepisto-vatanen
koistinen-niskala

kiprusoff
backstrom
rask

*depends on what kind of season rask has, i think its between him and niemi

ovechkin-malkin-semin
kovalchuk-datsyuk-afinogenov
zaripov-zinoviev-morozov
frolov-anisimov-radulov
filatov-gratchev-zherdev

markov-gonchar
tyutin-volchenkov
grebeshkov-kalinen
kulikov-nikulin

nabokov
bryzgalov
varlamov

hossa-demitra-gaborik
hossa-handzus-satan
kolnik-kopecky-svatos
panik-cibak-tatar
zednik-bartecko-radivojevic

meszaros-chara
sekera-visnovsky
jurcina-valabik
baranka-strbak

halak
budaj
stana

zetterberg-backstrom-alfredsson
sedin-sedin-eriksson
holmstrom-franzen-samuelsson
paajarvi-berglund-hornqvist
modin-pahlsson-steen

kronwall-lidstrom
ohlund-hedman
oduya-enstrom
murray-tallinder

lundqvist
gustafsson
markstrom

*if samuelsson still refuses to play then im thinking weinhandl will be on the team

kessel-stastny-kane
vanek-parise-langenbrunner
brown-kesler-callahan
booth-pavelski-ryan
backes-drury-oshie

e.johnson-rafalski
orpik-suter
j.johnson-martin
yandle-komisarek

miller
howard
quick

*who ever is coming off the better season in net, miller is the only lock

T.Ruutu-M.Koivu-J.Jokinen
Leino-Filppula-Hagman
Osala-Granlund-Miettinen
Komarov-Kapanen-Korpikoski
Immonen

Timonen-Pitkänen
Lydman-Vatanen
Lepistö-Laakso
Niskala

Kipper
Rask
Bäcks

Team Canada


Nash-Crosby-Iginla
Heatley-Getzlaf-Perry
Stamkos-Toews-Richards
J.Staal-E.Staal-Carter
Lucic-Bergeron-Lecavalier
Gagne

Doughty-Green
Seabrook-Keith
Boyle-Weber
Pronger-Burns
Barker

Fleury
Ward
Luongo

i just want canada to enter this to **** **** up

stamkos crosby tavares
e staal toews nash
morrow j staal doan
lucic richards perry
burrows beregon iggy

weber doughty
keith myers
phaneuf seabrook
staal pronger

fluery
ward
beriner

Cze
 

Hudler (28) - Plekanec (29) - Hemsky (28)
Michalek (27) - Krejci (26) - Havlat (31)
Elias (36) - Cervenka (26) - Voracek (22)
Fleischmann (28) - Hanzal (25) - Frolik (24)
Olesz (26) - Vasicek (31) - Erat (30)

Kaberle (34) - Michalek (29)
Klesla (30) - Zidlicky (35)
Blatak (30) - Polak (26)
Smid (26) - Rozsival (33)

Vokoun (36)
Pavelec (24)
Neuvirth (24)

Even though this tournament is only 2 years off it's still really difficult to forecast. Canada is absurdly deep at center but on the wings most of the elite talent are and will be 30+ in 2012. As it stands right now the average age of a top 10 centre in Canada is 25.6, a top 10 d-man is 25.8 whereas top 10 wingers average 29.3 years old. I think more and more we'll be forced to play natural centers on the wings in international tournaments, and hopefully some star natural wingers will emerge sooner or later...ie. Hall, Eberle.

These are the depth charts as I see them, locks to make the team are bolded, players ages in 2012 in brackets, followed by primary and secondary positions if applicable, be it C/LW/RW, a R or L signifies shot on defence.

Centers

Crosby (25) C
Stamkos (22) C
Getzlaf (27) C
Toews (24) C
Thornton (33) C
M.Richards (27) C/LW
E. Staal (27) C/RW/LW
Carter (27) C/LW
B. Richards (32) C
Lecavalier (32) C
Spezza (29) C
Zajac (27) C
Bergeron (27) C/RW
J. Staal (24) C
Savard (35) C
Fisher (32) C
Giroux (24) C/RW
Duchene (21) C
Gagner (22) C/RW
Tavares (21) C/RW
Sutter (23) C

Top Prospects

Seguin (20) C
Kadri (21) C
Hodgson (22) C
Schenn (21) C

Wingers

St. Louis (37) RW
Nash (28) RW
Perry (27) RW
Marleau (32) LW/C
Iginla (35) RW
Heatley (31) RW/LW
Cammalerri (30) LW
Sharp (30) LW/C
Burrows (30) LW
Morrow (33) LW
Neal (24) LW
Stewart (24) RW
Gagne (33) LW
Raymond (26) LW
Setogouchi (25) RW
Downie(25) RW/LW
Bourque (30) LW/RW
Perron (24) LW/RW
Kane (21) LW/C
Benn (23) RW/C
Simmonds (22) RW
Lucic (24) LW

Top Prospects

Hall (20) LW
Eberle (22) RW
Connolly (20) RW

Defense

Keith (29) L
Doughty (22) R
Weber (26) R
Pronger (37) L
Boyle (36) R
Seabrook (27) R
Myers (22) R
Bouwmeester (28) L
M. Staal (25) L
Green (26) R
Phaneuf (27) L
Burns (27) R
Phillips (34) L
Hamhuis (29) L
Giordiano (28) L
Letang (25) R
Regehr (32) L
Coburn (27) L
Del Zotto (22) L
Schenn (22) R

Top Prospects

Subban (22) R
Pietrangelo (22) R
Alzner (23) L

Goaltenders

Broduer (40)
Luongo (33)
Fleury (27)
Ward (28)
Price (25)
Mason (24)

Top Prospects:

Bernier (24)
Pickard (21)


I think whomever is GM will place an emphasis on footspeed as we build to 2014 and international ice. The average age is 26.1, but there is considerable experience here nonetheless. Hopefully Yzerman will help to mend the relationship between St. Louis and Hockey Canada, because if he's healthy I think he makes this roster. As far as goaltending I think it's a complete tossup at this point, in spite of winning Olympic gold I can't justify locking in Luongo.

Here's hoping this tournament actually happens, the more best on best we get to see the better.

Canada 2012
 

New players from 2010 bolded

Tavares (21) - Crosby (25) - Stamkos (22)
E.Staal (27) - Getzlaf (27) - Perry (27)
Duchene (21) - Toews (24) - Nash (28)
Neal (24) - Richards (27) - Iginla (35)
J.Staal (24)

Keith (29) - Seabrook (27)
Doughty (22) - Boyle (36)
Weber (26) - Green (26)
Myers (22)

Luongo (33)
Fleury (27)
Ward (28)

Players out:
Niedermayer (Retired)
Broduer (40)
Pronger (37)
Thornton (33)
Marleau (32)
Heatley (31)
Bergeron (27)

Russia:

Ovechkin - Datsyk - Semin
Kovalchuk - Malkin - Frolov
Burminstrov - Anisimov - Kulemin
Artyukhin - Svitov - Lokotinov (checking-line)


Gonchar-Volchenkov
Markov-Grebeshkov
Tyutin-Kulikov



Canada:

Giroux - Crosby - Stamkos
E.Staal - Getzlaf - Perry
M.Richards - Toews - Nash
Burrows - J.Staal - Lucic


Keith - Seabrook
Doughty - Weber
Green - Bouwmeester
Scheen - Phaneuf

Anyone know the amount of players you are allowed per roster?

Galiardi is now officially USA property from hence forth....

but otherwise, that is pretty sick depth!!

In 04 they allowed 26 on a roster; 5 forward units, 4 sets of d-man, 3 goalies.

Dang, duly noted. Hell of a player, wouldn't be surprised to see him crack the US roster at some point.

Our centres and defenseman are the strength of the national team imo. As for the wings it's really hard to say what the future holds, a lot of the old guard are getting on in years ie. Gagne, Iginla, St. Louis, Kariya, Marleau and it's not really obvious who the star to elite wingers will be for Canada going forward outside of Nash and Perry. Probably why 10 of 15 forward spots on my roster are taken by natural centers.

the last world cups have had 15F-8D-3G

I was thinking footspeed as well. As for "natural wingers" I am not that concerned. We take our best players and most of those are natural centers but some will convert to wing. Right now Stamkos converting to Sid's RW would be a nice touch. You are also right that 2 years is enough time for some of the players in their 30's to drop off in favor of some younger guys moving up.

E. Staal Crosby Stamkos
Nash Toews Richards
St. Louis Getzlaf Iginla
Lecavalier Thornton Tavares
Hall J. Staal Carter

Doughty Keith
Weber Boyle
Bouwmeester M Staal
Green Phaneuf
With Meyers somewhere in there?

Luongo (i think he goes in as the starter but might not leave as the starter)
MAF
Price
S Mason
Bernier

Canada

E. Staal Crosby Stamkos
Heatley Getzlaf Perry
Nash Toews M. Richards
Hall J. Staal Carter
Iginla Duchene Tavares

Doughty Weber
Keith Seabrook
Green M. Staal
Myers Bouwmeester

Luongo
Ward
Fleury

Forwards in the mix --- Thornton, Marleau, Neal, B. Richards, Zajac, Seguin, St. Louis, Lecavalier, Bergeron, Spezza, Giroux, Kane

Defencemen in the mix --- Phaneuf, Pronger, Boyle, Burns, Hamhuis,

The team looks very strong everywhere except between the pipes. Hopefully someone steps up soon.

Stamkos-Crosby-Nash
Staal- Getzlaf-Perry
Heatley - Toews - Richards
Lecavalier - Thornton - Iginla
Marleau



Doughty - Weber
Keith - Seabrook
Pronger - Bouwmeester
Boyle

Luongo
Ward
Fleury

not out here to bash you guys, but how crazy is it to say a non strength for Canada is its goaltending? I cant remember the last time that I looked at the depth at Canadas goaltending and went meh....it just isnt that great as in years past. That could be the only chink in the armor imo. If Luongo is your top guy, you guys could see an early out if he drops the ball.

Otherwise I think your defense is big, strong, and mobile...I like that group a lot. I think your forward group is very very solid, but I also agree that a changing of the guard is happening and some of the old vets just dont look as great as they once did. But the big question will be can some of the young guys step up and replace those older forwards? I am sure it wont be that big of a problem, but for the first time in a long time, Team Canada looks mortal!! I cant wait for this tourney to start, I hope Chicago gets to host a game as I would love to go!

A long-ways off, but here's my best shot (working under the presumption of 3 goalies, 8 defenceman, and 15 forwards like in the 2004 World Cup; only 18 skaters and 2 goalies dress per game).

Goaltender:
Fleury
Luongo
Ward

As others have mentioned, this will not be an advantage for us in 2012. I'd think that Luongo and Fleury are locks, with Ward a strong, but not sure bet for #3. Of course, between now and then any number of good youngsters like Bernier, Price, or Steve Mason could heat up and challenge for any one of the three positions.

Defence:
Keith (L) - Seabrook (R)
Boyle (R) - Weber (R)
Bouwmeester (L) - Doughty (R)

Extra: Green (R), Myers (R)

Pretty solid defense. Pronger's an interesting case because I would say he performed poorly throughout the Olympics until the Gold medal game. With that being said, he was awesome in the playoffs, and probably still has the juice left to make this roster (though I wouldn't think he'd make our top 6). I've left him off, as I think Hockey Canada will see this World Cup as laying the groundwork for Sochi 2014. Further, I would only consider two left-handed shots (Keith and Bouwmeester) to be strong candidates to make this team, an issue presented with Niedermayer's retirement. So at least one guy has to play out of position, and I'd go with the most experienced of the goup, Boyle.

Forward:
E. Staal - Crosby - Stamkos
Hall - Getzlaf - Perry
M. Richards - Toews - Nash
Tavares - Giroux - Iginla

Extra: Carter, Duchene, J. Staal

Putting together this forward group, I again went with a bit of a youth movement in the sense that I think Hockey Canada will be looking closely at some of these guys for Sochi 2014. Also, in terms of veterans like Lecavalier, Brad Richards, St. Louis, and other guys who probably came close to making the Vancouver but ultimately didn't, I just can't see them come back in 2012; there's been a changing of the guard, and I think now we have enough young but experienced players to lead this team through 2012 and 2014. Plus, I think HC will experiment with some of the younger guys, so I could also see the Sharks trio of Heatley, Thornton and Marleau not return (also, its not like they did much in the playoff round of the Olympics). So, coming out of the forward group from 2010 are Morrow, Heatley, Thornton, and Marleau. I also think Bergeron will be in tough to get the call, given his performance in Vancouver, but he does have versatility and ability to play well in very limited roles.

Yep, Canada's goaltending is by far the weakest spot on the team. Canada has very good goaltending depth, but really it's better to have one tremendous goaltender than several good goaltenders. Basically every other good hockey country can match or better Canada in this regard at the moment. I'd say that Canada still has a sizeable lead over every other country in terms of forwards and defencemen though, so that's something.

In all honesty I think the Canadian national team is in a much better position than it was ten years ago, with lots of highly skilled young players yet to play in a best on best. Player production seems to have improved quite a bit, although the same can be said for USA and Sweden too.

Luongo is very talented but something seems to be going on between his ears. That said he was in nets for a gold. Hopefully our younger goalies will step up or the veterans will bounce back.

You are right with newer, younger faces likely making an appearance. I am happy that Canada (and other countries) seem to be producing a lot of good young players.

your last point is spot on.....I guess that is the main reason as to why I am so excited about the 2012 World Cup is because of all that great youth that has entered the game the past few seasons and next few as well..

In 2004 it just seemed like a boring, stale, and old tournament imo. This time around, I would venture to say that the vast majority of players on the big 6 rosters will not have participated in the 04 World Cup. The guard has changed, and I think it has been for the positive for many nations.

I think the Finns and Slovaks could be in for some tough times ahead as they simply arent producing what they previously have, though Finland should eventually see guys like Pulkinnen, Granlund, Rajala, etc making the show.

You guys did have an exceptionally old team in 04, 30.3 years old on average to be exact. I don't blame you for being more excited about the current crop.

While Canada wasn't super young in 04 there was a significant youth movement with the average age at 27.5. Bouwmeester was 21, Heatley was 23, Lecavaliver, Richards, Gagne, and Regehr were 24, Thornton, Marleau and Hannan were 25. And Iggy and Redden were both in their primes at 27.

Nevertheless I think the reasons 2012 will be a better tournament then '04 are twofold; infusion of youth worldwide, and allowing that youth to play skilled hockey.

Looking at defence it's obvious things are on the up and up.

Canada 2004
Niedermayer
Jovanovski
Redden
Foote
Brewer
Hannan
Bouwmeester
Regehr

USA 2004
Chelios
Klee
Weinrich
Miller
Leetch
Rafalski
Gill

Canada 2010
Niedermayer
Pronger
Keith
Seabrook
Doughty
Boyle
Weber

USA 2010
E. Johnson
J. Johnson
Suter
Rafalski
Orpik
Gleason
Whitney