We all saw what youthful grit and passion did for the Americans this Olympics, while the more skilled and experienced team didn't seem to care at all.
The best mix is 5-6 30+ players that brings experience, but then you also need a few 20-24:ish players for enthusiasm.
We also need an energy line, both Canada and USA played a much faster game than we did - we weren't even close. Not that it's our way to play the game, but we must be able to match their intensity if need be, and we just weren't.
I quoted you becasue I agree with what you are writing, and my post is one out of frustration, not geared towards you.
USA Hockey is probably the best managed federation in the world today, and it is starting to show and will be very evident from hereon out. The reason being is that they took a long hard look in the mirror and decided to revamp the system, and the changes didn't come about becasue they somehow tried to protect egos. They were quite ruthless with themselves and can today show some pretty impressive results, which are only buds of what USA Hockey will be in a few years if they can keep it going like they are.
Swedish hockey continues to bet on horses that don't deliver. The Swedish puck possession style (for one) is not paying off, and as you pointed out, we have suffocated on a defensive minded, lathargic style of hockey, which clearly isn't successful on any international stage (NTs or club level).
Don't think I say it's all bad. We have great talent in the ranks, and Swedish players are some of the best coached and fundementally skilled players in the world, year in and year out, but after a certain age, we no longer manage to win based on skill alone. We sorely lack grit and instinct to challenge our opponents, offensively as well as defensively, and that is something they have no chance to learn in Sweden today. Most hockey people in Sweden today can't seperate dirty play from physical play, and when watching an SEL game, the battles along the boards and in front of the net (the few times they manage to get out from the corners) is more about crazy jack moves than sound positioning and strength.
As I see it, the NT might change a bit with Mårts behind the bench, but nothing dramatic will happen, as the core of Swedish hockey, the SEL and its big clubs, set the tone and show no sign of rethinking their philosophies. The arrogance will kill us as their eternal whining is about not having enough money to attract "better" players to stand around in their traps, which would somehow be a better product... and yes, the opposition needs to come from out of Sweden too. But, as I said, there is no second guessing themselves, which is natural when you get a small, stagnant hockey community. I love the Swedish expression, "Skyddad verkstad," and it's really fitting for Swedish hockey at the moment.
Ad nasium with the Federation going out with their Soviet like contract on players being fined and punished for trying to fulfill their potential outside of Sweden, they are not only shutting down any possibility of any young player developing to contribute effectively on the international stage, but they are also killing all the guys who can't or don't have parents who can get them around the political obstacles of being considered a future resource by the Swedish brain thrust.
Having said all that, I think you can forget having a Swedish energy line, or a checking line, worth its name in Sochi, as Tre Kronor will not understand why that would be beneficial, and if they do put something like that together, pray that its made up of seasoned NHLers who got out before the federation's iron curtain dropped and got to learn how to bring the heat and passion for the job.
It's depressing to say the least. It's like realizing that smoking is killing us, so let's give the tobacco companies more influence and resources to figure this out for us.
Add players you feel are among the 13 who should take back the olympic hockey gold in 2014. Also highlight your team below. I provide the most common names according to this thread. Now and then I sum up the votes in a "depth chart". Feel free to adjust/complete age and position. Also added WC players bound for NHL and some promising NHL players. These have no "votes" yet.
hedman-kronwall(A)
ekman-larsson-enstrom
murray-karlsson
larsson OR hjalmarsson (larssons development or hjalmarssons overall game staying par is the variable)
I think one of Tre kronors weak spots will be right wingers. The team could of course play with lw or centers at that position but that´s not optimal. Alfredsson will be retired, Samuelsson and Weinhandl probably wont be olympics material, that leaves us with what?
Niclas Bergfors
Patric Hörnqvist
One hit wonders? we don't know yet
Carl Klingberg
André Petersson
Jakob Silfverberg
Fredrik Pettersson
Jonas Andersson
Gabriel Landeskog
Gustaf Nyquist
Fredrik Sjöström
All looongshots to be superb players 2014.
Well perhaps it's not really a problem, perhaps im just drunk
I'm very exctied to watch Paajarvi play at oilers camp in the next month. Other than the world championships and world junior, I haven't seen him play too much. What are your projections for him in the NHL. Do you see him making the Oilers this year? Strengths and weaknesses in his game.
what's sure is that guys like Paajarvi-Svensson, Adam Larsson (who will be a top3 pick in 2011 draft), Victor Hedman, Jarnkrok, Anton Lander, Klingberg will all be in the Olympics.
theres alot of people putting klingberg on the list, and im not entirely sure were looking at a first line player, and 4 years may be pushing it for him to get to that level of first line player if he does get to that point
what's sure is that guys like Paajarvi-Svensson, Adam Larsson (who will be a top3 pick in 2011 draft), Victor Hedman, Jarnkrok, Anton Lander, Klingberg will all be in the Olympics.
A few of those names yes. All of them? Highly unlikely. I'd be surprised if we have more than 4 players under the age of 25 on that team. Even that is a lot by swedish standards.
theres alot of people putting klingberg on the list, and im not entirely sure were looking at a first line player, and 4 years may be pushing it for him to get to that level of first line player if he does get to that point
If he's on the team it will be on a fourth line grinder role. Doubt he'll be though.
A few of those names yes. All of them? Highly unlikely. I'd be surprised if we have more than 4 players under the age of 25 on that team. Even that is a lot by swedish standards.
They arent suposed to be hard hitting energy players these will be the ones going out against Crosby, Ovie and the other top lines. Landeskog might be an option on that line but i think Zetterberg need a playmaker on his line.
What team Sweden lack is a good right handed centers and is good at face offs most of our centers are sub par at face offs.
They arent suposed to be hard hitting energy players these will be the ones going out against Crosby, Ovie and the other top lines. Landeskog might be an option on that line but i think Zetterberg need a playmaker on his line.
What team Sweden lack is a good right handed centers and is good at face offs most of our centers are sub par at face offs.
They arent suposed to be hard hitting energy players these will be the ones going out against Crosby, Ovie and the other top lines. Landeskog might be an option on that line but i think Zetterberg need a playmaker on his line.
What team Sweden lack is a good right handed centers and is good at face offs most of our centers are sub par at face offs.
I quoted you becasue I agree with what you are writing, and my post is one out of frustration, not geared towards you.
USA Hockey is probably the best managed federation in the world today, and it is starting to show and will be very evident from hereon out. The reason being is that they took a long hard look in the mirror and decided to revamp the system, and the changes didn't come about becasue they somehow tried to protect egos. They were quite ruthless with themselves and can today show some pretty impressive results, which are only buds of what USA Hockey will be in a few years if they can keep it going like they are.
Swedish hockey continues to bet on horses that don't deliver. The Swedish puck possession style (for one) is not paying off, and as you pointed out, we have suffocated on a defensive minded, lathargic style of hockey, which clearly isn't successful on any international stage (NTs or club level).
Don't think I say it's all bad. We have great talent in the ranks, and Swedish players are some of the best coached and fundementally skilled players in the world, year in and year out, but after a certain age, we no longer manage to win based on skill alone. We sorely lack grit and instinct to challenge our opponents, offensively as well as defensively, and that is something they have no chance to learn in Sweden today. Most hockey people in Sweden today can't seperate dirty play from physical play, and when watching an SEL game, the battles along the boards and in front of the net (the few times they manage to get out from the corners) is more about crazy jack moves than sound positioning and strength.
As I see it, the NT might change a bit with Mårts behind the bench, but nothing dramatic will happen, as the core of Swedish hockey, the SEL and its big clubs, set the tone and show no sign of rethinking their philosophies. The arrogance will kill us as their eternal whining is about not having enough money to attract "better" players to stand around in their traps, which would somehow be a better product... and yes, the opposition needs to come from out of Sweden too. But, as I said, there is no second guessing themselves, which is natural when you get a small, stagnant hockey community. I love the Swedish expression, "Skyddad verkstad," and it's really fitting for Swedish hockey at the moment.
Ad nasium with the Federation going out with their Soviet like contract on players being fined and punished for trying to fulfill their potential outside of Sweden, they are not only shutting down any possibility of any young player developing to contribute effectively on the international stage, but they are also killing all the guys who can't or don't have parents who can get them around the political obstacles of being considered a future resource by the Swedish brain thrust.
Having said all that, I think you can forget having a Swedish energy line, or a checking line, worth its name in Sochi, as Tre Kronor will not understand why that would be beneficial, and if they do put something like that together, pray that its made up of seasoned NHLers who got out before the federation's iron curtain dropped and got to learn how to bring the heat and passion for the job.
It's depressing to say the least. It's like realizing that smoking is killing us, so let's give the tobacco companies more influence and resources to figure this out for us.
It's Sweden the wussiest and feminine country in the world, what do you expect? This mindset is too deeply rooted in the old and weak "men" that is called leaders in our hockey federation. We will have to hope the Swedish model can live on its strengths in stead (there are strengths as well, I think the skating/individual skill has improved the recent years).
