IIHF World ChampionshipDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
I really liked the line of Johansson - Bäckström - Hörnqvist in Channel One Cup, it would be nice to keep it on for the Olympics. My team:
Henrik Lundqvist
Viktor Fasth
Jhonas Enroth
Erik Karlsson - Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Tobias Enström - Niklas Kronwall (A)
Alexander Edler - Victor Hedman
Niklas Hjalmarsson
Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Gabriel Landeskog (A)
Johan Franzén - Henrik Zetterberg (C) - Loui Eriksson
Marcus Johansson - Nicklas Bäckström - Patric Hörnqvist
Viktor Stålberg - Alexander Steen - Jakob Silfverberg
Patrik Berglund
Candidates G: Jacob Markström, Robin Lehner, Anders Lindbäck
Candidates D: Niklas Grossman, Adam Larsson, Carl Gunnarsson, Staffan Kronwall, Jonas Brodin
Candidates F: Carl Hagelin, Gustav Nyquist, Mikael Backlund, Carl Söderberg (if he keeps beasting the SEL), Joel Lundqvist (has been really good in the NT in a checking role).
I think the depth on F is quite low, we are just few injuries away from seriously having to consider guys like Omark and Samuelsson. Here's hoping that some young gun like Zibanejad, Lindholm, Pääjärvi, or Forsberg steps up and has a breaktrough season. But at the moment, none of them has shown enough to be seriously considered.
silverberg and stålberg ahead of berglund and hagelin? that will never happen.
silverberg and stålberg ahead of berglund and hagelin? that will never happen.
fasth is not og matrial, lindbäck will be there.
What has Hagelin done that puts him clearly ahead of Stålberg and Silfverberg. I think those three are quite even and it will be decided by who has the best 2013/2014. I could imagine having Berglund as the fourth line center and moving Steen to the wing. I think there will be quite the struggle for the goalie spots behind Lundqvist. Right now it's a toss up between Fasth, Enroth, Markström, Lehner, Lindbäck and perhaps even Gustavsson if he rebounds. Again, it will be deceided by who has the best 2013/2014 season.
I think Edler (LH) and Karlsson (RH) are the clear two best Dmen on the team at this point, LH/RH shot matchup, and Edler will bring a little bit of experience and a more defensive style to that pairing.
Similarly OEL (LH) and Kronwall (RH) are in my opinion the clearcut choice to try as a second pairing, youth and experience, great on both ends of the rink, both used to playing big roles with their NHL clubs.
I think wrapping it up with Enstrom - Hedman would provide a solid, positionally sound 3rd pairing that will again be effective on both ends of the ice. Carry Hjalmarsson as the 7th dman in case of injuries and for PK duties if necessary, though I don't forsee that being a problem with such a strong core.
Forwards a little bit more tricky in my opinion. Obviously the Sedins stay together, but who plays on their right side. With the way they dominate and control the puck I almost wouldn't want to use Loui there, and maybe instead give them a guy like Hornqvist to ride shotgun to them, and provide some grit and finishing to that line. And Landeskog should ultimately stay on LW.
I want to keep Franzen and Zetterberg together because of their established chemistry but at the same time I salivate at the idea of a Landeskog - Zetterberg - Eriksson line in terms of driving opposition squads crazy with their defensive play, forechecking, and puck possession. However, on an international squad like this I think a premium has to be placed on existing chemistry, and Zetterberg hasn't been quite the same for the last year or two. Backstrom is effective defensively too, and better offensively, so if he is healthy perhaps he's a better choice to center those two guys.
Putting Steen on a line with Zetterberg and Franzen could provide a very tenacious third line that's difficult to play against, but perhaps limits their offensive potential. Not sure whether it makes more sense to use Steen there or play him as 4th line C.
To be honest I find the lack of proven forward depth concerning when putting together this squad. My thought process would be to play steen with Zetterberg, and lean heavily on the top 3 lines, putting the 4th out there only for a few mins per game. If Berglund was better on the wing I would try him in that 3rd line spot but I've never been impressed with him there.
I would try to match up those 2nd and 3rd lines against the oppositions top offensive threats and try to get the Sedins out there on the PP and against weaker d pairings to dominate and put up numbers.
Kronwall is a leftie, by the way, but we'll have to play some lefties over at the right side either way. I'd personally want Gunnarsson on the team, but I don't think he will be.
As you mention, it'd be optimal if Mårts could use Sedins like they're being used in Vancouver. I doubt he's evolved enough to understand any of that, though. That's not a slight on Mårts, just a comment on Swedish coaching being 10 years behind the NHL when it comes to stuff like that.
What has Hagelin done that puts him clearly ahead of Stålberg and Silfverberg. I think those three are quite even and it will be decided by who has the best 2013/2014. I could imagine having Berglund as the fourth line center and moving Steen to the wing. I think there will be quite the struggle for the goalie spots behind Lundqvist. Right now it's a toss up between Fasth, Enroth, Markström, Lehner, Lindbäck and perhaps even Gustavsson if he rebounds. Again, it will be deceided by who has the best 2013/2014 season.
well silfverberg has not even played in the nhl and was bad in wc and he does not fit on checkingline. stalberg is decent but hagelin got more grit and more speed. but ofc much can happen in 14 months. i think mps can have a breakout season etc.
Of course some young guys I have left out might be obvious then and we might not even have some of the older guys on ice.
Sedin, D Sedin, H Landeskog (This mix will make it)
Zetterberg Backström Franzen (DRW+)
Eriksson Steen Hörnqvist (legit guys but the mix?)
Tedenby Berglund Paajärvi (wings not given, Hagelin?)
Alfredsson (still around?)
(D should be matched by no one of they got a good year)
Edler Karlsson (very offensive, but still ok defensive)
OEL Hedman (world of hurt)
Strålman Enström (good balance)
Kronwall (good enough then or even around?)
Lundqvist (yeah...)
Johan Hedberg (experience wise I pick him, steady backup)
Markström/Läck (Good, young and coming)
yeah becuse its 100 % silverberg and stålberg will be on the team? and zibanejad be on AHL for a very long time and then go back to elitserien. the dude is born 1993 ffs.
yeah becuse its 100 % silverberg and stålberg will be on the team? and zibanejad be on AHL for a very long time and then go back to elitserien. the dude is born 1993 ffs.
Of course not.
It's nice that you can see in to the future though.
I've not had second thoughts on these guys. Last two spots right now would be MoJo and Silfverberg for me with Joel Lundqvist as first challenger.
Not a fan of Franzen and Hörnqvist, really hope someone else comes along....from nowhere...and if Hedberg plays well, hes the ideal back-up. Not sold on Lindbäck either.
I don't get why everyone has Hörnqvist in their 2014 lineup. 1 point in the last 12 games with the national team. Probably the most overrated swedish player.
I don't get why everyone has Hörnqvist in their 2014 lineup. 1 point in the last 12 games with the national team. Probably the most overrated swedish player.
Agree. I think there are better options, he's a very average player.
I don't get why everyone has Hörnqvist in their 2014 lineup. 1 point in the last 12 games with the national team. Probably the most overrated swedish player.
A nose for the net that is bound to be appearant in the chicken-yellow jerseys as well. He is also a hard worker and a good team player. Not a player that looks out of place on any line.
I don't get why everyone has Hörnqvist in their 2014 lineup. 1 point in the last 12 games with the national team. Probably the most overrated swedish player.
When he screens a goalie on the PP, it won't show on the scoresheet. Does his defense, knows his role. We'll have at least 10 other guys for creativity.
When he screens a goalie on the PP, it won't show on the scoresheet. Does his defense, knows his role. We'll have at least 10 other guys for creativity.
Typically guys that block the goalie on the PP try to redirect the puck. That does show up on the score sheet.
