After such a disaster of a hockey year, Jrs, women, men, it is so nice to see the loving and caring feeling amongst the fans. One wishing the other to be drunk, and the other wishing him to be high.
If we were only so lucky. (and if you are, **** you for not sharing!)
We haven't even seen many of those players in NHL, makes it really bold. But I would predict to see Hedman, Larsson, Karlsson, MPS from current prospects. And I still have high hopes for Berglund & Backlund. But keep in mind that players like Hjalmarsson, Grossman, Strålman, Gunnarsson, Edler will be in a terrific age. And Junland? Looking good.. We are pretty stacked on D, it's so hard to predict.. Kronwall, Enström and Hedman are my only locks right now there.
I also have my doubts that our oldest player will be around 33/34 yo..
We haven't even seen many of those players in NHL, makes it really bold. But I would predict to see Hedman, Larsson, Karlsson, MPS from current prospects. And I still have high hopes for Berglund & Backlund. But keep in mind that players like Hjalmarsson, Grossman, Strålman, Gunnarsson, Edler will be in a terrific age. And Junland? Looking good.. We are pretty stacked on D, it's so hard to predict.. Kronwall, Enström and Hedman are my only locks right now there.
I also have my doubts that our oldest player will be around 33/34 yo..
If BÅG still coached I have no doubt about Magnus Johansson getting a sport there too.
Not to mention the prolific scorer, Weinhandl. He's a lock for Sotji!
sure he is. i can imagine him on a pure scoring line with mårtensson. maybe ekman on that line. i mean, everyone talked about taking NHLers because the games are in NA. so in sotchi the KHLers have to build the core.
The forward crop is a mix between young players and players in their prime. Some players like Landeskog and Klingberg are maybe too young but I included them since we really badly need size and grit. In almost every tournamnet our exit is because of our lack of drive to the net and inability to score the garbage goals. In this Olympics it was also exposed that our players wasn't good at changing the pace of the game when we got behind. We didn't have that kind of players.
OEL (22) - A. Larsson (21)
E. Karlsson (23) - Hedman (23)
Kronwall (33) - Murray (33)
Hjalmarsson (26)
Taxi:
Edler (27)
Grossman (29)
Enstrom (29)
The defense is very young and might even be too young. But at 2014 I really think they are the best we'll have. The top 4 are maybe the most talented defensemen we've had, since Lidstrom. Remember that Doughty dominated this year in the OG and I think Adam Larsson will be about as good come 2014. Our defensive pool is really deep so it hurts to leave some really good defensemen out of even the taxi squad. I'm a bit worried that the defense will be too offensive minded. We usually have a hard time to clear our own crease when we play against Canada and the US. It will be fun to see the bottom 3 flattening people with open-ice hits, if they choose them wisely.
Lundqvist (31)
Markstrom (23)
J. Gustavsson (29)
Taxi:
Enroth (25)
D. Larsson (28)
For the first time we will have two superstar goalies, in Markstrom and Lundqvist and that is a very good thing. Now we won't be as vunerable to injuries and bad form. Enroth and Gustavsson is basically a wash for the 3rd spot.
Do we have any players born 92, 93 or 94 that could make it to Sotji?
Btw, must we try to WIN the damn tournament? Can't we go with veterans who are slow and doesn't care much if we lose since it's the spirit of the olympic that counts? I suggest the following players for our team:
Lidström - Salming
Jönsson - Hedman
Olausson - Johansson
Lundqvist
Salo
Pekka Lindmark
Coach: Conny Evensson
92-born: I'm quite sure Adam Larsson will make the team. Maybe Landeskog as well. His physical presence will be needed.
93-born: Probably not. Victor Rask might have a very slim chance of making bottom 6.
94-born:Super talented Filip Forsberg and scoring winger Collberg have a minimal chance. But it's really minimal. They would need to have Peter Forsberg-like development to make it.
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.
Energi line 2014.
Tedenby-Franzen-Landeskog (hated that Franz played fourth line in Vancover, but in 2014 he'll be a perfect fit with these two young guns flanking him)
A tough, skilled swede that can fight. Where do I sign up?
Four years is a lot of time, especially when it comes to projecting the development of players that are currently in their early twenties. I mean, some of them will definitely turn out to be lemons and bomb. I have a sneaking suspicion that Markstrom, sadly, will be one of them... not enterily sold on him.
A sleeper call for Sotji is Linus Videll, once he gets out of Sodertalje I think he will absolutely blossom!
Big, strong, smart and a decent scorer. The main knock against him is his lack of speed, which is a concern at the international stage. But with his size and smartness I think he has the tools to succeed.
OG 2014 are very far away. But what also complicates projecting the roster is the fact that we have a lot of young talent and you never know how they will turn out in 4 years, espescially since our 26-30 y.o. are not exactly strong.
