[SWE] Official World Cup 2004 Roster Speculation Thread
Very early, but hey.. it is a very exciting event and I'm sure we all are looking forward to it.
Post your thoughts about he Swedish players, team, possible line-ups etc... (the final roster may not include more than 26 (players+goalies)
--------------------------------------
THE CANDIDATES (by position, in alphabetical order)
--------------------------------------
(The age listed is what they will be when the tournament starts)
GOALIES
Johan Hedberg, 31 (Vancouver)
Johan Holmqvist, 26 (Houston)
Stefan Liv, 23 (HV 71)
Henrik Lundqvist, 22 (Frölunda)
Tommy Salo, 33 (Edmonton)
Mikael Tellqvist, 24 (Toronto)
DEFENSEMEN
Christian Bäckman, 24 (St. Louis)
Pierre Hedin, 26 (Toronto)
Niclas Hävelid, 31 (Anaheim)
Kim Johnsson, 28 (Philadelphia)
Hans Jonsson, 30 (MoDo)
Kenny Jönsson, 29 (NY Islanders)
Niklas Kronwall, 23 (Detroit)
Nicklas Lidström, 34 (Detroit)
Mattias Norström, 32 (Los Angeles)
Marcus Ragnarsson, 33 (Philadelphia)
Ronnie Sundin, 33 (Frölunda)
Henrik Tallinder, 25 (Buffalo)
Mattias Timander, 30 (NY Islanders)
Daniel Tjärnqvist, 27 (Atlanta)
Dick Tärnström, 29 (Pittsburgh)
Niclas Wallin, 29 (Carolina)
Mattias Öhlund, 27 (Vancouver)
FORWARDS
Daniel Alfredsson, 31 (Ottawa)
Magnus Arvedson, 32 (Vancouver)
Per-Johan Axelsson, 29 (Boston)
Christian Berglund, 24 (New Jersey)
Andreas Dackell, 31 (Montreal)
Johan Davidsson, 28 (HV 71)
Nils Ekman, 28 (San Jose)
Peter Forsberg, 31 (Colorado)
Tomas Holmström, 31 (Detroit)
Michael Holmqvist, 25 (Anaheim)
Kristian Huselius, 25 (Florida)
Andreas Johansson, 31 (Nashville)
Mathias Johansson, 30 (Färjestad)
Jörgen Jönsson, 31 (Färjestad)
Magnus Kahnberg, 24 (Frölunda)
Fredrik Modin, 29 (Tampa)
Marcus Nilson, 26 (Florida)
Niklas Nordgren, 25 (Timrå)
Peter Nordström, 30 (Färjestad)
Michael Nylander, 31 (Washington)
Markus Näslund, 31 (Vancouver)
Samuel Påhlsson, 26 (Anaheim)
Mikael Renberg, 32 (Toronto)
Daniel Sedin, 23 (Vancouver)
Henrik Sedin, 23 (Vancouver)
Andreas Salomonsson, 30 (MoDo)
Fredrik Sjöström, 21 (Phoenix)
Mats Sundin, 33 (Toronto)
Per Svartvadet, 29 (MoDo)
Mathias Tjärnqvist, 25 (Dallas)
Rickard Wallin, 24 (Houston)
Mattias Weinhandl, 24 (NY Islanders)
Henrik Zetterberg, 23 (Detroit)
U22 players (3 will be selected)
Tobias Enström, 19 (MoDo)
Johan Fransson, 19 (Luleå)
Yared Hagos, 21 (Timrå)
Andreas Jämtin, 21 (HV71)
Jens Karlsson, 21 (Frölunda)
Robert Nilsson, 19 (Leksand)
Fredrik Sjöström, 21 (Phoenix)
Alexander Steen, 20 (Frölunda)
With a fast look on the list I could see the following players on the team. Haven't considered any other players. I have also taken in consideration that Hardy is still the coach for Tre kronor:
G
#1 Mikael Tellqvist, 24 (Toronto)
#2/3 Stefan Liv, 23 (HV 71)
#2/3 Henrik Lundqvist, 22 (Frölunda)
D
Kim Johnsson, 28 (Philadelphia)
Nicklas Lidström, 34 (Detroit)
Mattias Norström, 32 (Los Angeles)
Marcus Ragnarsson, 33 (Philadelphia)
Daniel Tjärnqvist, 27 (Atlanta)
Mattias Öhlund, 27 (Vancouver)
F
Daniel Alfredsson, 31 (Ottawa)
Per-Johan Axelsson, 29 (Boston)
Peter Forsberg, 31 (Colorado)
Tomas Holmström, 31 (Detroit)
Andreas Johansson, 31 (Nashville)
Jörgen Jönsson, 31 (Färjestad)
Peter Nordström, 30 (Färjestad)
Michael Nylander, 31 (Washington)
Markus Näslund, 31 (Vancouver)
Mats Sundin, 33 (Toronto)
Mathias Tjärnqvist, 25 (Dallas)
Henrik Zetterberg, 23 (Detroit)
U22
Johan Fransson, 19 (Luleå)
Fredrik Sjöström, 21 (Phoenix)
Alexander Steen, 20 (Frölunda)
I'm just pretending to be Hardy here and Tjärnqvist has played for Djurgården. He must be a lock for the squad then. :p
I myself would prefer Jönsson, if he's healthy that is..
I don't really see where this Djurgården-myth about Hardy comes from. He's been quite consistant with picking players mainly from Frölunda & Färjestad. Sure there is the Rudslätt thing but other than that I can't see it. I bet there's only one swedish team in Hardys heart and thats Skellefteå AIK.
Well, I do see some Hardy - Djurgården love, especially with the latest selection of SEL rookie Tomas Kollar.
However I'm positive that there will be no such "weird" selections coming the World Cup.
I'm a big fan of Daniel Tjärnqvist but I would pick an healthy Kenny Jönsson over him.
Goalies could be a problem. Hedberg always plays a bit unreliable (imo) and Salo hasn't been very good since well.. the Belarus incident. I feel that Tellqvist is the best of the lot at the moment but he's young and relativly unexperienced, and will Hedberg or Salo accept being a backup?
I think the four top teams for the World Cup will be Russia, Canada, Czech Republic, and Sweden. I don't include the US because I believe that their defence is too old and that they don't have a reliable goaltender. While I believe that Sweden's goaltending is better than the US's I do wonder about who their number 1 guy is going to be. If they had a big name goaltender I would probably pick them as tournament favorites.
My prediction is that they will go with Tellqvist as the number one goalie. If he faulters than I expect them to go with Salo. Don't give up on Tommy just yet.
I think the roster for World Cup in September should look like this
Goalies
Johan Hedberg, Vancouver Canucks
Tommy Salo, Edmonton Oilers
Mikael Tellqvist, Toronto Maple Leafs/St John's Maple Leafs
Defense
Kim Johnsson, Philadelphia Flyers
Kenny Jönsson, New York Islanders
Nicklas Lidström, Detroit Red Wings
Mattias Norström, Los Angeles Kings
Marcus Ragnarsson, Philadelphia Flyers
Dick Tärnström, Pittsburgh Penguins
Mattias Öhlund, Vancouver Canucks
Offense
Daniel Alfredsson, Ottawa Senators
Per-Johan Axelsson, Boston Bruins
Peter Forsberg, Colorado Avalanche
Thomas Holmström, Detroit Red Wings
Andreas Johansson, Nashville Predators
Fredrik Modin, Tampa Bay Lightning
Michael Nylander, Washington Capitals
Markus Näslund, Vancouver Canucks
Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks
Mats Sundin, Toronto Maple Leafs
Niklas Sundström, Montreal Canadiens
Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings
U22
Fredrik Sjöström, Phoenix Coyotes/Springfield Falcons
Alexander Steen, Frölunda
Robert Nilsson, Leksand
Lineup
M Näslund - P Forsberg - N Sundström
F Modin - M Sundin - D Alfredsson
H Zetterberg - M Nylander - A Johansson
D Sedin - H Sedin - PJ Axelsson
This is a very offensive swedish team, but all swedish players are very good defensively that I don't think we need that many defensive specialists, I'll only make room for PJ Axelsson and Sundström. Box play shouldn't be any problem with players like Zetterberg, Alfredsson, Modin and Sundström.
On the power play there are many combinations that you can use, and the duo of Zetterberg and Nylander just make you smile. The fact is that the third line can be the most productive with the opponents trying to shut down the two other scoring lines. And with the underrated Sedin twins we got good offensive depth.
It's also easy to shake up the lines 'cause other combinations have been successfull earlier. Sundström-Nylander-Näslund showed that in the 2002 olympics, Alfredsson and Forsberg have played together, Sundin and Axelsson did so in WC 2003, Zetterberg and Forsberg did not make that success, but what would happen with Forsberg with the twins? The possibilites are so many you almost can't wait for the tourmament to begin.
The defense is very strong with defensemen who play a lot in the NHL, and names like Daniel Tjärnqvist and Niclas Hävelid will have to accept to stay home this time. Tjärnqvist may have a chance to break the lineup but Tärnström has been terrific this season and Kenny Jönsson and Marcus Ragnarsson is making their best seasons for years.
Maybe Fredrik Sjöström will get the opportunity to play in some games, whya not in a topline with Näslund and Forsberg?
I like your team a lot there Robertsson, it's very close to how my "dream team" would look like. I'm still hoping for Huselius to wake up (or be traded) and start producing.
Looking at defense I am a big fan of Daniel Tjärnqvist so I would probably chose him ahead of Marcus Ragnarsson.
In goal I would prefer to have Tellqvist, I actually think he is the best goalie we have in North America
Goalies:
Tommy Salo
Johan Hedberg
Mikael Tellqvist
Defensemen:
Nicklas Lidstrom
Kim Johnsson
Dick Tarnstrom
Mattias Norstrom
Mattias Ohlund
Christian Backman
Kenny Jonsson
Johan Fransson
Fowards:
Markus Naslund
Peter Forseberg
Mats Sundin
Daniel Alfredsson
Henrik Zetterberg
Daniel Sedin
Henrik Sedin
Tomas Holmstrom
Sami Pahlsson
Kristian Huselius
PJ Axelsson
Magnus Arvedson
Nils Ekman
Alexander Steen
Fredrik Sjostrom
Samuel was called Sami atleast when he was in Boston a couple of years ago. I had the pleasure to watch one of Samuels first NHL games and after the game one Bruins staff said. Hi Sami. Dont wanna leave you behind which ment that he should stop talking to the reporters and get ready for the bus/flight or whatever transportation they had.
Christian Bäckman is a dark horse, and is playing real well in St Louis at the moment, with much time on the power play. His not among our best 7-8 defensemen but maybe he would have some experience for future tournaments.
As of Kristian Huselius, no one more than me love this player, but he has been struggling a lot this season, but we know how much he can. In my team there already are a lot of offenisve players, but a Huselius in shape is a lockon the team.
I could consider play him with Nylander and Zetterberg, there would be a lot of skill in that line. And all three of them are better defensively than anyone thinks. Then maybe Andreas Johansson will be graduated to the topline together with Forsberg and Näslund. Sundström will be placed on the bench.
Another dark horse who will compete for a roster spot is Nils Ekman, it would be interesting to see himin the World Champs if San Jose would miss the playoffs.
Goalies:
Tommy Salo
Johan Hedberg
Mikael Tellqvist
Defensemen:
Nicklas Lidstrom
Kim Johnsson
Dick Tarnstrom
Mattias Norstrom
Mattias Ohlund
Christian Backman
Kenny Jonsson
Johan Fransson
Fowards:
Markus Naslund
Peter Forseberg
Mats Sundin
Daniel Alfredsson
Henrik Zetterberg
Daniel Sedin
Henrik Sedin
Tomas Holmstrom
Sami Pahlsson
Kristian Huselius
PJ Axelsson
Magnus Arvedson
Nils Ekman
Alexander Steen
Fredrik Sjostrom
Where is Michael Nylander? He is definitly a lock on the team. It would be interesting to see how you wll put your lines together.
I like your team a lot there Robertsson, it's very close to how my "dream team" would look like. I'm still hoping for Huselius to wake up (or be traded) and start producing.
Looking at defense I am a big fan of Daniel Tjärnqvist so I would probably chose him ahead of Marcus Ragnarsson.
In goal I would prefer to have Tellqvist, I actually think he is the best goalie we have in North America
It doesn't seem to be many that like Ragnarsson but he is definetly a lock on my team. He is the whole package, with puckhandling and body, and showed in the 2002 olympics that he should stick with the national team. I like Tärnström and Tjärnqvist too, but their time will come. Next tourmanent probably all of Lidström, Ragnarsson, Norström and Jönsson will be gone.
Samuel was called Sami atleast when he was in Boston a couple of years ago. I had the pleasure to watch one of Samuels first NHL games and after the game one Bruins staff said. Hi Sami. Dont wanna leave you behind which ment that he should stop talking to the reporters and get ready for the bus/flight or whatever transportation they had.
yes, i almost never hear him referred to as Samuel in the states... either by commentators of writers or whatever. wonder where people got the impression he was Sami. i have seen hs name written as Samual several times, though
FORWARDS
Daniel Alfredsson, 31 (Ottawa)
Per-Johan Axelsson, 29 (Boston)
Peter Forsberg, 31 (Colorado)
Tomas Holmström, 31 (Detroit)
Andreas Johansson, 31 (Nashville)
Magnus Kahnberg, 24 (Frölunda)
Fredrik Modin, 29 (Tampa)
Marcus Nilson, 26 (Florida)
Michael Nylander, 31 (Washington)
Markus Näslund, 31 (Vancouver)
Mikael Renberg, 32 (Toronto)
Daniel Sedin, 23 (Vancouver)
Henrik Sedin, 23 (Vancouver)
Mats Sundin, 33 (Toronto)
Henrik Zetterberg, 23 (Detroit)
And there you go. Here's the (almost) optimal roster
