Olympics: 2014 — Switzerland Roster (Released, post #1)

[stv11]

Switching Wick and Moser would be a possibility.

Luxury-problems.

But in this case Ambühl would be the odd man out.

Who could have guessed six months ago that we would be seriously discussing Wick or Ambühl not making the team.

 

[jonas2244]

I'd leave Bodenmann out:

Wick - Plüss - Nino
Moser (or Ambühl) - i - Hollenstein
Ambühl (or Moser) - Trachsler - Walker

I just hope none of the centers gets injured, we're still very thin there, I hope Tanner Richard gets ready soon.

 

[duga]

ey together, hope you guys had a nice off-season!

came here to share my thoughts about sotchii... just to find out that you did point out most of it already... as usual a lot of quality


2 things I wanted to point out:


1)We are pretty close to turn a page in book of swiss hockey history.

this could be the last international tournament for quite a bunch of players. guys born between 76 and 80. who were the first generation in modern swiss ice hockey to challenge the top-nations at junior level, establish the swiss behind them, bring home the first medals and most important created a new dimension of confidence and team-spirit...

Some of them already helped bringing the A-Nati back to the Top Level (98' Zurich 5-1 against France...what a game) and a lot of them had their big share for the next 15 years to keep them there... year after year they postponed the end of their personal season to give a great team-effort for a solid placement at the WHC.

so my deepest respect and thanks for all those years your offered us supporters a platform for hopes and suffers... it's your fault that every year, spring time in my inner calender starts not before the end of WHC

thanks to the ex-internationals like Rüthemann, von Arx, Jeannin, Riesen, B.Plüss, Demuth, Wichser, Conne, Christen, Reichert, Winkler, Äbischer, Bührer and to everyone I forget.

thanks to the ones that are left fighting for a spot: like Streit, Seger, Vauclair, Bezina, M. Plüss, Gardner, Liniger, Steiner...

thanks for being the fundament of swiss hockey for a decade!




2) last year was great!
and IMO the after-burner of that year and the anticipation of Sotchii is very noticeable in NLA.... the speed is on a new level... it's a lot of spectacular north-south run and gun game... similar to that type of hockey that was so successfull in Sweden last year. Beside the Lakers, Biel and Lausanne the league is ridiculously balanced. the depth is growing, even with a lot of talent leaving for NA, which makes it tougher and tougher to pick the most purple cherries out of the basket for the Nati.

Most important: the opponents at the OGs are stronger than at the WHCs, so the Swiss have to improve their team too if they want to challenge for a medal. There is the obvious addition of the NHL-Talents but there's more to do IMO. Simpson has to take more risky selections for the roster, which raises the ceiling of this team and therefore has to sacrifice some of the solidness.

IMO the special teams are the gamebreakers at this level:

they need 2 strong blueline pairs for the PP and all forwards must have a certain amount of offensive game... because the opposing 4th lines will be very strong... and the problem is: if you try to match so strong 4th lines with pure defensive specialist, it's a high risk that you can't neutralize them... and so you end up in a situation where your 4th line can't stop the opponents and can't score because of lack of talent... so the risky way is the only way !!

When every body's healthy the top 9 forwards are pretty much set IMO:
Romy, i, M.Plüss on C.
Brunner, Nino, Moser, Hollenstein, Wick (his puck protection skills could be very important for this team) and S. Bärtschi (he's the weak link IMO, of course not because of lack of skill, but he is unproven on this team and hasn't played big ice hockey in quite some time... so he's the risky choice)

I totally agree with STV11: I wan't to see the reunion of the Brunner-Romy-Moser combo again.

i-Hollenstein (-Bodenmann) are locked together, but they had their problems against physical strong opposition at the WHCs... so Nino is the best compliment IMO. Bringing strengh, firepower and crease play.

That leaves S.Bärtschi- M.Plüss- Wick as 3rd line, all 3 of them are among the very best puck possession/protection players in Switzerland. No real sniper on this line tough.

the 4th line bears the most questions in my opinion.

With my argumentation about pure defensive specialist further up this post I'd skip Trachsler. I know he was very solid at the WHCs, but this is played on another level and he isn't as strong at FOs that he'd be indispensable. Especially with Romy on the team, who's better at face-offs and as good as a defensive C (and miles ahead on attack), I just can't see him in the top 12.

I know I'm abit biased, because he's one of my favourites and I've supported him for a role in the Nati for a long time... but IMO it's time for Walker to take over the 4th line C-spot. (Just watch him with Lugano, he does it all, plays PP, plays BP, takes important FOs, once centers a line with youngsters than compliments the foreigners at the wing... he makes Lugano a contender IMO)

And I have a hard time leaving Suri off the team, he's got energy, heart, smarts, the speed, and the finishing skills and strong WHCs as reference.

So there's only one spot open IMO: and as a long time critic of Ambühl, I've always thought that the swiss'd be medal contenders as soon as they can afford to put Ambühl on the 4th line (I stand corrected there, they medaled anyway) where he can create havoc in the opposing defense without having the responsibility to collect scoring points and share the puck well timed.

M.Bieber would be a more solid alternative but hes inefficiency on attack is even more distinct.

D.Wieser could take over as well. this combination of strengh, courage, skill, shot is remarkable.

so my attack is:

Brunner-Romy-Moser
Nino-i-Hollenstein
S.Bärtschi-M.Plüss-Wick
Ambühl/Bieber-Walker-Suri

they can call 22 fieldplayers correct?

if so it's probably 8D/14F

so the 13th/14th forward would be one of Liniger/Gardner and one of Bieber/Wieser/Bürgler

STV11 was correct last year: no space for Richard/Bertschy/Hoffmann/Vermin/Walser yet... (i remember the discussion) maybe at the next WHCs... we'll see...


sorry for this novel (as usual ) I'll do the Defense another time

cheers
duga

 

[stv11]

thanks to the ex-internationals like Rüthemann, von Arx, Jeannin, Riesen, B.Plüss, Demuth, Wichser, Conne, Christen, Reichert, Winkler, Äbischer, Bührer and to everyone I forget.

thanks to the ones that are left fighting for a spot: like Streit, Seger, Vauclair, Bezina, M. Plüss, Gardner, Liniger, Steiner...

Not much to comment, but I just find it funny that you consider Rüthemann done but Steiner fighting for a spot.

Most important: the opponents at the OGs are stronger than at the WHCs, so the Swiss have to improve their team too if they want to challenge for a medal. There is the obvious addition of the NHL-Talents but there's more to do IMO. Simpson has to take more risky selections for the roster, which raises the ceiling of this team and therefore has to sacrifice some of the solidness.

IMO the special teams are the gamebreakers at this level:

they need 2 strong blueline pairs for the PP and all forwards must have a certain amount of offensive game... because the opposing 4th lines will be very strong... and the problem is: if you try to match so strong 4th lines with pure defensive specialist, it's a high risk that you can't neutralize them... and so you end up in a situation where your 4th line can't stop the opponents and can't score because of lack of talent... so the risky way is the only way !!

[...]

the 4th line bears the most questions in my opinion.

With my argumentation about pure defensive specialist further up this post I'd skip Trachsler. I know he was very solid at the WHCs, but this is played on another level and he isn't as strong at FOs that he'd be indispensable. Especially with Romy on the team, who's better at face-offs and as good as a defensive C (and miles ahead on attack), I just can't see him in the top 12.

I know I'm abit biased, because he's one of my favourites and I've supported him for a role in the Nati for a long time... but IMO it's time for Walker to take over the 4th line C-spot. (Just watch him with Lugano, he does it all, plays PP, plays BP, takes important FOs, once centers a line with youngsters than compliments the foreigners at the wing... he makes Lugano a contender IMO)

And I have a hard time leaving Suri off the team, he's got energy, heart, smarts, the speed, and the finishing skills and strong WHCs as reference.

So there's only one spot open IMO: and as a long time critic of Ambühl, I've always thought that the swiss'd be medal contenders as soon as they can afford to put Ambühl on the 4th line (I stand corrected there, they medaled anyway) where he can create havoc in the opposing defense without having the responsibility to collect scoring points and share the puck well timed.

M.Bieber would be a more solid alternative but hes inefficiency on attack is even more distinct.

D.Wieser could take over as well. this combination of strengh, courage, skill, shot is remarkable.

That's an interesting take on the 4th line, but can we really afford it? As much as I like Walker, I don't think we can count on him scoring as much as during the last WC (see his NLA production, in his best offensive season he scored 0.5 PPG), and Bieber or Wieser aren't any better in that regard.

About Suri, I'm not sure he's that well suited for this kind of role, he may have good speed but I don't think he'd be that efficient as a forechecker considering his lack of agility and foot speed. And can we really count on him to lead a line offensively at this level? Let's not forget that everything that could go well last spring did actually go well, but it won't always be the case, so playing it safe might actually be the way to go.

I think a tough to play against fourth line build around strong forecheckers could provide some offense without sacrifying any defensive stability. Remember Paterlini-Ziegler-Rüthemann against the Czech Republic in 2006?

sorry for this novel (as usual ) I'll do the Defense another time

At least this time you managed to send it.

 

[chokei]

I'd leave Bodenmann out:

Wick - Plüss - Nino
Moser (or Ambühl) - i - Hollenstein
Ambühl (or Moser) - Trachsler - Walker

I just hope none of the centers gets injured, we're still very thin there, I hope Tanner Richard gets ready soon.

The way Bodenmann has been playing during the last year and still is at the moment, he can impossibly be left out. He is establishing himself as one of Switzerlands top wingers. And if Bärtschi doesn't step it up big time he is really a question mark for me too. He has never been a part of the team, hasn't played on big ice in like forever and it seems you can't be too sure about his production as well.

i should have a spot simply because he is awesome. Such a smooth, skilled, finesse hockey player.

 

[jonas2244]

I'm not sure Wick and i would fit well together (correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember them ever playing on the same line with ZSC), as both are at their best with the puck on their stick, unlike Bodenmann who is good at finding open spots and Hollenstein who uses his speed more.

Wick and i are currently playing together (with Bastl) and not too bad, it seems.

 

[stv11]

Wick and i are currently playing together (with Bastl) and not too bad, it seems.

I just watched the ZSC-Lugano game and came to post this. Clearly the best ZSC line tonight, although it rather was thanks to their individual talent than how well the clicked together (by the way, they played with Nilsson tonight). I think i fits better with Bärtschi and Kenins, a line you can compare to Bodenmann-i-Hollenstein.

 

[SwissStef]

Maybe Berra can steal the starter position from Hiller if he continues to play the way he did in the last few games with Calgary!

In my opinion Plüss and i should be a lock for 1C + 2C. They are in great shape...i took a other step forward this season...

Sven Bärtschi should be considerd in the top six as well.


Right now i see:

Nino - i - Wick
Bärtschi - Plüss - Brunner
Hollenstein - Romy - Moser
Suri - Trachsler - Ambühl
one of Walker/Sprunger/Monnet

Josi - Diaz
Streit - Furrer
Sbisa - Vauclair
Seger

Berra 1a, Hiller 1b, Gerber 2

 

[The Noot]

Maybe Berra can steal the starter position from Hiller if he continues to play the way he did in the last few games with Calgary!

In my opinion Plüss and i should be a lock for 1C + 2C. They are in great shape...i took a other step forward this season...

Sven Bärtschi should be considerd in the top six as well.


Right now i see:

Nino - i - Wick
Bärtschi - Plüss - Brunner
Hollenstein - Romy - Moser
Suri - Trachsler - Ambühl
one of Walker/Sprunger/Monnet

Josi - Diaz
Streit - Furrer
Sbisa - Vauclair
Seger

Berra 1a, Hiller 1b, Gerber 2

If he plays the last few games, he would play like extreme-Hiller: He steals the game on one night, just to lose it all by himself in the next game.

And that's what bothers me the most with Hiller and Berra. They both are really inconsistent. I don't exactly like that, since that's the last thing we want to have in net.

 

[neutral*]

Switzerland will medal.

 

[The Noot]

Switzerland will medal.

I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[Loffer]

Switzerland will medal.

Snowballs chance in hell.

IF
Sweden
Canada'
Russia
Usa
Finland
didn't take part in this event THEN Suisse could with a bit of luck medal. But as things are: no way in hell!

 

[jonas2244]

In Vancouver Swi lost in the quarters 0-1, hit the post in the last minutes. I wouldn't say there is no way that Swi will come to the medal round, chances are surley higher than they ever were before, but they are still quite small. Anyway, important is that they play a good tournament and show what progress swiss ice-hockey made.

 

[Tritsche]

Goaltenders:

Tobias Stephan (Genève Servette)
Reto Berra (Calgary Flames NHL)
Martin Gerber (Kloten Flyers)
Benjamin Conz (Fribourg Gottéron)
Jonas Hiller (Anaheim Ducks NHL )
Leanardo Genoni (HC Davos)

Defenseman:

Roman Josi (Nashville Predators - NHL)
Luca Sbisa (Anaheim Ducks - NHL)
Mark Streit (NY Islanders - NHL )
Yannick Weber (Montreal Canadiens - NHL )
Rafael Diaz ((Montreal Canadiens - NHL)
Severin Blindenbacher (ZSC Lions)
Matthias Seger (ZSC Lions)
Eric Blum (Kloten Flyers)
Philippe Furrer (SC Bern)
Robin Grossmann (HC Davos)
Julien Vauclair (HC Lugano)
Patrick von Gunten (Kloten Flyers)
Felicien Du Bois (Kloten Flyers)
Goran Bezina (Genève Servette)
Tim Ramholt (HC Davos)
Sebastien Schilt (Fribourg-Gottéron)
Dean Kukan (Lulea SVE)

Forwards:

Andres Ambühl (HC Davos)
Matthias Bieber (Kloten Flyers)
Simon Bodenmann (Kloten Flyers)
Dario Bürgler (HC Davos)
Luca i (ZSC Lions)
Ryan Gardner (SC Bern)
Denis Hollenstein (Genève Servette)
Thibaut Monnet (Fribourg Gottéron)
Simon Moser (?)
Nino Niederreiter (Bridgeport/AHL)
Martin Plüss ( SC Bern)
Reto Suri ( EV Zug)
Morris Trachsler (ZSC Lions)
Julian Walker (Genève Servette)
Julien Sprunger (Fribourg Gottéron)
Andrej Bykov (Fribourg Gottéron)
Roman Wick (ZSC Lions)
Kevin Romy (Genève-Servette)
Sven Bärtschi (Calgary Flames NHL)
Damien Brunner (Detroit Red Wings- NHL)
Tanner Richard (Syracuse Crunch AHL)
Christoph Bertschy (SC Bern)
Joel Vermin (SC Bern)
Sven Andrighetto (Genève-Servette)
Lino Martischini (EV Zug)
Grégory Hoffmann (HC Davos)

Chose your Swiss Olympia Team!

I would say the Situation has change like this:

Goaltenders:

Tobias Stephan (Genève Servette) - Possible as Goalie Number 3
Reto Berra (Calgary Flames NHL) - Should be a Lock
Martin Gerber (Kloten Flyers) - Possible as Goalie Number 3
Benjamin Conz (Fribourg Gottéron) - Don't think so, is playing not as good as last year
Jonas Hiller (Anaheim Ducks NHL ) - Should be a Lock
Leanardo Genoni (HC Davos) - I would say he is out of competition!

New:
Lukas Flüeler (ZSC Lions) - Could also be in the picture for Goalie Number 3

Defenseman:

Roman Josi (Nashville Predators - NHL) - Should be a Lock
Luca Sbisa (Anaheim Ducks - NHL) - Injured, Olympia in question ?
Mark Streit (NY Islanders - NHL ) - I guess a Lock.
Yannick Weber (Montreal Canadiens - NHL )- Maybe, but I don't think so
Rafael Diaz ((Montreal Canadiens - NHL) - Should be a Lock
Severin Blindenbacher (ZSC Lions) - I think he has good chances for a Olympia Ticket
Matthias Seger (ZSC Lions) - Great guy, I hope he gets a Ticket for Sochi
Eric Blum (Kloten Flyers) - No way
Philippe Furrer (SC Bern) - Maybe
Robin Grossmann (HC Davos) - Maybe
Julien Vauclair (HC Lugano) - Should be on the Team, but he has a concussion, right now
Patrick von Gunten (Kloten Flyers) - Maybe
Felicien Du Bois (Kloten Flyers) - Maybe
Goran Bezina (Genève Servette) - I think he has good chances for a Olympia Ticket
Tim Ramholt (HC Davos) - Don't think so
Sebastien Schilt (Fribourg-Gottéron) - No candidate, I like him, Simpson not that much.
Dean Kukan (Lulea SVE), - Don't think so

Forwards:

Andres Ambühl (HC Davos) - Almost a Lock
Matthias Bieber (Kloten Flyers) - Maybe
Simon Bodenmann (Kloten Flyers) - Maybe, but just slim chances
Dario Bürgler (HC Davos) - No way
Luca i (ZSC Lions) - Should be a Lock
Ryan Gardner (SC Bern) - Maybe, I hope not
Denis Hollenstein (Genève Servette) - I think he has good chances for a Olympia Ticket
Thibaut Monnet (Fribourg Gottéron) - No way, he can score some Goals, but is slow like Doud Murray...
Simon Moser (Milwaukee Admirals) - I think he has good chances for a Olympia Ticket
Nino Niederreiter (Minnesota - NHL) - Should be a Lock
Martin Plüss ( SC Bern) - I think he has good chances for a Olympia Ticket
Reto Suri ( EV Zug) - Maybe
Morris Trachsler (ZSC Lions) - Don't think so
Julian Walker (HC Lugano) - Don't think so, but maybe for the fourth Line...
Julien Sprunger (Fribourg Gottéron) - Should be on Roster, but who knows...
Andrej Bykov (Fribourg Gottéron) - Unfortunately don't think so
Roman Wick (ZSC Lions) - I think he has good chances for a Olympia Ticket
Kevin Romy (Genève-Servette) - Should be there...
Sven Bärtschi (Calgary Flames NHL) - Good chances
Damien Brunner (New Jersey - NHL) - Maybe
Tanner Richard (Syracuse Crunch AHL) - Don't think so
Christoph Bertschy (SC Bern) - No way
Joel Vermin (SC Bern) - No way
Sven Andrighetto (Hamilton Bulldogs - AHL) - 2018 a Lock, right now I don't think so
Lino Martischini (EV Zug) - No candidate
Grégory Hoffmann (HC Davos) - Don't think so

New:

Dino Wieser (HC Davos), Tristan Scherwey (SC Bern), Benny Plüss (Fribourg Gottéron)

all 3 could be in consideration for a spot on the fourth line....

 

[Tritsche]

Berra Hiller Gerber

Diaz, Josi; i Wick Ambühl

Streit, Sbisa; Plüss M. Niederreiter Brunner

Seger, Vauclair; Romy Sprunger Hollenstein

Blindebacher, Bezina; Bieber Walker Moser

Bärtschi, Suri

I guess something like this will be our team...

 

[chokei]

And that's what bothers me the most with Hiller and Berra. They both are really inconsistent. I don't exactly like that, since that's the last thing we want to have in net.

While somewhat true, both of them have shown the ability to step it up when it matters and when they are under pressure. Hiller carried us last olympics, Berra didn't have a really weak game at the WC last spring.

I think both are a "the more shots the better" type of goaltender. It's probably not that easy, but I think you can also see that tendency if you have a look at their numbers when facing many/few shots.

Hiller
played 15 games this season, won 9, lost 3 after 60' and 2 after OT, got pulled once. He faced shot totals ranging from 12 (pulled, I'll leave that out) to 44 shots. His 5 losses are among the bottom 6 games with fewest shots faced. Ironically, he won the game with the fewest shots faced (17). When losing, he faced an average of 23.2 shots per game. When winning, he faced an average of 30.667 shots per game; if you regard the 17-shot-win as an outlier, it's 32.4 shots for the rest of his wins.

Berra
played 9 games this season, won 3, lost 4 after 60' and 2 after OT. He faced shot totals ranging from 17 to 47. His 3 wins are among the top 5 games with most shots faced, 2 wins in first an second place. That's 39 shots when winning and 24 when losing.

It's a small sample size, one would have to look up earlier seasons. Also the quality of those shots is not considered, but hey - if he doesn't make the save it's a goal, otherwise the shot wouldn't have been counted. You can not always count on getting many shots to have a hot goaltender, but considering that many of the better opponents in Sochi will outshoot us, chances for good goaltending in those games should be okay.

 

[Regal]

Don't know if he'd actually do it, or if it's been posted, but just saw Cory Schneider was talking about getting his Swiss passport, and mentions he's thought about playing for them if the US doesn't work out. If he's not on the US team, anyone think he may consider it? Considering the goalies the US is putting out, it might be his best chance to play in the games. I know he played for the US in the World Juniors, but I'm not sure if that affects Olympic eligibility. The article does mention the Olympics though.

http://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2013/11/devils_cory_schneider_could_play_in_switzerland_before_career_is_over.html

 

[Oxim Oresi]

Don't know if he'd actually do it, or if it's been posted, but just saw Cory Schneider was talking about getting his Swiss passport, and mentions he's thought about playing for them if the US doesn't work out. If he's not on the US team, anyone think he may consider it? Considering the goalies the US is putting out, it might be his best chance to play in the games. I know he played for the US in the World Juniors, but I'm not sure if that affects Olympic eligibility. The article does mention the Olympics though.

http://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2013/11/devils_cory_schneider_could_play_in_switzerland_before_career_is_over.html

Considering my name is Schneider and I am from a small village near the German border, I wonder what small village near the German border his grandad is from.

I know that there have been Schneiders in my village for at least 500 years.

 

[stv11]

Don't know if he'd actually do it, or if it's been posted, but just saw Cory Schneider was talking about getting his Swiss passport, and mentions he's thought about playing for them if the US doesn't work out. If he's not on the US team, anyone think he may consider it? Considering the goalies the US is putting out, it might be his best chance to play in the games. I know he played for the US in the World Juniors, but I'm not sure if that affects Olympic eligibility. The article does mention the Olympics though.

http://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2013/11/devils_cory_schneider_could_play_in_switzerland_before_career_is_over.html

Dual citizens have to play two years in the country they wish to represent (four if they already have played for their other country, which is the case here) before being eligible. In other words, if Schneider starts to play in Switzerland now, he could be eligible for 2018.

Maybe he can speed up the process if he gives up his American citizenship (I'm not even sure what the rules are in this case), but I don't think Schneider is keen on being a foreigner in the country he grew up in.

 

[jonas2244]

Vauclair seems to be a big question mark, it's not even clear if he can return on the ice again after the check he recieved from Holden.

 

[ElTailR]

So this would be my team:

Hiller, Berra, Gerber

Josi - Diaz
Sbisa - Streit
Seger - Vauclair
Furrer - Blindenbacher

Bärtschi - Romy - Brunner
Moser - Plüss - Nino
Wick - i - Hollenstein
Ambühl - Trachsler - Walker

I would almost take this roster! But I'll take von Gunten over Seger.
And my offensive line would be this one :
Hollenstein - Romy - Brunner
Ambühl - Plüss - Nino
Bärtschi - i - Wick
Moser - Trachsler - Walker

But I totally like your roster

And I hope Vauclair will be okay... God I hate Holden when he makes some plays like this

 

[CanadienShark]

Switzerland will medal.

Ideally we'll see:

Gold - Canada
Silver - Russia
Bronze - Switzerland
4th place - Sweden

 

[Pominville Knows]

Ideally we'll see:

Gold - Canada
Silver - Russia
Bronze - Switzerland
4th place - Sweden

Yeah i'm sure your AHL All-Star team will take us out in a bronze medal game.

 

[CanadienShark]

Yeah i'm sure your AHL All-Star team will take us out in a bronze medal game.

My "AHL All-star team" haha? I think someone is a little butthurt. I just would love if a huge underdog came out of nowhere. No disrespect to Sweden. Many of my friends have Sweden as their #2 behind Canada, and they'd likely be my #2 or 3, if not for Russia. I'm not a team Switzerland fan - nor am I fan of any of their players - while I am a HUGEEEEE Backstrom fan, for the record.

 

[garbageteam]

I believe the rankings to an extent and Sweden is #1 right now, so it's no disrespect to the Swiss that someone is skeptical they can take out Sweden in a do-or-die. But I think this Swiss team can beat anybody on their night... they're no longer part of the "free points" group (Slovenia and Austria, and to a lesser extent Latvia and Norway). Any team who decides to take a night off against them should expect to get romped.

Weber was waived by the Canucks and seems to be considering going back to Switzerland, although is so far tearing it up in the AHL. Any chance he makes the team? What about Sbisa who is injured again?