WC: 2016 Team Switzerland

[stv11]

Poor game tonight. The only differences in the lineup was that Martschini played with Trachsler and Bieber while Praplan and Froidevaux had a different winger for every shift, and Bolthauser played instead of Zurkirchen.

Not much created on offense, i was the most active player but sometimes did too much. Hollenstein and Martschini should have done more. On defense, some poor coverage and very poor breakouts. Bolthauser had a rough game, at least two goals are on him. Overall, it seemed that nobody could elevate his play and take the game over, although Sweden's good organization played a part.

First cuts should be announced soon. I guess Bolthauser is out (as long as Mayer and Genoni both join the team), on defense there could be no cut if Loeffel and Du Bois are the only additions (can't see any other Davos or Geneva player who would be an upgrade). At center, Ambühl, Romy and Haas should be added, Schäppi moved to the wing and Froidevaux cut (unless Fischer has seen enough of i already) while I'm not sure what to think about wingers. I would guess the most likely cuts are Suter, Praplan and Herzog, but apart from Marc Wieser there's no obvious player to add. Maybe Simion?

 

[duga]

Poor game tonight. The only differences in the lineup was that Martschini played with Trachsler and Bieber while Praplan and Froidevaux had a different winger for every shift, and Bolthauser played instead of Zurkirchen.

Not much created on offense, i was the most active player but sometimes did too much. Hollenstein and Martschini should have done more. On defense, some poor coverage and very poor breakouts. Bolthauser had a rough game, at least two goals are on him. Overall, it seemed that nobody could elevate his play and take the game over, although Sweden's good organization played a part.

First cuts should be announced soon. I guess Bolthauser is out (as long as Mayer and Genoni both join the team), on defense there could be no cut if Loeffel and Du Bois are the only additions (can't see any other Davos or Geneva player who would be an upgrade). At center, Ambühl, Romy and Haas should be added, Schäppi moved to the wing and Froidevaux cut (unless Fischer has seen enough of i already) while I'm not sure what to think about wingers. I would guess the most likely cuts are Suter, Praplan and Herzog, but apart from Marc Wieser there's no obvious player to add. Maybe Simion?

Thx for the summaries.

So i showed both sides of his game? As you describe him as being active and a potential cut at the same time.

Last Year I had a feeling that Hollenstein, after getting rocked by Lebler in game 1, has lost a bit the confidence in the board battles, has gotten a bit hesitant. Before this incident I was quit astonished how many of them he was acctually able to win. I hope he does regain this strengh. We haven't got bunches of forwards who are able to combine offensive skill with solid board play.

So how has Rathgeb looked?

Fischer could call Guerra and Huguenin to gain some depth maybe even Antonietti... But none of them should be on the final roster obviously.

On Attack: Jörg and Corvi could be options as well. To a lesser extent D. Wieser and Rod, though you need a solid BP with those two on the team, they like to take stupid penalties.

 

[duga]

He had some very positive comments from his coach, Tortorella, who actually praised his poise.

"he is a young player, making positioning mistakes but having poise in puck possession. This you can't learn ... " ... his minutes per game rose straight behind.

i wouldn't be surprised to see him in the D3-D4 (the second line) next year and maybe even having some PK time with Jones.

Jones and Kukan in one line? That's quite a lot of skating ability combined, surely useful on a PK- unit.

Kukan does indeed already have 2nd pairing duties in his short NHL stint. But a lot can happen till next season.

After all the rough treatment swiss Defensemen, minus Josi, recieved lately in NA, it's very nice to hear something positive again.

 

[stv11]

New roster announced. Mayer, Loeffel, Du Bois, Ambühl, Romy, Haas, M. Wieser and D. Wieser added, Frick, Froidevaux and Praplan cut. D. Wieser is the only unexpected addition, no news on Genoni and Suri. The goalie situation is worrying.

Thx for the summaries.

So i showed both sides of his game? As you describe him as being active and a potential cut at the same time.

Last Year I had a feeling that Hollenstein, after getting rocked by Lebler in game 1, has lost a bit the confidence in the board battles, has gotten a bit hesitant. Before this incident I was quit astonished how many of them he was acctually able to win. I hope he does regain this strengh. We haven't got bunches of forwards who are able to combine offensive skill with solid board play.

So how has Rathgeb looked?

Fischer could call Guerra and Huguenin to gain some depth maybe even Antonietti... But none of them should be on the final roster obviously.

On Attack: Jörg and Corvi could be options as well. To a lesser extent D. Wieser and Rod, though you need a solid BP with those two on the team, they like to take stupid penalties.

I thought about Guerra and Huguenin, but they're no upgrade. Rathgeb did ok with the possibilities he got in the offensive zone, but didn't help much on the breakout. His pair wasn't too noticeable, which I guess is the best you can hope from a game you lose 5-1.

i tried a lot but did too much at time, if Haas is as good as last year, I can't see him make the team.

 

[stv11]

Further news say that Suri was cut and Walser has been called but has a light injury and will join the team for the games against Belarus.

 

[duga]

No Genoni as well. So it's all up to Berra and Mayer.

Walser could be an alternative to Schäppi as the 5th Center. Not as physical, but better skater.

 

[swisdan]

If Berra does not come, it could be a very bad situation. I think Switzerland has a really lack of depth in the net. And the young generation isn't so impressive too.

 

[jonas2244]

Berra's coming.

There are some solid prospects, Descloux, Van Pottelberghe, Senn. They need some time, Genoni also wasn't as good as he's today with 20.

 

[swisdan]

I hope so Jonas.Otherwise, Brunner seems to have a concussion yesterday, hope it wont be too serious.

 

[Jon Riley]

http://www.swisshockeynews.ch/index...y-initiated-against-sc-bern-s-simon-bodenmann

It does not look good, the way he went down..

 

[torero]

http://www.swisshockeynews.ch/index...y-initiated-against-sc-bern-s-simon-bodenmann

It does not look good, the way he went down..

To see the head hitting the wall was impressive. Remembered me the Bertuzzi case.

While i do not see Bodeman being punished (coz IMO it was unintentional ... and Brunner goes to Bodeman .... not inverse.) ... i also believe that Brunner is done for the season.

 

[torero]

If Berra does not come, it could be a very bad situation. I think Switzerland has a really lack of depth in the net. And the young generation isn't so impressive too.

what a sad story about swiss Gaolies. Some years ago i was sure that we would really have good goal-tending forever ... we, Swiss, were made to be good goalies ... Well who became or was good, became old, who were promising, never paned out ... and no new top prospect came.

Today, the sad reality. Goal-tending may be our weak spot.

 

[jonas2244]

As Nino faces Dallas, Josi faces Anaheim and Streit faces Ovechkin we can still hope for them to join the team.

 

[stv11]

Brunner didn't practice today, not expected to play tomorrow.

 

[duga]

To see the head hitting the wall was impressive. Remembered me the Bertuzzi case.

While i do not see Bodeman being punished (coz IMO it was unintentional ... and Brunner goes to Bodeman .... not inverse.) ... i also believe that Brunner is done for the season.

On the bench , he did look like he's aged a decade... Within some minutes!
It's always scary when you go into the boards, unconscious., having no body tension at all... It looked like he fainted while sliding. He was very lucky.

 

[jonas2244]

https://twitter.com/scoutingfactory/status/718504332187058177

"Sven Andrighetto, Luca Sbisa, Yannick Weber and Reto Berra will join #Swiss WC team if healthy #Worlds2016"

 

[duga]

what a sad story about swiss Gaolies. Some years ago i was sure that we would really have good goal-tending forever ... we, Swiss, were made to be good goalies ... Well who became or was good, became old, who were promising, never paned out ... and no new top prospect came.

Today, the sad reality. Goal-tending may be our weak spot.

I absolutely agree. I've mentioned it somewhere in this thread too. There have been 6 or 7 mediocre Years after Berra, Genoni,Flüeler without an outstanding talent.

Luckily as Jonas mentioned, 96-98 has got quite a bunch of promissing goalies... And quite important, the NLA's GK depth is getting thiner. Even with a probable return of Hiller, and to a lesser extent of Berra, their will be free spots available very soon.

 

[jonas2244]

So Yannick Weber and Sven Andrighetto are confirmed. Sbisa is injured and not available.

Berra needs surgery after the season and he probably would have skipped the WC but as Genoni, Stephan and Hiller declined he said he'll do his surgery a little bit later.

 

[PanniniClaus]

So Yannick Weber and Sven Andrighetto are confirmed. Sbisa is injured and not available.

Berra needs surgery after the season and he probably would have skipped the WC but as Genoni, Stephan and Hiller declined he said he'll do his surgery a little bit later.

Pretty big of Berra to do that.

 

[stv11]

Herzog leaves the team for private reasons.

And for those interested, tonight's game is streamed live on rts.ch.

 

[jonas2244]

Patrick Fischer said in an interview with the Journal du Jura that Dean Kukan also will join the team next week. That seems a little bit strange to me as his AHL team qualified for the playoffs.

 

[stv11]

Todays's lineup:

Zurkirchen

Geering - Du Bois
Grossmann - Loeffel
Genazzi - Schneeberger
Schlumpf - Rathgeb

Hollenstein - Romy - Ambühl
Bieber - i - M. Wieser
D. Wieser - Trachsler - Martschini
Suter - Schäppi - Haas

Scratched: Mayer, Baltisberger

Not a big fan of these lines I must say.

 

[stv11]

Any thought about the game?

I liked what I saw better than last week, good forechecking and good job in the neutral zone against a pretty good team. On the other hand, the play in the defensive zone wasn't as good and the breakouts are still weak. I'm not insisting on a fast transition game is the right thing to do, too many long passes where easily broken up by the Czech defense.

About specific player, strong game by Zurkirchen, he's definitely outplaying Bolthauser for a spot on the team. On defense, good game by Du Bois, and Geering benefited from it. Loeffel could have donne more, and Grossmann was once again poor. From the bottom four, Schlumpf had the best game.

At forward, i again showed both sides of his game, but I liked him better than against Sweden, he managed to create more. Martschini was also noticeable, but still not enough to go to the WC IMHO. Very good game by Schäppi as well. Ambühl was the best player from the top line, Romy and Hollenstein need to do more. Haas didn't do much, I think he should really get a chance at center with a winger with some offensive game.

 

[stv11]

Patrick Fischer said in an interview with the Journal du Jura that Dean Kukan also will join the team next week. That seems a little bit strange to me as his AHL team qualified for the playoffs.

I've tried to get some information about this, but everything I read quoted Journal du Jura. Unfortunately the original article is behind a paywall, so no way to know if something was lost in translation (unless someone is willing to pay 2.20 ). Anyway, I'd be very surprised if Kukan is allowed to leave his team before the playoffs.

I wonder if new players will be added for the games against Belarus. It wasn't the case last year, but I remember Josi and Brunner playing the first game of week three in 2014 (although it was a home game). Not sure about the Bern and Lugano players either, I guess there's no need to rush the likes of Furrer and Moser to the team, but somebody like Hofmann could benefit from it.

 

[rimpirate]

I've tried to get some information about this, but everything I read quoted Journal du Jura. Unfortunately the original article is behind a paywall, so no way to know if something was lost in translation (unless someone is willing to pay 2.20 ). Anyway, I'd be very surprised if Kukan is allowed to leave his team before the playoffs.

I wonder if new players will be added for the games against Belarus. It wasn't the case last year, but I remember Josi and Brunner playing the first game of week three in 2014 (although it was a home game). Not sure about the Bern and Lugano players either, I guess there's no need to rush the likes of Furrer and Moser to the team, but somebody like Hofmann could benefit from it.

Someone in the Biel forum copy-pasted the article (in French), in case anyone is interested:
http://www.ehcbforum.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5602&start=75#p173386