According to what I have read the last couple of days, it seems like the forward lines for Denmark's first game against Germany will be like this:
Oliver Bjorkstrand - Peter Regin - Nicklas Jensen
Nicklas Hardt - Frans Nielsen - Frederik Storm
Mathias Bau Hansen - Jesper Jensen - Patrick Russell
Mads Christensen - Julian Jakobsen - Morten Madsen
Morten Poulsen
That leaves Patrick Bjorkstrand out for the moment. I am also in doubt if Janne Karlsson will dress only 12 forwards for the first games and wait for a clearer picture regarding the Stanley Cup faith of the remaining Danish NHL players.
We then have a clear cut first line consisting of our 2 most dangerous wingers and very dependable playmaking center. The second line will be a step below our first line but still very capable in a Danish context. If we, at a later stage can get Nikolaj Ehlers and/or Mikkel Bödker to reinforce the team, they can replace first Nicklas Hardt and then Frederik Storm on that line. The third line will be an energy line with somewhat offensive potential, and our fourth line will mostly be used in a shutdown role. If Lars Eller or Jannik Hansen becomes available for the national team, I would probably prefer that they are placed on the third line, to not disturb the line chemistry on the first 2 lines. I can imagine though that Janne Karlsson probably will use at least Lars Eller as a wing on the second line even though he is at his best as a center.
The defensive pairs will probably be like this:
Stefan Lassen - Philip Larsen
Jesper Jensen Aabo - Oliver Lauridsen
Nicholas B. Jensen - Daniel Nielsen
Emil Kristensen
It is also a question mark on how many defenders Janne Karlsson will dress for the first games both in regard to the missing NHL players and in regard to how the injury to Markus Lauridsen is healing. I could see him dress also Matias Lassen right from the start and discharge the possibility that Markus Lauridsen will be ready at some point.
