GDT: 2018 WJC • Game 09 • Group B: SWE (3) - CZE (1) F

[helax]

He has barely been playing. Swedish coach is an idiot

Or he has a cold and Monten rests him..

 

[firstemperor]

Dahlin's raw tools (skating, size, vision, hockey skills at top speed) are so high, that regardless of any individual qualms you may have in terms of some hockey decisions/IQ, it's just so overwhelming for his age that he's probably got the #1 locked up. Zadina looked incredible as well but Dahlin's combination of size, skating, tools are just too much to pass up on- particularly when you factor his ability to pack more muscle onto that frame.

Didn't think Boqvist showcased anything particularly great tonight to show why he's top 3-5 on some boards. But it's one game.

Thought Liljegren was probably the 1st/2nd best d-man on the ice tonight. If we're factoring in projecting prospects moving forward, Dahlin would be the clear #1.

 

[Snippit]

Necas looks really good too. I can't see him being anything less than a 1C

 

[Moskau]

I see shades of his brother in him, particularly with how slippery is with the puck on his stick. He has a ton of talent, I haven't seen Alex enough since his OHL days but one of his brother's best assets is his controlled zone entries with speed, which may be one of the most underrated non-basic stats (i.e. P, G, A) in the evolving league today. But even his brother (who you can harp on for his compete) doesn't give up on plays like that.

Pound for pound talent wise, he's showcased the most natural hockey skills/talent on the ice of any forward on Sweden and probably both teams (save Zadina, who's been sensational tonight) but the absolutely worst efforts from him off-the-puck or going the other way have been almost exclusively him. As per Hodgson...his skating was no where near NHL level whereas Nylander's is IMO so I wouldn't be that pessimistic so let's hope for the best for now.

You're missing my point. Alex a lot of the times looks like he doesn't even enjoy playing Hockey. Just like Hodgson did in Buffalo.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Zadina has really impressed me this tournament. This Czech team is actually a very talented team, they might upset the Americans or Finns in the quarters.

Yeah I could see them beating Finland honestly. They've really not impressed me. America is scary good though

 

[Sojourn]

Him moving the puck to McDavid = drool.

What did I just say?

That would actually be something... that I don’t ever want to see. It’s not difficult to imagine Dahlin collecting the puck and springing an already in full flight McDavid. Or coming in as a late man, and being the recipient of a pass from McDavid.

No. Just, no.

 

[cc]

I heard that Niklas Lidstrom say dahlin is more like Brian Leetch than himself but his poise and high defensive IQ reminds me of Lidstrom

 

[McClelland]

His brother is much more dynamic coming through the neutral zone which allows him to create more chances for himself and teammates.

Alex is great when given time and space, which is why you can't let him shoot 5 times on a power play if you have any intention of killing that penalty off. His problems at the AHL are primarily two different things. Firstly, until this year, Rochester was terrible. Secondly, last year he was on the smaller side, and he's a guy who needs space and he simply wasn't able to create it with regularity. He'll get compared to his brother but I see sizable differences between the two even in style.

After the draft, Many thought Alex would be the better Nhl player! Sometimes it takes longer for prospects to show up(See Puljarvi) sometimes they bust also. Thinks that Alex will be a fine Nhl player 25 g season player. Pretty sure that injurys has hold him back a bit.
Like William who looked like the real deal in the worlds and last Nhl season, and now he has mostly played 4th line hockey.

 

[Appleyard]

Anyone know what the story is with Hogberg? Is he just the 7th best D they have or has he been bad?

No clue.

On paper he is probably their 4th best Dman... heck, he has been playing top 4 for the best team in Sweden the last month in the worlds 3rd best league.

But partially probably as Montén loves Moverare.
Guy has an 'A' too, when he probably should not have made the roster with guys like Stenqvist, Westerlund, Berglund, Hedberg, Ginning, Grahn, Cederholm, Boqvist, Ragnarsson etc sat at home.

 

[Phil McKraken]

Dahlin's raw tools (skating, size, vision, hockey skills at top speed) are so high, that regardless of any individual qualms you may have in terms of some hockey decisions/IQ, it's just so overwhelming for his age that he's probably got the #1 locked up. Zadina looked incredible as well but Dahlin's combination of size, skating, tools are just too much to pass up on- particularly when you factor his ability to pack more muscle onto that frame.

Another thing, people tend to focus on flashy offensive moves nowadays, but did people see the poised defense Dahlin played today? He made smart play after smart play, and whenever he goes into a board battle he either comes out with the puck or at least locks up his guy enough to give his teammates the advantage.

 

[zeke]

I guess it was a match up thing which makes sense. Get them out against the Czechs big line.

pretty sure it was the liljy pairing up against their big line most shifts.

 

[snipes]

Yeah I could see them beating Finland honestly. They've really not impressed me. America is scary good though

Yeah the Yanks look good. I think we have more speed though, they're more skilled up front but I think we're faster.

We'll have to play a fast heavy forecheck wave after wave type Canadian way game.

 

[Willy Stylez]

After the draft, Many thought Alex would be the better Nhl player! Sometimes it takes longer for prospects to show up(See Puljarvi) sometimes they bust also. Thinks that Alex will be a fine Nhl player 25 g season player. Pretty sure that injurys has hold him back a bit.
Like William who looked like the real deal in the worlds and last Nhl season, and now he has mostly played 4th line hockey.

Mostly on the 4th line? That is false.
But I do agree about Alex, he has the tools to be a solid NHL player. Patience is key with him.

 

[snipes]

Has there been a better D prospect than Dahlin in the last 25 or so years?

I honestly can't remember any looking this good in their 18 year old season.

 

[helax]

No clue.

On paper he is probably their 4th best Dman... heck, he has been playing top 4 for the best team in Sweden the last month in the worlds 3rd best league.

But partially probably as Montén loves Moverare.

I do think Moverare has been good so far. Excellent in BP, blocking shots etc. I can understand why Monten has a fling on him :p

 

[gretskidoo]

Dahlin's raw tools (skating, size, vision, hockey skills at top speed) are so high, that regardless of any individual qualms you may have in terms of some hockey decisions/IQ, it's just so overwhelming for his age that he's probably got the #1 locked up. Zadina looked incredible as well but Dahlin's combination of size, skating, tools are just too much to pass up on- particularly when you factor his ability to pack more muscle onto that frame.

Didn't think Boqvist showcased anything particularly great tonight to show why he's top 3-5 on some boards. But it's one game.

Thought Liljegren was probably the 1st/2nd best d-man on the ice tonight. If we're factoring in projecting prospects moving forward, Dahlin would be the clear #1.

Adam Boqvist isn't playing. That was his older brother, the forward. Monten decided to only go with 3 offensively gifted defensemen or something, I don't know.

Has there been a better D prospect than Dahlin in the last 25 or so years?I honestly can't remember any looking this good in their 18 year old season.

This is his 17 year old season.

 

[BigBadBoar]

The PP's were the game breaker tonight. In a game like this, you simply must score, if you are given the opportunity to play almost 2 minutes 5 on 3. That beginning of the 3rd was decisive. Instead of scoring the equaliser, the Czechs committed a foul themselves, went shorthanded and allowed the third goal. Since then, there was not much energy left in the team, they were rather struggling than striving for another offensive efforts. They were trying hard until the end, but the key players just got too exhausted.
An entertaining hockey to watch anyway, on a high pace, both teams have looked well, the Swedes deserved to win at the end.

 

[BonAppleTea]

Another thing, people tend to focus on flashy offensive moves nowadays, but did people see the poised defense Dahlin played today? He made smart play after smart play, and whenever he goes into a board battle he either comes out with the puck or at least locks up his guy enough to give his teammates the advantage.

He uses his size really well to close the paths to the puck. He did have one or two bad defenaive plays and got trapped in the offensive zone for that 3 on 1 but I guess we can't expect a 17 year old defenseman to be perfect

 

[joey16]

Nice game by the Czechs. I am really happy to see that we are able to match Swedes in skills and at times we were even the better team. Just shame about the first period. As someone who has watched WJCs last ca ten years it is something that is new for me and very enjoyable
Swedes are still the better and more skilful team and the win was well deserved though.

 

[snipes]

Adam Boqvist isn't playing. That was his older brother, the forward. Monten decided to only go with 3 offensively gifted defensemen or something, I don't know.



This is his 17 year old season.

He'll be 18 by the end of the year, anyways, in his draft year is probably a better way to term it.

Like I said I can't remember any D man in recent history that has looked this good in their draft year. I'm not even being hyperbolic.

 

[firstemperor]

Adam Boqvist isn't playing. That was his older brother, the forward. Monten decided to only go with 3 offensively gifted defensemen or something, I don't know.

Good catch, completely forgot about that. Was wondering why the hell he was playing what looked like defense so often, including one of the points on the 2nd unit PP (But it looked like a 4F-1D set up early on).

 

[Appleyard]

I do think Moverare has been good so far. Excellent in BP, blocking shots etc. I can understand why Monten has a fling on him :p

I just don't think he is even top 10 for Dmen in his age-group right now.

Jakob Stenqvist for example is a better skater, with more offensive talent, a righty, and is just as good defensively. And that is without getting to a host of other guys like the draft eligables, or Westerlund, Grahn, Hedberg etc

 

[ChazzMichaelMichaels]

pretty sure it was the liljy pairing up against their big line most shifts.

Was it? Gonna rematch and focus on more individual play.

 

[Critical13]

Has there been a better D prospect than Dahlin in the last 25 or so years?

I honestly can't remember any looking this good in their 18 year old season.

Hedman and Doughty weren't too far.

 

[firstemperor]

Has there been a better D prospect than Dahlin in the last 25 or so years?

I honestly can't remember any looking this good in their 18 year old season.

Hedman had a higher ceiling at the same age, mostly due to his gigantic size and skating but I like him more than Larsson who was pretty hyped up as well. Either way, there's no Tavares in this draft so a good chance Dahlin goes #1 (Svechnikov is the only remote competitor as of now).

I don't like to say he's a lock to be #1 even though he looks the part because I still remember a few years back how dominant Pujlu was at the WJC until Laine had that lights out playoff performance at the FEL.