WC: 2019 - Team Switzerland
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Hofmann has the speed and skills to keep up, that's why he was tried with Hischier, but unfortunately he has absolutely no hockey sense.
Things are not looking good for Niederreiter at the moment, but maybe Moser could be tried on the first line? He's probably the closest thing we have from a Niederreiter style forward.
Kurashev might be a good idea, then you could have Hofmann-Ambühl-Moser and Hollenstein-Haas-Praplan, but although that line worked really well in 2017 Hollenstein and Praplan have underachieved ever since. Maybe Hofmann-Bertschy-Ambühl and Hollenstein-Haas-Moser, but what do you do with Praplan then? And there's Martschini that will probably get a chance to crack the top 6 against Latvia.
I'd try Martschini as wing for Nico as he stated he just needs wings who can keep up and shoot.
Sure i meant IQ but misstiped as most swiss wingers are at least competent skaters and Hoffmann has very good speed as he has shown on his goal and a few other chances last werkend. As Niederreiers addition seems to become less likely every playoff game Kurashev really seems like the best option to me. He also has a wicked shot, especially his onetimer should already be one of the best of any swiss player. He just needs to shoot more a like he did at the wjc instead of looking for the passing lane to much. I feel a line with him Fiala and Hischier could feast on some of the weaker teams. Martschini also sounds like a viable option on paper but i am not sure if he is able to handle the internatinal intensity. In past tournaments he was not...
Boonk
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- Oct 10, 2017
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filip85
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The president of IIHF is Swiss so it would be odd not to host it there, wouldn’t it? But I’m also a bit surprised that Switzerland doesn’t candidate more frequently.
By the way, I see you live in Toruń, I have been to many cities and towns in Poland, but this one is a nicest in my opinion.
An interesting article on Fiala and costs that the federation face when they include NHL-players (sorry, german only):
NHL: Verband zahlt Versicherung der NHL-Spieler - Blick
NHL: Verband zahlt Versicherung der NHL-Spieler - Blick
That's article doesn't say much about insurances, but I can't believe that flying the guys to the tournament is an issue (or to be more specific, that they can't pay for it themselves if they really want to play). A Nashville - Zurich first class ticket costs what Josi makes in half a period of hockey.
Ah, Tim Berni would also have gotten a call, but he's having his final exams of his apprenticeship. That makes sense.
Lineup for today:
Berra (Mayer)
Josi - Weber
Moser - Diaz
Genazzi - Loeffel
Frick - Fora
Fiala - Hischier - Praplan
Hofmann - Haas - Ambühl
Moser - Kurashev - Martschini
Scherwey - Bertschy - Rod
Müller
Not dressed: Genoni
Glauser, Kreis, Bertaggia, Riat, Hollenstein
Berra (Mayer)
Josi - Weber
Moser - Diaz
Genazzi - Loeffel
Frick - Fora
Fiala - Hischier - Praplan
Hofmann - Haas - Ambühl
Moser - Kurashev - Martschini
Scherwey - Bertschy - Rod
Müller
Not dressed: Genoni
Glauser, Kreis, Bertaggia, Riat, Hollenstein
torero
Registered User
We iced the youngest kids for the shootout for some reason.So, we shouldn't go to any shootout. That's the most important thing about today.
And the lines during the game itself were mostly random, apart from the Abols line. Our 1C only played the 1st period too. And he played on the 3rd line, while a winger was centering the 1st line, which also consisted of a 4th line winger.
Our coach was giving quite a lot of playing time to bubble players.
Weird game, anyway.
So Nino goes to the Conference Finals. Well deserved.
I think Glauser won't make it and it's Moser or Kreis on D. Looks like Fischer wants to keep Frick/Fora and Genazzi/Loeffel.
On Offence I would keep either Müller or Bertaggia as a versatile player. An then it'll be one of Riat, Hollenstein and Martschini I guess. And keep room open for Kukan or Andrighetto.
That 4-1 was a beauty and shows the possibility and the upside of Nino/Praplan. This is an offensive upside no other not To-6 team has. But they have to show it on the ice.
I think Glauser won't make it and it's Moser or Kreis on D. Looks like Fischer wants to keep Frick/Fora and Genazzi/Loeffel.
On Offence I would keep either Müller or Bertaggia as a versatile player. An then it'll be one of Riat, Hollenstein and Martschini I guess. And keep room open for Kukan or Andrighetto.
That 4-1 was a beauty and shows the possibility and the upside of Nino/Praplan. This is an offensive upside no other not To-6 team has. But they have to show it on the ice.
I actually like this Swiss roster. A well balanced mix of experience and youth, of speed, skill, strength. The Swiss often have problems to beat the opponents they are expected to beat as we know, but against the big favourites they usually play really good hockey. They are not among the biggest medal favourites, but neither were they the last year and they got silver at the end.
Too bad for Nino, who would have thought that he'd made it to the conference final halfway through the season.
Regarding the defense, I like Glauser better than Kreis, but I think that Moser is ahead of both and I could see him make it. Frick - Fora looks set, which I must say I'm not crazy about it as even though I like both players, I think Fora should get more ice time and responsibilities. He's ready for top 4 minutes while Frick should be a 3rd pair defenseman at the WC. Not a big fan of Genazzi - Loeffel either, Genazzi wasn't very noticeable yesterday apart from those two scuffles he needlessly got into and Loeffel was easily beaten a few times and still can't hit the net regularly. On the other hand he had some great set up that resulted in scoring chances. I also thought that Weber wasn't convincing with first pair minutes, but Diaz didn't show he could handle more either. So even though the team played a solid defensive game overall, I'm not convinced by the individual players and how they are used.
Lots of positive at forward, the 4th line looks set for the WC and the Hischier line improved compared to the France games, Fiala was much more noticeable and Praplan did better too. Great game by Haas, and Martschini showed better things than he ever did with the national team. On the other hand, chemistry on the Haas and Kurashev lines could be improved.
And please stop taking so many needless penalties, that's the 2nd game in a row it happens. And work on the PP, that was the worst aspect of yesterday's game (from both teams' point of view).
Guys. You really shouldn't be making any strong judgments about the Swiss showing based on the Latvia games since we're not really trying to ice the best possible roster or the actual line combinations.
A player from the semi-pro Latvian domestic league and an NLB forward were on the ice during the opening face-off.
Our coaches are trying out all sorts of special teams, giving ice time to bubble players, seeing how good some of the wingers are doing at center since we're lacking 3 of our usual centermen.
That's been Hartley's approach since 2017 - if he doesn't like a center forward, he's going to try out wingers at C. Very fluid and open-minded. Since this was only the 3rd exhibition game with our A team and the first one with most leading players, this is all mostly experimental.
A player from the semi-pro Latvian domestic league and an NLB forward were on the ice during the opening face-off.
Our coaches are trying out all sorts of special teams, giving ice time to bubble players, seeing how good some of the wingers are doing at center since we're lacking 3 of our usual centermen.
That's been Hartley's approach since 2017 - if he doesn't like a center forward, he's going to try out wingers at C. Very fluid and open-minded. Since this was only the 3rd exhibition game with our A team and the first one with most leading players, this is all mostly experimental.
Believe me, we're all following international hockey for quite some time (it's probably 20 years now for me) and we're able to judge such games the right way.
It's hard for me to believe you, because I'm looking at torero's post right now
All he's saying is that there was quite a difference between the two teams yesterday (which is obviously true) and that Switzerland will have a good team at the WC. And I agree on both. Doesn't mean much for the WC. Games are played there, not now.
