WJC: 2021 Sweden Roster Talk

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Reposting my post from the Czech-Swe GDT thread:

I am positively surprised by quite a few guys really finding a home on narrower ice. Costmar, Söderblom among them. Also liked what I saw from Olausson and Gunler. Söderström even better than I expected - can't remember a single missed pass and he controls pace and game flow so smoothly.

We will be called on the center problem. Best 3 centers at home (Ljungman should have been picked) from an already shallow group. Niederbach is a top-end talent, but not a natural center. Yesterday he had difficulties with positioning and became indecisive.

I say it again, especially after last night's game: Separate 10 and 18. Raymond was carrying deadweight last night. And avoid playing Broberg behind him - Broberg's offensive and puck carrying qualities are much better utilised behind other lines 5vs5.

Raymond needs to play with players who have "flow" and confidence. And/Or dig out pucks for him. Test, test, test. Raymond-X-Söderblom. X not being Niederbach or Sundsvik.

Niederbach and Raymond have played together a bit in Frolunda this year. They've looked pretty good when together, too.

I proposed it on the Wings board, but I think a line of Soderblom - Niederbach - Raymond would be terrific in this tournament. Soderblom has been looking pretty good in the corners this season prior to his ankle injury, and this tournament he's looked good so far. Raymond can be the Patrick Elias/Dan Alfredsson 2-way play carrying winger, and Niederbach can be a good complementary piece. And they're all playing for Frolunda so I'm sure there's some chemistry already.

 

[OiledUp]

Niederbach should absolute stay at center imo. I think he looked good after a rocky first half of the game, remember that was his first international game at the U20 level so some early jitters are to be expected. I'd probably swap Olausson and Holmström, didn't think the latter had much of a game and Olausson looked dangerous every time he carried the puck.
Biggest issue against the Czechs was the third D pairing. Hedström doesn't move well enough to keep up at this level. Brännstam was ok but I don't trust him against the top teams.

 

[VictorLustig]

I really wouldn't want to split Niederbach and Söderblom, I think they work well together. I'm all for splitting Raymond and Holtz though, I had forgotten how much I dislike seeing them together until the Czech game.

I've always felt that Raymond works best with a winger that drives hard to the net (think NSH - Arvidsson type of play) instead of a sniper.

Honestly, they really should split Holtz and Raymond on the PP as well.
Raymond on the right side just doesn't work, he should be either behind the net or on the left side. And quite frankly it's hard to build a successful PP when the supposed trigger man (Holtz) doesn't like to one-time it but instead needs to stand and aim. I think PP1 will be a big issue when they start facing tougher competition unless they switch it up.

Raymond & Holtz are almost never good together at 5 on 5. Their individual skill sometimes shines through but there hasn't been chemistry there since the 2018 Ivan Hlinka tournament. They could combine for zero even strength goals this year and people will still talk about their amazing chemistry before next years tournament.

(Hope I'm jinxing)

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

What is the breakdown of players by SHL teams? It seems like an overwhelming amount of players are from Djurgarden or HV71 on this roster.

 

[swedehollow]

I think Team Sweden are worried about his defensive play.

IMO you could see it against the Czechs early in the game, when the Czechs were playing well how the Niederbach line lost the count in the defensive zone. They were great whilst in the Ozone, but I think they (he) will struggle vs better teams.

Oh, and you could see it in that 0-8 beating by Vaxjo...

 

[AB13]

Don't sleep on Theodor Niederbach. That kid was the 3rd line center against Czech republic and he was playing like the 1st line center. He's really, really talented.

Niederbach is good. Next year he could dominate, and he will be impactful this year. We have no other gold-medal level centers though.

 

[Statsy]

I think Team Sweden are worried about his defensive play.

IMO you could see it against the Czechs early in the game, when the Czechs were playing well how the Niederbach line lost the count in the defensive zone. They were great whilst in the Ozone, but I think they (he) will struggle vs better teams.

You may be right. It’s easy to overlook the defensive aspect of playing center, especially when playing with a couple of offense-first guys. SOMEBODY has to be the responsible one and I always got the sense Henriksson filled that role well.

 

[ORRFForever]

Will Sweden score more than 20 against Austria?

 

[Statsy]

Will Sweden score more than 20 against Austria?

No. I don’t think they have the horses up front. I also don’t think you fully realize how hard it is to score 20 goals in a hockey game.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Will Sweden score more than 20 against Austria?

I doubt it. I think this will be a tighter game than we're expecting. I still think Sweden wins by quite a few goals, but I don't think they'll score double digits.

 

[ORRFForever]

No. I don’t think they have the horses up front. I also don’t think you fully realize how hard it is to score 20 goals in a hockey game.

Hope you're right.

 

[ORRFForever]

I doubt it. I think this will be a tighter game than we're expecting. I still think Sweden wins by quite a few goals, but I don't think they'll score double digits.

Hope you're right, too.

I keep calculating the Goal Differential - I want Canada to be first after the reseeding. If I was Sweden, I would run up the score today.

 

[Howe Elbows 9]

What is the breakdown of players by SHL teams? It seems like an overwhelming amount of players are from Djurgarden or HV71 on this roster.

Djurgården: Bjerselius, Björnfot, Brännstam, Hedström and Holtz
HV71: Alnefelt, Andrae, Nybeck, Olausson and Wikström
Frölunda: Niederbach, Raymond and Söderblom
Skellefteå: Broberg and Sundsvik
Brynäs: Gunler (and Kvist who hasn't played yet)
Färjestad: Johansson
Leksand: Heineman
Linköping: Costmar
Luleå: Wallstedt

 

[theslatcher]

Djurgården: Bjerselius, Björnfot, Brännstam, Hedström and Holtz
HV71: Alnefelt, Andrae, Nybeck, Olausson and Wikström
Frölunda: Niederbach, Raymond and Söderblom
Skellefteå: Broberg and Sundsvik
Brynäs: Gunler (and Kvist who hasn't played yet)
Färjestad: Johansson
Leksand: Heineman
Linköping: Costmar
Luleå: Wallstedt

Could add that Söderström is a Brynäs product, and Gunler Luleå. Broberg has also gone through multiple organizations(Örebro->AIK->SAIK).

 

[Preposterone]

Oh, and you could see it in that 0-8 beating by Vaxjo...

Raymond was throwing his hands up in frustration at Niederbach on like the 6-0 or 7-0 goal when Teddy had lost his guy in the Dzone for the 12th time that night and left him alone by the net for 3 full seconds. They looked less awful the next couple games though

 

[VictorLustig]

Raymond was throwing his hands up in frustration at Niederbach on like the 6-0 or 7-0 goal when Teddy had lost his guy in the Dzone for the 12th time that night and left him alone by the net for 3 full seconds. They looked less awful the next couple games though

I don't remember it that way. It was mostly Raymond who looked off that game, with some help from poorly timed D-pinches (the goal you are referring to was 100% on Mursak after Norlinder lost a board battle @ 1:36 )

 

[Preposterone]

I don't remember it that way. It was mostly Raymond who looked off that game, with some help from poorly timed D-pinches (the goal you are referring to was 100% on Mursak after Norlinder lost a board battle @ 1:36 )

I stand corrected, I must not have realized raymond's center had switched by that point

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

I stand corrected, I must not have realized raymond's center had switched by that point

Mursak has been Raymond's (deadweight) center for most of the season. Niederbach was promoted and has mostly played on the 4th line and only was given big minutes when Mursak was out with COVID.

Niederbach can stand to improve defensively, but he wasn't the reason Frolunda got blown out that game.

 

[theslatcher]

Mursak has been Raymond's (deadweight) center for most of the season. Niederbach was promoted and has mostly played on the 4th line and only was given big minutes when Mursak was out with COVID.

Niederbach can stand to improve defensively, but he wasn't the reason Frolunda got blown out that game.

I don't think calling Mursak deadweight is really fair, I think they counteract eachother and so have 0 chemistry. Something they both need to improve upon is puck distribution(something Holtz for example thrives with).

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

I don't think calling Mursak deadweight is really fair, I think they counteract eachother and so have 0 chemistry. Something they both need to improve upon is puck distribution.

True, he's not deadweight. But they don't complement each other well at all. And even though Mursak has more points he's done a lot to kill offense on his line.

 

[VictorLustig]

I must have completely missed something. What is Linus Hugosson doing on the Swedish bench with a tactics board?

 

[SwedeChristoffer]

I must have completely missed something. What is Linus Hugosson doing on the Swedish bench with a tactics board?

Not enough coaches to fill the bench. I guess he's like an assistant.
Will be fun to listen to "NHL timmen" after this.

 

[theslatcher]

I must have completely missed something. What is Linus Hugosson doing on the Swedish bench with a tactics board?

Doodles.

Why he was on the bench is due to some leadership were locked up in quarantine until last night.

 

[Preposterone]

Mursak has been Raymond's (deadweight) center for most of the season. Niederbach was promoted and has mostly played on the 4th line and only was given big minutes when Mursak was out with COVID.

Niederbach can stand to improve defensively, but he wasn't the reason Frolunda got blown out that game.

I just remembered that Raymond and Niederbach played together for a bit during the start of that game, and Niederbach was constantly behind the play. I gave up tracking individuals after 0-4 as it was turning into a shitshow. You guys are definitely right that it was a team effort(failure?) though

I think calling Mursak "dead weight" is a bit unfair, he's just an extremely straight ahead player and has a really hard time reading Raymond. That line still produces good expected and possession results

 

[OiledUp]

I must have completely missed something. What is Linus Hugosson doing on the Swedish bench with a tactics board?

The team doc was running practice. Now Linus the media guy is drawing up the PP... WJC in the covid world means you have to be creative.