WJC: 2024 WJC20 Switzerland roster talk

[Hinterland]

Did he get more ice time before injury? I thought he always played on Olten‘s 4th line.

Average ice time almost 12:30.
Olten was missing six players today and was playing two men short even with Weber back in the lineup. That and the low TOI makes me wonder how close he is from 100%. But yeah. Encouraging to see he was back on a lineup card.

 

[Kuracmugger]

Average ice time almost 12:30.
Olten was missing six players today and was playing two men short even with Weber back in the lineup. That and the low TOI makes me wonder how close he is from 100%. But yeah. Encouraging to see he was back on a lineup card.

Ok, seems like he’s probably not 100 fit but with a bit less than a month to go he should be fine in time. Hopefully Taibel makes a return too, he hasn‘t played since september. If he plays we would have atleast all players with a swiss passport. EP says he should be back at the end of december this would be in time for the WJC.

 

[Kuracmugger]

F
Müller-Reinhard-Weber
Braillard-Schild-R.Meier
Rod-Gredig-liechti
Hornecker-Reber-kaderli
Wagner

Dionicio-Meile
Terraneo-Fülleman
Christe-Muggli
Ustinkov-Moser

Huet
Kirsch
Beglieri or Neuenschwander

This is the Team i‘d go with ATM additions of de Luca and Taibel would be huge to this bad offense.
Bichsel would take the 1D spot an Ustinkov or moser would be out.
The Forwards in Line 3-4 are all pretty even you could also go with Kaderli, Simon Meier or Graf doesn‘t really make a difference

 

[Hinterland]

F
Müller-Reinhard-Weber
Braillard-Schild-R.Meier
Rod-Gredig-liechti
Hornecker-Reber-kaderli
Wagner

Dionicio-Meile
Terraneo-Fülleman
Christe-Muggli
Ustinkov-Moser

Huet
Kirsch
Beglieri or Neuenschwander

This is the Team i‘d go with ATM additions of de Luca and Taibel would be huge to this bad offense.
Bichsel would take the 1D spot an Ustinkov or moser would be out.
The Forwards in Line 3-4 are all pretty even you could also go with Kaderli, Simon Meier or Graf doesn‘t really make a difference

Please no Beglieri. He's brutal. I also want no piece of Grüter, Uberti and co. They're all horrible.

Upfront, expect Jan Dorthe to be on the roster. He's the teams shutdown, PK and faceoff specialist. He does bring grit as well even though that comes with stupid penalties as well
I'd be shocked if he's not on the roster though.

 

[Hinterland]

At this point I wouldn't count on any of the three mentioned above but I think there's a pretty good chance Bichsel is gonna play the tournament. He's got a Europe out option if he's not in the NHL by next week. I don't think he's quite NHL ready and the Dallas Stars, barring injuries or sicknesses, don't have a slot for him either. So it will pretty much be Bichsel's decision if he wants to play the WJC20 or not. I think he wants to play for Rögle anyway and the WJC20 is in Sweden, too. Bichsel's girlfriend is Swedish as well.

Still liking the chances of us being able to watch Bichsel at the WJC20.

 

[Kuracmugger]

Please no Beglieri. He's brutal. I also want no piece of Grüter, Uberti and co. They're all horrible.

Upfront, expect Jan Dorthe to be on the roster. He's the teams shutdown, PK and faceoff specialist. He does bring grit as well even though that comes with stupid penalties as well
I'd be shocked if he's not on the roster though.

I don‘t like Beglieri either but i assume Jenni will take him on the roster.
Yeah Dorthe brings a lot of grit i didn‘t think of him but IMO it doesn‘t really matter who you take for the 3-4th Forward line all options aren‘t really that good unfortunately.

 

[Hinterland]

 

[Kuracmugger]

Taibel also played tonight so looks like we will have him back for the tournament.

 

[David Suzuki]

Mueller has taken a nice leap this year, should be a stud for you guys!

 

[Hinterland]

Weber injured again. Figured something was fishy. Definitely looks like they rushed him back.

Let's hope at least Taibel is back for good.

 

[Hinterland]

News National Teams

Alle offiziellen News über die Schweizer Eishockey- Nationalmannschaften der Frauen, Männer und Junioren. Spiele, Ergebnisse und Infos zu Kader und Staff.

m.sihf.ch

No Bichsel is surprising but maybe he's gonna join the team in Sweden? We'll see. Also, f*** Jenni for selecting two piss poor goalies. As for the rest, I'll look at it when I have a bit more time.

 

[Kuracmugger]

News National Teams

Alle offiziellen News über die Schweizer Eishockey- Nationalmannschaften der Frauen, Männer und Junioren. Spiele, Ergebnisse und Infos zu Kader und Staff.

m.sihf.ch

No Bichsel is surprising but maybe he's gonna join the team in Sweden? We'll see. Also, f*** Jenni for selecting two piss poor goalies. As for the rest, I'll look at it when I have a bit more time.

Are there any news why he isn‘t on the team tho i am surprised he isn‘t there?

 

[Hinterland]

News National Teams

Alle offiziellen News über die Schweizer Eishockey- Nationalmannschaften der Frauen, Männer und Junioren. Spiele, Ergebnisse und Infos zu Kader und Staff.

m.sihf.ch

No Bichsel is surprising but maybe he's gonna join the team in Sweden? We'll see. Also, f*** Jenni for selecting two piss poor goalies. As for the rest, I'll look at it when I have a bit more time.

Well. I looked at it and I wonder how Jenni can select Endo and Simon Meier over Rafael. Endo is useless anyway. Simon may be gifted but is actually stagnating if not regressing while Rafael is one of the most improved players over the last months. It's beyond stupid. Also, what is it Timo Jenni is good for besides wearing the HC's family name? Can't be anything related to hockey, that's for sure. The (selected) Meier's and Jenni have zero business being on that team. Besides the exclusion of Rafael Meier I also don't understand why Jenni felt the need to exclude Andro Kaderli. Can't have too many righties, at least at the prep camp and he's easily better than Jenni or the (selected) Meier's. Furthermore, I expected at least one of Pont and Dorthe to make the camp roster as a defensiv minded bottom six Center. I don't really see a plan behind that selection. If you're a Swiss team without elite talent, you wanna have at least two defensive minded checking lines centered by guys who can win faceoffs. Mattheo Reinhard isn't that type of player, neither are Jonas Taibel or Jamiro Reber. Sure, you can waste Miles Muller on a defensive role as it's kinda his bread and butter but he's our best Centerman if not our best Forward so it would probably make sense to give him a more offensive role. Lurati does bring some size and can play Center but I'm not sure he's necessarily a two way Center or faceoff specialist.
Timo Bünzli is another selection I don't really understand. Played a very good WJC18 but other than that he's another player who's more stagnating than actually improving. Don't think he's done enough to justify a WJC20 selection as an underager. On the other hand, I expected David Moser to make camp at the very least. Same story as upfront, can't have too many righties at camp.

 

[Hinterland]

Are there any news why he isn‘t on the team tho i am surprised he isn‘t there?

Haven't heard anything. I'd be surprised if he moved to Sweden without plans to play the WJC20 tournament taking place there. He already missed a WC due to injury and a WJC thanks to the SIHF idiots and in half or one and a half years the latest he's gonna be an NHL regular with therefore very limited opportunities to play international tournaments.

However, if he doesn't join the team that wouldn't be the end of the world. I think we're gonna have stronger teams in the near future and Bichsel's absence would mean more opportunities for younger kids. Also, this team is deep on defense. There are 10 defenders on the camp roster so even without Bichsel, most certainly two guys are gonna get cut. The only one I think doesn't belong is Bünzli though so even without Bichsel, one excellent defenseman isn't gonna make the WJC20 team.

 

[Kuracmugger]

Well. I looked at it and I wonder how Jenni can select Endo and Simon Meier over Rafael. Endo is useless anyway. Simon may be gifted but is actually stagnating if not regressing while Rafael is one of the most improved players over the last months. It's beyond stupid. Also, what is it Timo Jenni is good for besides wearing the HC's family name? Can't be anything related to hockey, that's for sure. The (selected) Meier's and Jenni have zero business being on that team. Besides the exclusion of Rafael Meier I also don't understand why Jenni felt the need to exclude Andro Kaderli. Can't have too many righties, at least at the prep camp and he's easily better than Jenni or the (selected) Meier's. Furthermore, I expected at least one of Pont and Dorthe to make the camp roster as a defensiv minded bottom six Center. I don't really see a plan behind that selection. If you're a Swiss team without elite talent, you wanna have at least two defensive minded checking lines centered by guys who can win faceoffs. Mattheo Reinhard isn't that type of player, neither are Jonas Taibel or Jamiro Reber. Sure, you can waste Miles Muller on a defensive role as it's kinda his bread and butter but he's our best Centerman if not our best Forward so it would probably make sense to give him a more offensive role. Lurati does bring some size and can play Center but I'm not sure he's necessarily a two way Center or faceoff specialist.
Timo Bünzli is another selection I don't really understand. Played a very good WJC18 but other than that he's another player who's more stagnating than actually improving. Don't think he's done enough to justify a WJC20 selection as an underager. On the other hand, I expected David Moser to make camp at the very least. Same story as upfront, can't have too many righties at camp.

I agree that Rafael should have been selected over the other two, he can play that defensive role a lot better than these two. I also expected Moser to be there over a player like Bünzli but i think he‘ll be cut especially if Bichsel comes to play. I don‘t understand the selection of Wagner too that only thing he seems to be good at is shooting and he‘s likely not good enough to be a scorer on this kind of level. As you said 2 defensive minded lines would‘ve been better especially against the better countries maybe against Norway this team makes sense but against the big countries you need a good defensive base since you‘ll spend a lot time in the D-zone.

 

[Hinterland]

Here's the roster again for those who are too lazy to open a link.

Again, I see a certain lack of size, grit, two way and faceoff specialists. I also would have wanted more of the strong 06 kids, certainly in goal but also upfront. Don't think the roster makes any sense but we'll see how it shakes out.

I agree that Rafael should have been selected over the other two, he can play that defensive role a lot better than these two. I also expected Moser to be there over a player like Bünzli but i think he‘ll be cut especially if Bichsel comes to play. I don‘t understand the selection of Wagner too that only thing he seems to be good at is shooting and he‘s likely not good enough to be a scorer on this kind of level. As you said 2 defensive minded lines would‘ve been better especially against the better countries maybe against Norway this team makes sense but against the big countries you need a good defensive base since you‘ll spend a lot time in the D-zone.

Exactly. Agreed 100%. But hey. I'm sure our genius head coach already has a master plan

 

[Kuracmugger]

Haven't heard anything. I'd be surprised if he moved to Sweden without plans to play the WJC20 tournament taking place there. He already missed a WC due to injury and a WJC thanks to the SIHF idiots and in half or one and a half years the latest he's gonna be an NHL regular with therefore very limited opportunities to play international tournaments.

However, if he doesn't join the team that wouldn't be the end of the world. I think we're gonna have stronger teams in the near future and Bichsel's absence would mean more opportunities for younger kids. Also, this team is deep on defense. There are 10 defenders on the camp roster so even without Bichsel, most certainly two guys are gonna get cut. The only one I think doesn't belong is Bünzli though so even without Bichsel, one excellent defenseman isn't gonna make the WJC20 team.

Agree on this the D-core is really strong this year. However Bichsel will boost this team a lot so it would be great to have him. I am a lot mor excited than i was at the start of the season but i‘m pretty sure this team won‘t face relegation and could even have an upset.

 

[Hinterland]

Agree on this the D-core is really strong this year. However Bichsel will boost this team a lot so it would be great to have him. I am a lot mor excited than i was at the start of the season but i‘m pretty sure this team won‘t face relegation and could even have an upset.

Well, I don't see an upset with that roster. Maybe with De Luca we'd have had enough offensive fire power to ice such a lineup. Without, a more grit and defensive minded team would have been the better choice. I'm also not sure Huet is good enough to beat the stronger teams. He's probably gonna stop what he has to stop but unlikely to do much more. Beglieri and Grüter won't stop anything at all. If Huet is our lone capable goalie we won't go far no matter the skaters. Should have selected the likes of Lachat and Neuenschwander. Yes, they're young and unproven at that level but at least they have upside and they're easily better than Grüter and Beglieri already.

 

[Kuracmugger]

No news on Bichsel? Looks like he won‘t be coming. And as i heard Rafael Meier is injured and therefore isn‘t on the team.

 

[Hinterland]

No news on Bichsel? Looks like he won‘t be coming. And as i heard Rafael Meier is injured and therefore isn‘t on the team.

No news re Bichsel but I think he was likely to join the team in Ängelholm anyway. Would make little sense for him to attend camp in Switzerland and Germany between moving from Texas to Sweden.

Losing Rafael Meier to injury sucks. I wonder about Weber's health as well. Still think it would have made sense to invite Pont and Dorthe to camp at the very least since both are good options for faceoffs and a shutdown/checking line Center role.

 

[Hinterland]

Still haven't heard any news re Bichsel but he's now playing for Rögle Ängelholm and the Swiss WJC20 camp is gonna be in Ängelholm. I haven't checked but I believe they're actually gonna play both exhibition games in Catena Arena, the home arena of Rögle BK. The Sweden game is gonna take place there for sure. Just the timing of Bichsel leaving for Sweden and the coincidence where he's playing and where the camp is gonna be and the fact that Bichsel already missed out on two international tournaments lately...I'd be shocked if he'd pass on the opportunity. It would be incredibly weird for Bichsel and the WJC20 camp to be in the same place if not facility for an entire week...without Bichsel actually being part of the team.

We'll see. Our defense is deep and Bichsel not taking part would mean more opportunities for other guys...so personally I don't really care if he plays or not. I'm fine either way. I'm still wondering what's going on though. I think he's gonna play but it's weird that there's no news.

 

[kudla]

So Bichsel is confirmed to be out. I am legit scared for this team

 

[Hinterland]

So Bichsel is confirmed to be out. I am legit scared for this team

Interesting. They'll literally be in the same facilities and still he doesn't want to play. May very well be personal based on what happened a while ago
As I said I'm fine with this though. He kinda graduated and this means more icetime for other kids. On defense it's gonna be a tough battle for roster spots anyway with Moser not even making the camp roster.

 

[Speyer]

Interesting. They'll literally be in the same facilities and still he doesn't want to play. May very well be personal based on what happened a while ago
As I said I'm fine with this though. He kinda graduated and this means more icetime for other kids. On defense it's gonna be a tough battle for roster spots anyway with Moser not even making the camp roster.

Weird development in my opinion. There are only two reasons I can think of that could have let Bichsel to decline:

1. There is still bad blood between him and the federation suits.

2. He thinks that he has nothing left to learn from the tournament (which is probably true) and he isn't willing to go out of his way to play it anyway in order to help the team avoid relegation.

The second possible reason would be understandable if the WJC wasn't held in his backyard. It would be incredibly convenient to play it anyway even if he couldn't make much personal progress by doing it. His explanation for the decline is kinda implausible too. He says he needs the time to get himself integrated into the new team, which is curious since its already midseason and he trained with them in the summer already. I don't know, I can't help to be kinda disappointed in his decision. The team sure as hell could have used him.

It will be interesting to see how the federation is going to react. Fischer who was recently extended until 2026 (only god knows why) won't be able to ignore this without losing face. There is even a precedent with Fiala. So I am expecting Bichsel to be excommunicated from senior NT for the next two tournaments at least.

Anyway, now others have to step up. Fortunately the d corps is still deep. I am expecting Ustinkov and Muggli to get bigger roles now. It will be interesting to see if they can handle it.

 

[Hinterland]

Weird development in my opinion. There are only two reasons I can think of that could have let Bichsel to decline:

1. There is still bad blood between him and the federation suits.

2. He thinks that he has nothing left to learn from the tournament (which is probably true) and he isn't willing to go out of his way to play it anyway in order to help the team avoid relegation.

The second possible reason would be understandable if the WJC wasn't held in his backyard. It would be incredibly convenient to play it anyway even if he couldn't make much personal progress by doing it. His explanation for the decline is kinda implausible too. He says he needs the time to get himself integrated into the new team, which is curious since its already midseason and he trained with them in the summer already. I don't know, I can't help to be kinda disappointed in his decision. The team sure as hell could have used him.

It will be interesting to see how the federation is going to react. Fischer who was recently extended until 2026 (only god knows why) won't be able to ignore this without losing face. There is even a precedent with Fiala. So I am expecting Bichsel to be excommunicated from senior NT for the next two tournaments at least.

Anyway, now others have to step up. Fortunately the d corps is still deep. I am expecting Ustinkov and Muggli to get bigger roles now. It will be interesting to see if they can handle it.

I think it's probably a bit of both and I don't think you can fault him for either.

This may very well be some sort of a revenge for how the SIHF treated him. Him literally playing in the same facility as the Swiss WJC20 but not taking part is the ultimate way to rub it in

The SIHF clowns who stupidly extended their head clown despite zero results must be cooking

I don't think he's as big of a loss as you think though. Bünzli is probably a bit of a left field selection but all other 9 defensemen at camp totally deserve to be on this WJC20 roster. Even Bünzli has played well for Switzerland previously. I don't think they're gonna select more than 8 defensemen for the WJC20. Maybe just 7. I also don't think they're gonna count Dionicio as a forward so that means at least one defenseman with solid pro experience is gonna get cut despite Bichsel not playing. Could be more than one. I also think that David Moser and Joan Kyburz would be deserving of a WJC20 spot but they didn't even make the camp roster. Moser would have been one of few righties and has done quite well in the SL even last season already. Kyburz has become a regular in Sweden's top junior league as an 18yo.

So even with Bichsel out there's still huge competition for the defense slots on the Swiss WJC20 slots. I also don't think the selected defensemen are necessarily gonna be less solid than Bichsel...with the exception of Dionicio maybe depending on which face of his we're gonna see. The other defensemen, again with the exception of Dionicio, won't be able to create offense from the backend the way Bichsel would have but I don't think we have the team to power through opponents anyway (with the exception of Norway maybe) so a solid teamgame is probably the way to go and not smothering offense. The team is really gonna miss Bichsel's physicality and his ability to keep possession, hold onto pucks though. That can be a factor but without a dominant goalie and elite forward talent this team isn't gonna go anywhere anyway so I honestly don't care much. That's why I was always pretty indifferent re Bichsel's participation. I thought he was gonna play for sure but him not participating opens up a slot for another very good defensemen and allows all defensemen on the roster to get more icetime.