After Canada who is the top hockey nation?

[HC Jets]

After Canada, is Sweden, USA or Russia second best?

Maybe a few people would say Finland but on paper...

Best on Best of course.

Click to read more...

 

[Zero Pucks Given]

Toss up between USA, Finland, Russia, and Sweden.

Homer vote for USA though.

 

[BobDobolina]

Sweden or USA.

Not a lot of competition. Sad how hockey is such a small sport internationally.

 

[YMCMBYOLO]

1. Canada
2. Sweden
3. Finland
4. USA
5. Russia

 

[couture23]

Canada, Sweden, US, Finland, Russia

 

[Wooren]

USA

Honestly quite surprised you all missed Czech republic out. It's not like Finland or Russia would be a whole level ahead.

 

[HC Jets]

USA

Honestly quite surprised you all missed Czech republic out. It's not like Finland or Russia would be a whole level ahead.

The way I see it:

Tier 1)
Canada

Tier 2)
USA, Sweden, Russia

Tier 3)
Finland, Czech Republic

Tier 4)
Switzerland, Slovakia

Tier 5)
Latvia, Belarus, Norway, Denmark, Germany

Tier 6)
France, Austria, Slovenia, Kazakhstan

Tier 7)
Italy, Hungary

I agree that Czech Republic is roughly as good as Finland if not better on paper. But the Czechs just haven't had the results in best-on-best tournaments that the Finns have had.

 

[Bixby Snyder]

It's clearly the USA. Sweden comes a close third but lacks the depth that the US has.

 

[JackSlater]

If we're going by best roster then probably Sweden by a hair over USA. In two - three years though I expect USA to be comfortably ahead of them.

 

[Wooren]

The way I see it:

Tier 1)
Canada

Tier 2)
USA, Sweden, Russia

Tier 3)
Finland, Czech Republic

Tier 4)
Switzerland, Slovakia

Tier 5)
Latvia, Belarus, Norway, Denmark, Germany

Tier 6)
France, Austria, Slovenia, Kazakhstan

Tier 7)
Italy, Hungary

I see it the exact same.

I agree that Czech Republic is roughly as good as Finland if not better on paper. But the Czechs just haven't had the results in best-on-best tournaments that the Finns have had.

That's true indeed, though Russia struggles in best-on-best as well, yet they are still considered elite.

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

In a best on best any of Canada, Sweden, Finland, Usa, Russia can win.

 

[NyQuil]

Sweden.

 

[Pi]

In a best on best any of Canada, Sweden, Finland, Usa, Russia can win.

Finland isn't a top hockey nation. They just bore the other team to death.

Canada is easily #1. Sweden/USA on any given day could beat them so they are ranked second to me. Russia is far too inconsistent to be ranked in the top 3.

 

[Get North]

Sweden plays like a more team game than USA at the senior level. Russia is probably 2nd in junior just because it seems they have chemistry. Overall, it's probably Sweden.

 

[syz]

It's only a toss-up on international ice.

NHL ice the answer is USA.

 

[RangerBlues]

Its
America
Canada
everyone else.

 

[Burnaby_Joe*]

Its
America
Canada
everyone else.

No, no....it's Canada, then everyone else.

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

Since 2010 the Americans have one Olympic silver and two World bronze medals.

And that makes them elite.

Good job.

Producing elite talent means nothing unless teams come together. Latvia almost beat Canada, Slovenia almost beat Russia in 2014, you just need a couple of saves and anyone on a given night can win.

1)Canada

Big gap

2)Sweden, Finland, USA, Russia

3)Czech Republic

Rest.

This fascination with Eichel and Matthews is laughable, they couldn't even perform together at a World Juniors and Americans already have them doing damage in the Olympics.

Relax, the international game is a tough tough level, nothing is guarenteed.

 

[JackSlater]

Since 2010 the Americans have one Olympic silver and two World bronze medals.

And that makes them elite.

Good job.

Producing elite talent means nothing unless teams come together. Latvia almost beat Canada, Slovenia almost beat Russia in 2014, you just need a couple of saves and anyone on a given night can win.

1)Canada

Big gap

2)Sweden, Finland, USA, Russia

3)Czech Republic

Rest.

This fascination with Eichel and Matthews is laughable, they couldn't even perform together at a World Juniors and Americans already have them doing damage in the Olympics.

Relax.

Considering the OP is asking about best on best, posting about WC results (particularly irrelevent when discussing USA) is not pertinent. The sample size is far to small in best on best... there isn't much to go on other than the talent available.

 

[HC Jets]

Record of top 10 from every best-on-best tournament (W-L-OTL/T):
'96, '04 World Cup + '98,'02,'06,'10,'14 OG

1. Canada 33-10-2
2. Finland (wow) 26-12-2
3. Sweden 24-8-2
4. United States 23-13-4
5. Russia 23-13-3
6. Czech Republic 17-18-2
7. Slovakia 11-18-3
8. Switzerland 8-7-4
9. Germany 7-19-2 (ouch)
10. Belarus 6-11-3

I know some of these results are old, but after Canada, it is pretty much a pack of 4. Currently, my vote goes to USA though.

 

[xxxx]

the United States

 

[Paxton Fettel]

All I know is that Russia is the only team that has been actually able to stop Canada from winning since the 90s.

 

[Samkow]

All I know is that Russia is the only team that has been actually able to stop Canada from winning since the 90s.

Don't forget the Czech's.

I know 1998 was bad but it still happened.

 

[saskriders]

If we take country population into account Finland is number 1

 

[Paxton Fettel]

Don't forget the Czech's.

I know 1998 was bad but it still happened.

It was in the 90s and actually that game ended in a tie.