GDT: Latvia vs Sweden @ 12:30pm PT/ 3:30 ET/ 9:30pm CEST

[weklof]

What is really going on with him? I have watched two games from Sweden in this tournament, and he seemed to be doing a pretty convincing imitation of an invisible man in both of them. Swedish posters here, would be interesting to hear you opinion, why he has had such a quiet tournament? I mean I liked him very much in the U18 tournament in the spring. Now he has looked like a shadow of what he was then.


That does sound seriously bad, I habe to admit.

No skater, other than Andrae, is playing up to their potential. When the entire team unperformes it is quite obviously coaching at fault. I would not read to much into any Swedish skaters performance at this tournament.

 

[Ippenator]

No skater, other than Andrae, is playing up to their potential. When the entire team unperformes it is quite obviously coaching at fault. I would not read to much into any Swedish skaters performance at this tournament.

That is most probably the case here. A bad coach can really bring down most of the players, if not even all of them by at least some amount. I honestly feel that with better coaching (Pennanen sucks too) Finland would also get much more out of most of our players. But at least some of our players have flourished offensively under him. But practically the whole team has been trash defensively. And he also pretty much messes up the line chemistries with too many questionable line choices. I guess Monten is doing something like that too, but probably his problems are more with his offensive tactics rather than the defensive play?

 

[Vikz]

Is the Latvian program turning the corner? This can't be just because the tournament is missing players and being played in the summer, because they're missing players too. Of course, they had the benefit of bringing the majority of the team that got them in position to take the spot. You can be smart and well-coached to the end of time, you make strides when you have skill, and they seem to have way more skill than any previous Latvian team I've seen

Nothing new in Latvian development programs, as far as I know.
Whether or not this is the most skilled Latvian team is up to debate, since in the first half of the 2010's we had teams with Merzlikins, Blugers, Girgensons, who are all NHLers now, and were drafted really high by Latvian standarts. This years team lacks those obvious "next ones".

But this team definitely:
1) Is one of the deepest, if not the deepest ever;
2) Has the best coach ever in Abols, who was the hc of several KHL teams.

Too bad this years tournament came after the draft. Some guys would have certainly been noticed. One of the best tournaments in Latvian hockey history, adult ones included. Glad for our guys.

 

[Breakers]

Maybe it is coaching
So many world juniors Sweden is always a possession monster and their players always flash high end skill with elite zone entries

this tournament they can barely maneuver the neutral zone, let alone have a controlled entry, and every player is skating into traffic.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

A good coach can take a team and make them 10% better.
A bad coach can make that same team 30% worse.

Monten needs to go. It’s sad watching Team Sweden.

 

[karhukissa]

Congrats Sweden!

 

[The Red Line]

Lekkerimäki let me down again, but im still not given up on him. He will be the steal of the draft, and a 40-50 goal scorer.

I think he's going to be a fine player and this tournament doesn't change that, but if you are actually expecting a 50 goal scorer out of this guy..... yikes.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Stupid of Canada to let the Swiss back into it so quick. Switzerland historically always plays Canada stingy. Could’ve used the lead to force the Swiss into making mistakes and expand the lead, instead we’re back to playing their game.

 

[EK47]

Too bad the Montén era didn’t end the way it deserved. With a humiliating QF loss against a objectively way less talented opponent. No offense. And I say this as a swede. This coach did not deserve a place in the semi finals.

Although my thoughts about Montén are pretty much obvious for most people on the international board by now.

 

[al secord]

Sweden really flexing their muscle with a one goal victory over Latvia

 

[Eye of Ra]

@Eye of Ra congrats on this heavy upset win ! Truly surprising that the Swedes made it to the top 4 even if it means they will get destroyed in the next two games

could go either way. only 2-1

 

[Eye of Ra]

@Eye of Ra congrats on this heavy upset win ! Truly surprising that the Swedes made it to the top 4 even if it means they will get destroyed in the next two games

When was the last time that Finland destroyed Sweden? It never happens. Always close games. They are better than us but still always close becaue of rivaly.

But yeah, Canada and USA would crush us,

 

[ZEBROA]

The hate for Sweden here is somewhat surprising. Hating on Canada are not. They are always the team to beat. Sweden are almost never. So why all the hate on the 4-6th best team? Didnt u get food from a Swede u visited or did u hate the fika or something?

 

[Hockeyfrilla]

But yeah, Canada and USA would crush us,

How about czechia?

 

[Eye of Ra]

How about czechia?

yeah them too