Potential World Cup Rosters

[Vincent Vega]

CANADA:

Paul Kariya - Joe Sakic - Jarome Iginla
Todd Bertuzzi - Joe Thorton - Glen Murray
Ryan Smyth - Mike Peca - John Madden
Simon Gagne - Vinny Lecavalier - Jeff O'Neill
EX: Brendan Shanahan

Scott Niedermayer - Chris Pronger
Ed Jovanovski - Adam Foote
Wade Redden - Rob Blake
EX: Derek Morris

Martin Brodeur
Roberto Luongo
3rd: Marty Turco

 

[Riddarn]

I have a feeling that the sedins will make the team. They've looked very good thus far this (pre)season. Lindgren, on the other hand, will probably be prevented from playing due to injuries. The way his back keeps acting up, I don't know if he's ever going to play again.

Perhaps. But the coach of the swedish national team, Nilsson, usually go for guys with a bit more speed than the Sedins. I wouldn't be surprised if some guys from the SEL makes it, like Jörgen Jönsson or Peter Nordström, or why not some NHL player that isn't established as a full time starter yet. Thinking mainly of Mattias Weinhandl and Christian Berglund. I also wouldn't be so surprised to see Niklas Kronwall, Dick Tärnström or Daniel Tjärnqvist as a spare defender either..

 

[Foster]

I would say the toughest positon to fill would be Canada in nets.

Brodeur
Luongo
Turco
Theodore
Lalime.

So many others that could have a chance.

 

[Vincent Vega]

I'll try a Sweden:

Henrik Zetterberg - Peter Forsberg - Markus Naslund
Kristian Huselius - Mats Sundin - Daniel Alfredsson
Mikael Renberg - Mikeal Nylander - PJ Axelsson
Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Tomas Holmstrom

Nik Lidstrom - Niklas Kronwall
Mattias Ohlund - Mattias Norstrom
Kim Johnsson - Marcus Ragnarsson

Tommy Salo
Mikeal Tellqvist
Johan Hedberg

 

[Le Golie]

I haven't put a lot of thought into their potential replacements but if Ovechkin, Grigorenko and Polushin are all amoung the top 12 Russian forwards, they are going to have a very difficult tournament....

Also, for Team USA, I'd have to give Jason Blake a lot of consideration. He'd be dynamite on a big ice surface.

As per Finland having no stars outside of Ruutu....Wow, not even sure how to respond to that one.

Ruutu has a long way to go before he can be mentioned in the same category as Selanne and Koivu. Jokinen is also developing into a very good player and will be crucial for the Finns.

 

[Riddarn]

I'll try a Sweden:

Henrik Zetterberg - Peter Forsberg - Markus Naslund
Kristian Huselius - Mats Sundin - Daniel Alfredsson
Mikael Renberg - Michael Nylander - Freddy Modin
Magnus Arvedson - P.J Axelsson* - Tomas Holmstrom

Nik Lidstrom - Niklas Kronwall
Mattias Ohlund - Mattias Norstrom
Kim Johnsson - Marcus Ragnarsson

Tommy Salo
Mikeal Tellqvist/Johan Hedberg

*Cant think of a center.

Centers huh? First of all, Zetterberg is a natural center so you could just move him down and put PJ at left wing with Forsberg and Naslund. Then there are others who can play center, Mats Lindgren, Samuel Påhlsson, Henrik Sedin and Andreas Johansson (predators) I think. There are also a few good centers in the SEL to be considered, like Jörgen Jönsson or Johan Davidsson. Other than that, I like the look of your team

I've been playing with the thought of reuniting an old world junior championships line of Forsberg - Lindgren - Näslund. That way Foppa and Nazzy can be ultra offensive and they have a great defensive center backing them up. It would also adress the problem with Forsberg taking faceoffs.. This is assuming that Lindgren can stay healthy, which isn't too likely.

 

[incawg]

I've been playing with the thought of reuniting an old world junior championships line of Forsberg - Lindgren - Näslund. That way Foppa and Nazzy can be ultra offensive and they have a great defensive center backing them up. It would also adress the problem with Forsberg taking faceoffs.. This is assuming that Lindgren can stay healthy, which isn't too likely.

Lindgren underwent back surgery the other day. The recovery time is "indefinite" but is thought to be "weeks". Hopefully this surgery fixes the problem. Apparently the injury he sustained lifting weights a year ago is still the problem. What I don't understand is why this surgery wasn't done during the offseason.

Edit: They're saying early december at the earliest. The real question is not how soon he comes back, but rather whehter the back problem really is chronic.

 

[Vincent Vega]

Team USA:

John LeClair - Jeremy Roenick - TonyAmonte
Keith Tkachuk - Mike Modano - BillGuerin
Mike York - Doug Weight - Brett Hull
Brian Rolston - Chris Drury - David Legwand

Brian Leetch - Derian Hatcher
Tom Poti - Aaron Miller
Keith Carney - Brian Rafalski

Mike Dunham
Rick DiPietro

 

[Predatore]

I've been playing with the thought of reuniting an old world junior championships line of Forsberg - Lindgren - Näslund.

I can't see why you would want to play those three.. I would rather re-unite Foppa and Näslund with Niklas Sundström.

Those three combined for 69(!) points during the 92/93 World Junior Championships.

 

[Predatore]

btw.. here's my stab at the Swedish team

Niklas Sundström - Peter Forsberg - Markus Näslund
Henrik Zetterberg - Mats Sundin - Daniel Alfredsson
Kristian Huselius - Michael Nylander  - Mikael Renberg
Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - PJ Axelsson

Nicklas Lidström - Mattias Norström
Mattias Öhlund - Kim Johnsson
Kenny Jönsson - Dick Tärnström

Mikael Tellqvist
Tommy Salo
Henrik Lundqvist


[I]did not quite make it[/I]
Tomas Holmström
Magnus Arvedson
Jörgen Jönsson
Peter Nordström
Daniel Tjärnqvist
Henrik Tallinder
Andreas Johansson
Marcus Ragnarsson

comments:
Not a very realistic squad perhaps (too much offense.. Hardy wants a lot of defensively responsible players.. meaning that Jörgen Jönsson, Peter Nordström and Arvedson will probably play from start.. on a checking line).
No Zetterberg at center.. I want to have the Sedins on the team.. so he'll have to settle with playing wing on Sundin's line.

 

[Riddarn]

btw.. here's my stab at the Swedish team

Niklas Sundström - Peter Forsberg - Markus Näslund
Henrik Zetterberg - Mats Sundin - Daniel Alfredsson
Kristian Huselius - Michael Nylander  - Mikael Renberg
Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - PJ Axelsson

Nicklas Lidström - Mattias Norström
Mattias Öhlund - Kim Johnsson
Kenny Jönsson - Dick Tärnström

Mikael Tellqvist
Tommy Salo
Henrik Lundqvist


[I]did not quite make it[/I]
Tomas Holmström
Magnus Arvedson
Jörgen Jönsson
Peter Nordström
Daniel Tjärnqvist
Henrik Tallinder
Andreas Johansson
Marcus Ragnarsson

comments:
Not a very realistic squad perhaps (too much offense.. Hardy wants a lot of defensively responsible players.. meaning that Jörgen Jönsson, Peter Nordström and Arvedson will probably play from start.. on a checking line).
No Zetterberg at center.. I want to have the Sedins on the team.. so he'll have to settle with playing wing on Sundin's line.

Are you sure you want two puck-egomaniacs like Huselius and Nylander on the same line? Looks pretty ok though, although I think it would be a better team on big ice with international rules..

 

[Predatore]

actually I thought about that actually, and perhaps a better idea would be to switch Huselius and Zetterberg.. although I would really want to see Z on a line with Sudden.

 

[The Mighty Duck Man]

My stab at Canada's roster:

Kariya-Thornton-Bertuzzi
Gange-Sakic-Iginla
Smyth-Peca-Madden
Shanahan-Lecavalier-O'Neil
Extras: St.Louis, Carter

Jovanovski-Pronger
Niedermayer-Redden
Blake-Foote
Extras: Brewer

Brodeur
Giguere
Turco

I might as well put in my American one too:

Leclair-Roenick-Amonte
Tkachuk-Modano-Guerin
Drury-Weight-Hull
Langenbrunner-Marchant-Deadmarsh

Poti-Leetch
Schneider-Hatcher
Rafalski-Carney

Dunham
DiPietro
Johnson

 

[Master Kush]

What do you all think of the Czech's this time around?

I think, hopefully, they've learned from '02 and decide to put holik and bonk on this team. Those two would definantly help in games played in N.A.
Here's my best line-up, though I may be forgetting someone:


Havlat - Straka - Jagr
Elias - Bonk - Hejduk
Prospal - Lang - Sykora
***** - Holik - *****

And depending on who plays well this season, the other spots could go to:
Cajanek
Hemsky
Vasicek
Reichel (always seems to play well internationally)
Hrdina
And Sejna, Dvorak, Rucinsky, Stefan, Vrbata, Varada are long shots.


One area the Czech's will drastically improve is in their D this time around.

Kaberle - Hamrlik
Fischer - Rachunek
Klesla? - Kubina?

And last pair could be filled by any two of Klesla, Kubina, Modry, Spacek, Kuba, Skoula.

As for Goalie:
Hasek? If not, Czechmanek, Vokoun, Turek..

 

[Vincent Vega]

Czech:

Patrick Elias - Petr Sykora - Jaromir Jagr
Martin Straka - Radek Bonk - Martin Havlat
Josef Vasicek - Bobby Holik - Jan Hrdina
Ales Hemsky - Petr Cajanek - Milan Hejduk

Roman Hamrlik - Karel Rachunek
Jiri Fischer - Tomas Kaberle
Rostislav Klesla - Jaroslav Spacek

Dominik Hasek
Roman Czechmanek
Tomas Vokoun

 

[Vincent Vega]

Russia:

Sergei Samsonov - Sergei Fedorov - Ilya Kovalchuk
Stanislav Chistov - Pavel Datsyuk - Alexander Ovechkin
Alexei Kovalev - Alexei Yashin - Alexander Frolov
Alesky Morozov - Victor Kozlov - Igor Grigorenko

Sergei Zubov - Andrei Markov
Sergei Gonchar - Anton Volchenkov
Dmitri Kalinin - Anton Babchuk

Nikolai Khabibulin
Evgeni Nabokov
Igor Bryzgalov

 

[sensfan18]

I really hope that Owen Nolan and Lindros are not on the Canadian team, they were both good but there time has passed, let's see new blood in there. Also, has good as they both are, I don't see room for both Peca and Madden.

My team Canada:

Forwards
Murray-Thorton-Bertuzzi
Kariya-Sakic-Iginla
Gagne-Lemieux-Lecavilier (the french connection, wow )
Smyth-Madden-Heatley (assuming he can play by then)
Extras-Oneil and just to be different Rick Nash (gain experience).

On a international ice surface I don't know if Murray would be on my team, but on the north american surface, I see no doubt. Plus he and Thorton have great Chemistry, and add Big Bert, Look out no one will get the puck from them in the corners. Lecavilier could definately play out of position on that french line, and if Gagne does not regain form he can be replaced. That is my 4 extremely solid lines. So many other player to choose from if someone tanks between now and then but that is my wishful forwards.

Defence
Neidemayer-Pronger
Blake-Redden
Javanoski-MacInnis *Al's last triumph if healthy
extra: Morris or Brewer

Goal
Who knows where to start here, no matter who they choose it will be a strength.

Brodeur
Luongo
Lalime *homer pick

Giguerre, Turco, Burke, Theodore. If they take 2 of the more experienced goalies I really hope they take Luongo or Fleury along for the experience because they will be carrying us in the future.

Coaching Staff
Martin
Murray
Hitchcock

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

I guess I'll throw my hat into the Team Canada speculation...

Kariya-Sakic-Bertuzzi
Smyth-Lemieux-Thornton
Richards-Lecavalier-Iginla
Madden-Peca-Lindros

Ex: Simon Gagne, Steve Rucchin

Lindros, Thornton and Richards are out of position...I don't know if Thornton can play RW, but I know Richards and Lindros have played on the wings.

Foote-Jovanovski
Pronger-Niedermayer
Redden-Morris

Ex: Jay Bouwmeester

Martin Brodeur
Marty Turco

Ex: Roberto Luongo

That was fun.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Team USA:

John LeClair - Jeremy Roenick - TonyAmonte
Keith Tkachuk - Mike Modano - BillGuerin
Mike York - Doug Weight - Brett Hull
Brian Rolston - Chris Drury - David Legwand

Brian Leetch - Derian Hatcher
Tom Poti - Aaron Miller
Keith Carney - Brian Rafalski

Mike Dunham
Rick DiPietro

I think this will be the team that takes the ice for the U.S. Very similar in composition to that if the '96 World Cup team, except no Mike Richter. I think Dunham could get the job done though. Great set of forwards, and a nice mix on D.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

My thoughts for the World Cup Canadian Roster...

Iginla-Thornton-Bertuzzi(power forwards unite!)
Heatley-Lecavalier-Lemieux
Smyth-Peca-Sakic
St. Louis-O'Neil-Kariya

Jovanovski-Pronger
Redden-Blake
Foote-Bouwmeester

Goalies: (take your pick)
Marc-Andre Fleury
Martin Brodeur
Marty Turco
Patrik Lalime
Roberto Luongo

~Canucklehead~

 

[Douggy]

I think Canada has to take a look at thier 2002 team and ask themselves: Who doesn't belong anymore??

My responces:
- Joseph
- Belfour (maybe not, but he'll probably retire by then anyways.)
- Fleury (It's almost certain he won't be there.)
- MacInnis (Will he be too old this time, or retired allready?)
- Yzerman (Probably be retired by then.)

Obviously we don't want to be complacent, but the team won last time, and if we can revove as few of those pieces as possible, that would be best.

 

[William H Bonney]

Team USA:

John LeClair - Jeremy Roenick - TonyAmonte
Keith Tkachuk - Mike Modano - BillGuerin
Mike York - Doug Weight - Brett Hull
Brian Rolston - Chris Drury - David Legwand

Brian Leetch - Derian Hatcher
Tom Poti - Aaron Miller
Keith Carney - Brian Rafalski

Mike Dunham
Rick DiPietro

This roster looks good, I'd consider these changes:

Todd Marchant or Jason Blake for Legwand (provided he doesn't develop as expected)

Paul Mara or Jordan Leopold - if he develops - for Aaron Miller. Miller is good enough to be there, but will probably be injured as always.

 

[incawg]

dumb, dumb play by bert. that was a penalty. stop yapping.

 

[peacefrogdog]

My stab at Team Canada

Based on the assumptions of : Yzerman, MacInnis retiring

Bertuzzi-Thornton-Murray
Gagne-Sakic-Iginla
Kariya-Lemieux-Heatley (if ready) - switch Gagne for Kariya for more defensive balance
Smyth-Peca-Madden
13th forward : Lecavalier
O'Neill in for Heatley if he's not ready/healthy

Jovanovski-Blake
Pronger-Niedermayer
Redden-Foote
7th d-man : Barrettt Jackman

Brodeur
Belfour
Luongo

 

[Vincent Vega]

I made some changes to my team Canada lineup.

Brendan Shanahan is out for Martin St. Louis.

St. Louis brings us more speed and skill. We already have enough grit upfront - Bertuzzi, Thornton, Iginla, Smyth, Peca, Madden, Morrow and O'Neill

Glen Murray is out for Mario Lemieux.

I think Glen Murray is a good player and has amazing chemistry with Joe Thornton but Mario Lemieux is.....well do I have to explain?

Simon Gagne is out for Brendan Morrow.

Simon Gagne has been underperforming this season and Brendan Morrow would also be a better fit on the 4th line.

Derek Morris is out for Jay Bouwmeester.

Jay Bouwmeester is the next big defenseman and really should that at the World Championships by winning best defenseman.

Marty Turco is out for Marc-Andre Fleury

M.A Fleury has been amazing this season and along with Roberto Luongo will form an incredibly dangerous duo in the nets for Canada for a long, long, long time. An expierence like this at 18 will be great for him.

CANADA:

Paul Kariya - Joe Sakic - Mario Lemieux
Todd Bertuzzi - Joe Thorton - Jarome Iginla
Ryan Smyth - Mike Peca - John Madden
Brendan Morrow - Vinny Lecavalier - Jeff O'Neill
EX: Martin St. Louis

Scott Niedermayer - Chris Pronger
Ed Jovanovski - Adam Foote
Wade Redden - Rob Blake
EX: Jay Bouwmeester

Martin Brodeur
Roberto Luongo
3rd: Marc-Andre Fleury