Preferred quarter final opponent of big 5?

[Czechboy]

So I'm curious. Let's say there was a real best on best. And Russia was playing. Everyone is invited. Swiss, Latvia, Czechs and Russians. All players are available from all the leagues.

Here is the question. Who is your preferred quarter final opponent of the big 5? They are all amazing. So I'm curious who everyone would prefer on the way to the semifinals?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Finland has the worst team of the five, so probably them.

 

[Czechboy]

Finland has the worst team of the five, so probably them.

You seen Finland's quarter final track record at best in best Olympics? 4 out of 5. May be the best one at it.

 

[Namejs]

Definitely Russia so that we could have a bench clearing brawl and a few cases of manslaughter in the stands.

 

[Summer Rose]

I voted Russia. I don't have a logical explanation about why. It may be because we beat them the last time we played them in a best on best quarterfinal. However, thinking as I write at the same time, Canada is obviously the worst one to draw in the quarterfinals. That leaves Sweden and Finland. Those two have a track record and history of a very high level of team play regardless of the actual talent on the roster, so they scare me in that sense. I guess that leads me to Russia anyway.

Joke addition: the ideal opponent to draw in the quarterfinal is the USA, because if we play against ourselves, then we win.

 

[Czechboy]

I voted Russia. I don't have a logical explanation about why. It may be because we beat them the last time we played them in a best on best quarterfinal. However, thinking as I write at the same time, Canada is obviously the worst one to draw in the quarterfinals. That leaves Sweden and Finland. Those two have a track record and history of a very high level of team play regardless of the actual talent on the roster, so they scare me in that sense. I guess that leads me to Russia anyway.

Joke addition: the ideal opponent to draw in the quarterfinal is the USA, because if we play against ourselves, then we win.

US are the paper champs right now.. and they are terrifying. They have F and D that can match Canada and G's that can counter the Russian Troika! Canada is Canada. Swedes are never an easy out. Finn's are the most successful at Quarters using best on best Olympics (4 out of 5 at 80%... possible Canada was 80% too but they lost Semi and Bronze - to Finland in Nagano).

 

[Eye of Ra]

Big 6. Not big 5. Czechs is among the big ones for sure

 

[jcbio11]

Voted Sweden as a fan of team Slovakia. I was also seriously considering Russia and Finland.

 

[heksagon]

Finland has the worst team of the five, so probably them.

I would take a healthy Team Finland over Russia and maybe even Sweden, but Finland lacks depth so an injury to someone like Heiskanen or Barkov drops them below them on paper. We did beat Sweden without Heiskanen in the 4 Nations now that I think about it, with Miro I'd be even more confident. Playing style wise we match up worse against NA opponents though, so it's match up based too.

 

[Eye of Ra]

I would take a healthy Team Finland over Russia and maybe even Sweden, but Finland lacks depth so an injury to someone like Heiskanen or Barkov drops them below them on paper. We did beat Sweden without Heiskanen in the 4 Nations now that I think about it, with Miro I'd be even more confident. Playing style wise we match up worse against NA opponents though, so it's match up based too.

You beat Sweden in OT. An important note.

 

[heksagon]

You beat Sweden in OT. An important note.

Yeah, I think it's a very tight match up no matter what.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Yeah, I think it's a very tight match up no matter what.

And dont forget we where missing William Karlsson and Markström.

 

[Czechboy]

Big 6. Not big 5. Czechs is among the big ones for sure

We are a pesky outsider... D still sucks at a best on best level. My own bias says we are clearly untouchabe at 6.lol

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Russia. C and D are the most important positions...

 

[Czechboy]

Voted Sweden as a fan of team Slovakia. I was also seriously considering Russia and Finland.

Why Sweden for Slovakia?

 

[Czechboy]

Big 6. Not big 5. Czechs is among the big ones for sure

Also, if Czechs were an option here even I would pick them.lol

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I would take a healthy Team Finland over Russia and maybe even Sweden, but Finland lacks depth so an injury to someone like Heiskanen or Barkov drops them below them on paper. We did beat Sweden without Heiskanen in the 4 Nations now that I think about it, with Miro I'd be even more confident. Playing style wise we match up worse against NA opponents though, so it's match up based too.

I would not. Russia’s weakness, centers, is better than Finland’s weakness, the whole defense.

Finland basically doesn’t have more than one guy who can play an NHL PP on that backend and probably only one real first pairing defenseman.

Miro is great, but let’s not make him into something he’s not. He’s not the best defenseman ever. The reason the defense needs him so much is because he’s the only good defenseman.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Russia. I don't think Finland has lost to them since 1998. Sweden would be another choice. Beating them without Heiskanen in 4 nations was nice enough.

 

[Lartsaman]

Canada is next to inpossible to beat at games when it matters. As for Russia, we have a pretty good record on kicking them out of the competetion so I definitely choose Russia.