WC: Team Switzerland 2022

[stv11]

I don't see how you could leave Weber of the roster if he is healthy. Even though I have argued that Diaz is declining for the last two tournaments, I still wouldn't have ruled him out completely. Hockey is different than football when it comes to cutting older players. The roster makeup needs to be much more flexible in hockey since a lot of players are not available for every tournament And since there is at least one tournament every year, you are not stuck with a declining player on a multi year campaign when he is not up to the task anymore. So its probably best to just nominate the best possible players for any given WC. S. Moser is not in that group anymore but Diaz still might be depending on who is available.

My feeling exactly, I think Diaz could have brought something to this team even if he's not a top pair defenseman anymore. There's no need to get rid of all the players that will be too old in 2026 yet.

As far as Ambühl is concerned I think he is a bit of an exception because he is so close to breaking the all time games played record at the WC. He was also still one of our better forwards at the olympics. And if he is not up to the task anymore you can just give him some easy shifts as the 13th forward.

Record or not Ambühl still has something to give to this team, he proved it at the olympics and few players can match his intensity. I'd even take a player in his 40s if he makes the team stronger, this is not a club team where you have to plan for the future.

Edit: I also like Sidler for the future, I always thought he was one of the more impressive players on any junior national team he was on. Seems to have good leadership qualities as well. Hopefully he and other young guys like Bichsel, Noah Meier and maybe even Delémont can replace players like Diaz and Weber in the coming years.

There's some nice potential for the future, but unfortunately the depth is limited if we only look at players in their prime, so Weber should be a lock. And with the playoffs he's having I'd also give Geering a chance. I'm not a big fan of Marti but he played decently at the Olympics. From Zug, Kreis is probably their best Swiss defenseman but every time he played during the WC training camp he showed he falls a bit short of international level. Schlumpf played a few WC as a depth player, but I don't think he brings that much.

I'd like to see more of Karrer, I'm not sure why he didn't play against Germany. Anyone heard anything about a possible injury?

 

[Kuracmugger]

I don't see how you could leave Weber of the roster if he is healthy. Even though I have argued that Diaz is declining for the last two tournaments, I still wouldn't have ruled him out completely. Hockey is different than football when it comes to cutting older players. The roster makeup needs to be much more flexible in hockey since a lot of players are not available for every tournament And since there is at least one tournament every year, you are not stuck with a declining player on a multi year campaign when he is not up to the task anymore. So its probably best to just nominate the best possible players for any given WC. S. Moser is not in that group anymore but Diaz still might be depending on who is available.

As far as Ambühl is concerned I think he is a bit of an exception because he is so close to breaking the all time games played record at the WC. He was also still one of our better forwards at the olympics. And if he is not up to the task anymore you can just give him some easy shifts as the 13th forward.

Edit: I also like Sidler for the future, I always thought he was one of the more impressive players on any junior national team he was on. Seems to have good leadership qualities as well. Hopefully he and other young guys like Bichsel, Noah Meier and maybe even Delémont can replace players like Diaz and Weber in the coming years.

Zsc needs to give Noah Meier a chance in my eyes they’re wasting his talent at the moment he‘s too good for swiss league and if he gets more ice time i‘m convinced he’s NL ready.

 

[jonas2244]

Siegenthaler is back on the ice and skating. With close to 3 more weeks it could be a possibility to get him which obviously would be great.

 

[Kuracmugger]

Roster for the next week: i am a bit surprised to see fazzini already cut Fischer really don’t wants to have him in the NT.

 

[swissdude]

Roster for the next week: i am a bit surprised to see fazzini already cut Fischer really don’t wants to have him in the NT.

so am I especially with Jäger and Heim still on the roster but I don't question Fischer's desicions anymore that's a waste of time. It might be becuase they want to add some grit when they're stop pushing and getting passive after the next lead in a QF only to lose lol

 

[jonas2244]

Jäger and Heim played Center, Fazzini Wing. No reason to compare those together.

Nyffeler over Wüthrich is at least a little bit surprising, too. But that doesn't really matter.

 

[swissdude]

Jäger and Heim played Center, Fazzini Wing. No reason to compare those together.

Nyffeler over Wüthrich is at least a little bit surprising, too. But that doesn't really matter.

My bad, wasn't aware that there aren't 4 other centers in the roster. With Malgin, Schäppi, Senteler in the playoffs and Hischier and Suter available both Jäger nor Heim shouldn't have the slightest chance to play center in the tournament but yes they're needed for the Latvia games

 

[Kuracmugger]

I would be more happy with a group stage out than another blown lead in the qf

 

[jonas2244]

I don't think Schäppi is an option, but yeah, Hischier, Suter, Malgin, Corvi, Senteler and probably also Bertschy (who can play wing, too) are clearly ahead of those two. Maybe he moves Suter to the wing.

 

[stv11]

If everyone is available I would assume Hischier, Corvi, Malgin and Bertschy will play center and Suter will be moved to the wing. Kurashev can play center as well, and there's still Thürkauf on the roster.

That's quite the change from 2016 and the Trachsler, Walser, Schäppi, Walker depth chart.

 

[swissdude]

oh yes I almost forgot Kurashev , I didn't follow the hawks that closely but I think he would be an valuable option as center or as wing, if Moser and Siegenthaler would join D seems pretty solid and I have a feeling that the preds won't go that deep in the playoffs (even if I wished they do) and Josi might be available too

 

[jonas2244]

Kurashev is RFA, so we'll see if he opts in or out.
Kukan is UFA but he was scratched a lot latley. Still think Berni is an option with the current roster. He has his latest game on the 30th of April. He could join the team for the last part of the preparation to have a look at him.

I have the same feeling about the Preds, too. We'll see. Josi would be a gamechanger, without any doubt.

 

[swissdude]

Kukan had good stretches this season but wasn't he extremly unlucky with injuries and struggled to come back? I liked what I saw from him he certainly belongs to the team but I doubt he'll join due to the contractual situation

 

[AmericanDream]

Hawks announcer Colby Cohen just said Kurashev will be playing for the Swiss...so guess despite being RFA he is coming.

 

[jonas2244]

That's good news.

Nashville has to cope currently without their primary goalkeeper Saros (and it's doubtful if he can play playoffs) which would rise the chances of going out in the first round significantly and would made Josi available to join the team.

 

[Speyer]

That's good news.

Nashville has to cope currently without their primary goalkeeper Saros (and it's doubtful if he can play playoffs) which would rise the chances of going out in the first round significantly and would made Josi available to join the team.

They also have to play against Colorado and the Avalanche was one of the best teams of the regular season, unlike Nashville. I feel like chances for Josi joining in the knockout stage are pretty intact. With Russia out this year and our roster looking very promising Fischer really needs to deliver now and at least make the semis. The chances for Gold might never be as good again as this year with this current group of players...

 

[swissdude]

are there any news about Siegenthaler did he recover from surgery and is there a chance he can join?

 

[jaro]

I think colorado will kick nashville early, josi will play significant time also before knockout stage , in group. And yes, i think Swiss can make gold this tourney.

 

[jonas2244]

are there any news about Siegenthaler did he recover from surgery and is there a chance he can join?

Latest news was one week ago that he's skating. But as his hand is injured this doesn't mean much. I guess we'll know more on Sunday evening or monday.

Josi would be a game-changer, no question.

 

[FiLe]

With Russia out this year and our roster looking very promising Fischer really needs to deliver now and at least make the semis. The chances for Gold might never be as good again as this year with this current group of players...

One thing to consider: thanks to Russia being banned and Sweden missing the QF last year, this year's groups are very uneven. Canada is the only Big Six team in Group A. Finland, Sweden, USA and Czechia are all in the other group. So, while Switzerland looks like the 2nd favorite in their group, this doesn't necessarily mean they'll be the favorites going into the QF.

 

[MatBarzal]

One thing to consider: thanks to Russia being banned and Sweden missing the QF last year, this year's groups are very uneven. Canada is the only Big Six team in Group A. Finland, Sweden, USA and Czechia are all in the other group. So, while Switzerland looks like the 2nd favorite in their group, this doesn't necessarily mean they'll be the favorites going into the QF.

The Big Six? After the expulsion of Russia, it turned into the big five.

 

[FiLe]

The Big Six? After the expulsion of Russia, it turned into the big five.

At least for the time being, yes. However, it doesn't change the fact that even winning the group doesn't guarantee an easier QF.

 

[stv11]

At least for the time being, yes. However, it doesn't change the fact that even winning the group doesn't guarantee an easier QF.

This is not completely true as historically Switzerland matches up way better against the Czech Republic and the United States than against Sweden and Finland, so there are definitely favourable match ups.

Of course nothing guarantees that Sweden and Finland will finish top two in the Tampere group, so that's kind of a moot point.

 

[Speyer]

At least for the time being, yes. However, it doesn't change the fact that even winning the group doesn't guarantee an easier QF.

Yes thats true but still, a tournament without Russia is still easier to win than one where she participates. We could still run into them later in the knockout stage again and its definitely one of the countries we have struggled a lot against at the WC. For the QF it won't be a major factor though as you pointed out, but one easier game is always welcome in that stage of the tournament.

 

[swissexpert]

I think colorado will kick nashville early, josi will play significant time also before knockout stage , in group. And yes, i think Swiss can make gold this tourney.

Indeed, Game 6 is scheduled on the 13th of May, and NSH has to do well to play any longer than that. Especially without Saros.
There is a real possibility that Josi plays as soon as game 3.
Fiala may not risk it with RFA status but he could become available too... the Blues have found their playoff form, very hard to beat.

Any words on Hischier, Meier and Suter?
I really hope Moser/Siegenthaler/Kukan join because if not, the miss of Diaz would look even more stupid..

ps. Shame on some of you for doubting Ambühl. Still one of the most skilled players in the league, as well as a great leader and role model.