Tre Kronor Right Now

[teravaineSAROS]

He's #9 among TOI/GP, yeah, which he shouldn't even be close to, he'd be fine as a sheltered 2nd/3rd line dman. But is it hyperbole to say Risto maybe wouldn't crack Sweden's B-team in 5 years?

Swedish dmen that are around his age(+-4 years) that are clearly better right now and should be better in 5 years time:

Ekholm, Karlsson, Hedman, OEL, Klingberg, Klefbom, & Lindholm.

Dahlin will join that group, so we're at 8 dmen now.

What dmen look like they'll be better in 5 years time? There's Brännström as mentioned, Adam Boqvist is another, Rasmus Sandin could very well end up as better too, Erik Gustafsson if he can keep it up, Victor Söderström looks like a lock, Philip Broberg if he can take the next step, Helge Grans when it comes to 2020's.

And that's not to mention others who might step up too like Rasmus Andersson. Lets say only 50% of those become better than Risto, though, so we're at 13-14 dmen. I would say that's a maybe.

Besides, in 5 years time means you have to include projection.

Edit: That would have to mean Sweden would have a record breaking amount of 1st pair defensemen for Risto to not make the B-team

 

[Eye of Ra]

Edit: That would have to mean Sweden would have a record breaking amount of 1st pair defensemen for Risto to not make the B-team

Well...

A-team.

Hedman - Ekholm
OEL - Karlsson
Lindholm - Klingberg

B-team.

Dahlin - Larsson
Klefbom - Hjalmarsson
Strålman - Brodin

C-team.

Gustafsson - Edler
Nemeth - Ristolainen
R.Andersson - M.Pettersson

 

[teravaineSAROS]

Well...

A-team.

Hedman - Ekholm
OEL - Karlsson
Lindholm - Klingberg

B-team.

Dahlin - Larsson
Klefbom - Hjalmarsson
Strålman - Brodin

C-team.

Gustafsson - Edler
Nemeth - Ristolainen
R.Andersson - M.Pettersson

Right so I wouldn't put Larsson that far up high on a B-team unless he picks it up again. It looks like you're talking about what today's team would look like rather than in 5 years so I would say today Risto would be ahead of Dahlin on the chart as we've seen in Buffalo's deployment because Dahlin's still very young and shouldn't be forced to play too much until he's properly conditioned for it (obviously Risto definitely shouldn't be playing #1D minutes either but he's closer to his physical prime).

Brodin would be in the first pairing for me. I would put Hjalmarsson/Strålman/Ristolainen at around the same tier so who you're using depends on what you need to use them for.

Hard to assess Gustafsson until we see if he consistently keeps it up or even progresses.

So the A-team is established. the B team would for me be something like:

Klefbom - Brodin
Hjalmarsson - Ristolainen
Strålman - Larsson/Dahlin

You could switch up the pairings in many ways depending on matchups and all that.

Edit: forgot Klefbom

 

[theslatcher]

Klefbom right now is better than Strålman, Larsson, Dahlin, Risto, etc. I'd like to see the argument why he isn't because I can't think of anything.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Right so I wouldn't put Larsson that far up high on a B-team unless he picks it up again. It looks like you're talking about what today's team would look like rather than in 5 years so I would say today Risto would be ahead of Dahlin on the chart as we've seen in Buffalo's deployment because Dahlin's still very young and shouldn't be forced to play too much until he's properly conditioned for it (obviously Risto definitely shouldn't be playing #1D minutes either but he's closer to his physical prime).

Brodin would be in the first pairing for me. I would put Hjalmarsson/Strålman/Ristolainen at around the same tier so who you're using depends on what you need to use them for.

Hard to assess Gustafsson until we see if he consistently keeps it up or even progresses.

So the A-team is established. the B team would for me be something like:

Hjalmarsson - Brodin
Strålman - Ristolainen
Dahlin - Larsson

You could switch up the pairings in many ways depending on matchups and all that.

Looks like how I would imagine it. I think Heiskanen and Lindell would be above the B group if finns allowed.

 

[teravaineSAROS]

Klefbom right now is better than Strålman, Larsson, Dahlin, Risto, etc. I'd like to see the argument why he isn't because I can't think of anything.

Ah i forgot Klefbom