Who are the best hockey nations in the world overall right now?

[Czechboy]

Imho, don’t think Russia would be able to win a true best on best. Their offense is great but they just don’t have the defensemen.

In reality Canada and USA would be massive favourites. Chances of anyone else winning a true best on best is less than 20% imo.

Side note: I think it's Canada as a slight favourite and then a 4 way tie for Gold Favs.

Russian D is not elite but their goalies are. Shesorkin, Sorokin, Vasi and Bob can cover up a few bad D mistakes.

Also, Russian D is getting much better.. Provo is awesome but on a bad team. Zub is very good and underrated. I love Sergachaev. Then you have a nice crew of support. Definitely not Swedish/US/Canada levels but their goalies are out of this world and their 3rd best goalie would arguabley be a starter for everyone else.

 

[Czechboy]

If you're not trolling you're lost. OEL ain't making team Sweden and Hedman is the best all around D man in the world. Hronek over Karlsson?... Yikes.

There are 5 high end countries capable of winning a true best on best. Based on actual rosters it looks like this. Then the Czechs are in a secondary tier alone then there are 3 more teams capable of competing but not winning anything significant.

1. Canada
2. USA
3. Sweden
4. Finland
5. Russia
Gap
6.Czechia
Gap
7. Switzerland
8. Germany
9. Slovakia
Gap
Everyone else.

There hasn't been a true best on best for 8 years. None of these other tournaments mean anything when actually evaluating the best hockey country. They are quite clearly 2 and actually the only country that can debatably be better than Canada if this was played in true best of 7 fashion.

As much as a true best on best tournament would be great I'd rather see USA Canada play an 8 game series.

I still can't agree with the second part. Putting US on same level of Canada when Canada has a vault full of Gold medals and they have nothing. I also have no idea why you think the US would dominate over Swedin/Finland/Russia in a best on best. They even lost to the Czechs at the last world cup. It's an amazing program with amazing players but it never wins at the senior level. 1996 is the last gold medal. I have no idea how that is posisble but that is a reality.

 

[Czechboy]

Wonder if other nations follow the lead. If nothing else.. the extraliga, liiga and sel are probably going to be much stronger leagues next season.

 

[FinPanda]

Wonder if other nations follow the lead. If nothing else.. the extraliga, liiga and sel are probably going to be much stronger leagues next season.

Finland ssid the same earlier. No playing in national team if you play in Russia next year.

 

[bert]

Imho, don’t think Russia would be able to win a true best on best. Their offense is great but they just don’t have the defensemen.

In reality Canada and USA would be massive favourites. Chances of anyone else winning a true best on best is less than 20% imo.

Russia has the best goalies and I think their D core is better than people think. Its not elite but they have some solid guys that can play in the D zone now. They dont have a number 1 but they have a capable top 4. Zub is an absolute rock that gives them another top 4.

Sergachev Provorov
Orlov Zub
Gavrikov Kulikov
Zadorov Romanov
Lyubushkin

Not a spectacular group but would be a very solid d core in the NHL. With their goalies and forwards thats a really good roster that could beat anyone.

Kaprizov Malkin Kucherov
Ovechkin Kuznetsov Panarin
Svechnikov Shipachyov Tarasenko
Buchnevich Namestinikov Barbashev
Nichushkin Barabanov Dadonov

Sergachev Provorov
Orlov Zub
Gavrikov Kulikov
Zadorov Romanov
Lyubushkin

Vasilevski
Shesterkin

 

[bert]

I still can't agree with the second part. Putting US on same level of Canada when Canada has a vault full of Gold medals and they have nothing. I also have no idea why you think the US would dominate over Swedin/Finland/Russia in a best on best. They even lost to the Czechs at the last world cup. It's an amazing program with amazing players but it never wins at the senior level. 1996 is the last gold medal. I have no idea how that is posisble but that is a reality.

That world cup was a hilariously bad USA roster and almost none of those players come back to play and they lost all their best players to the U 23 team any way. You actually dont think this is the second best team or the best? The depth is outrageous.

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[Czechboy]

That world cup was a hilariously bad USA roster and almost none of those players come back to play and they lost all their best players to the U 23 team any way. You actually dont think this is the second best team or the best? The depth is outrageous.

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[TD]J.T Miller[/TD]
[TD]Connor[/TD]
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[TD]Kreider[/TD]
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[TD]Norris[/TD]
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I think they are tied with Sweden/Finland/Russia... Has every USA roster been bad since 1996?

Of course this roster COULD win it.

Of course this roster COULD beat Sweden/Finland/Russia but in no way do I think those games would be blowouts and I think if the US played a 7 game series against any of them it would be 4-3.

The clearly better argument should only go to Canada who has won a lot of tournaments at the senior level and has some merit behind it.

I've been hearing this argument since 1996.

 

[bert]

I think they are tied with Sweden/Finland/Russia... Has every USA roster been bad since 1996?

Of course this roster COULD win it.

Of course this roster COULD beat Sweden/Finland/Russia but in no way do I think those games would be blowouts and I think if the US played a 7 game series against any of them it would be 4-3.

The clearly better argument should only go to Canada who has won a lot of tournaments at the senior level and has some merit behind it.

I've been hearing this argument since 1996.

I am Canadian, I think they should win but when I look at the rosters I really am not sure who is the best. However its definitely Canada or USA. Those other years dont matter this team is different its almost a decade since the last real best on best it has no relevance. Hughes paced at over 90 points and Norris paced for 45 goals and neither are even in the top 12 forwards.

I do think that Sweden is 3rd, Russia is 4th and Finland is 5th if you just look at the teams on paper.

 

[Czechboy]

I am Canadian, I think they should win but when I look at the rosters I really am not sure who is the best. However its definitely Canada or USA. Those other years dont matter this team is different its almost a decade since the last real best on best it has no relevance. Hughes paced at over 90 points and Norris paced for 45 goals and neither are even in the top 12 forwards.

I do think that Sweden is 3rd, Russia is 4th and Finland is 6th if you just look at the teams on paper.

You have FInland and that new generation 6th?

 

[bert]

You have FInland and that new generation 6th?

5th was a typo. Yes they aren't as strong as Russia or Sweden. Good enough to win but they still have the 3rd most talent of the 3

 

[Eye of Ra]

5th was a typo. Yes they aren't as strong as Russia or Sweden. Good enough to win but they still have the 3rd most talent of the 3

Finland has done much better than Sweden the recent years in U20. Your comment makes no sense.

 

[bert]

Finland has done much better than Sweden the recent years in U20. Your comment makes no sense.

Speaking of making no sense... U 20's are a single year that is very recent. This is best on best. Look at the rosters.... Swedens deeper and has a way better d core and goaltending.

Sweden

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[TD]Backstrom[/TD]
[TD]Raymond[/TD]
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[TD]Eriksson Ek[/TD]
[TD]Arvidsson[/TD]
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[TD]Karlsson[/TD]
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Finland

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[TD]Rantanen[/TD]
[TD]Barkov[/TD]
[TD]Hintz[/TD]
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[TD]Laine[/TD]
[TD]Aho[/TD]
[TD]Teravainen[/TD]
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[TD]Granlund[/TD]
[TD]Lundell[/TD]
[TD]Kapanen[/TD]
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[TD]Kakko[/TD]
[TD]Kotkaniemi[/TD]
[TD]Puljujarvi[/TD]
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[TD]Lehkonen[/TD]
[TD]Haula[/TD]
[TD]Armia[/TD]
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[TD]Kupari[/TD]
[TD]Donskoi[/TD]
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[TD]Lindell[/TD]
[TD]Ristolainen[/TD]
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[TD]Mikkola[/TD]
[TD]Hakanpaa[/TD]
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[TD]Maata[/TD]
[TD]Valimaki[/TD]
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[TD]Husso[/TD]
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[TD]Kahkonen[/TD]
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