Would current best possible Team Sweden be a threat in best on best tournament? On paper.

[Three On Zero]

Does that automatically make Team Canada/USA/Finland/Russia discussions NHL topics?

If you’re discussing a tournament solely involving active NHL players, then yes.

If you’re discussing a best in world which would sprinkle in international players, then no

 

[Eye of Ra]

Does that automatically make Team Canada/USA/Finland/Russia discussions NHL topics?

Well, you got what you wanted sir. The thread got moved to the international section.

 

[OskarOskarius]

Does Sweden still have a strong team for a best on best tourament? I know such a tournament wont happen for a while, but its fun to speculate.

Linus Ullmark
Jacob Markström
Anton Forsberg

Rasmus Dahlin - Gustav Forsling
Hampus Lindholm - Erik Karlsson
Victor Hedman - Rasmus Andersson

Jesper Bratt - Elias Pettersson - William Nylander
Gabriel Landeskog - Mika Zibanejad - Filip Forsberg
Viktor Arvidsson - Elias Lindholm - Andre Burakovsky
Joel Eriksson Ek - William Karlsson - Rickard Rakell


Its sad, but its time to admit that Bäckströms time is over.

I wouldn’t count Bäckström out. He can can work his way back.

 

[Deas]

Finland has only 1 elite defenseman in Heiskanen. He's the only one averaging more than 20 minutes. Sweden has 7 defensemen averaging 24+ minutes.

Been pointing this out for like two years in these conversations. Strange how some can’t acknowledge how insanse the difference of the D-corps of Fin and Swe are.

 

[Lartsaman]

Best-of-best Sweden would be one of the favourites to win the whole competition if one was held. I think thats crystal clear and thinking otherwise is just plain dumb....

 

[OskarOskarius]

Sweden does not do that. Even in best on best tournament we have swedish coaches. Always been like that and it sucks.

Forsberg and Z is not very strong, thats true, but they are not afraid to stick in their nose in the dirty areas.

Making changes in our D to get more defensive balance:

Dahlin - Ekholm
Brodin - Karlsson
Hedman - Lindholm

Hedman - A. Larsson
Pettersson - Karlsson
Dahlin - R. Andersson
H. Lindholm

Well balanced between playmaking and defense.

 

[smitty10]

Exactly, it’s an NHL discussion and not an international discussion

I'm going to agree with the other poster on this.

The topic at hand is Team Sweden. This is Sweden's national team that represents them at international tournaments.

There are NHL players who play in international tournaments. However, the discussion is not NHL related outside of the fact that the players on this particular roster happen to play in the NHL. It's regarding players representing their country at an international best-on-best tournament. AKA an international tournament.

 

[OskarOskarius]

Jesper Bratt - Elias Pettersson - William Nylander
Gabriel Landeskog - Mika Zibanejad - Filip Forsberg
Viktor Arvidsson - Elias Lindholm - Andre Burakovsky
Joel Eriksson Ek - William Karlsson - Rickard Rakell


Its sad, but its time to admit that Bäckströms time is over.

Well we have 5 healthy centers in topp 50 (among centers). Those are Pettersson, Zibanejad, Lindholm, Eriksson-Ek and W. Karlsson. But then there’s Bäckström…

I would move out W. Karlsson and Lindholm to the wings. Play Pettersson, Zibanejad, Bäckström and Eriksson-Ek at center. Fourth line center would be weaker but Lindholm and William Karlsson are good at the wing as well.

At left wing we have: Bratt, Forsberg, Burakosvky, Kempe, Rakell, Raymond in top 50. But Landeskog would be top 20 if healthy. Right wing Nylander, Arvidsson and Nyquist which is a lot weaker. So like I said we move Lindholm RW. Since LW is strong with Bratt, Forsberg, Burakovsky, Landeskog all being top players it makes sense moving Forsberg to the right.

Landeskog - Pettersson - Lindholm
Burakovsky - Zibanejad - Nylander
Bratt - Bäckström - Forsberg
W. Karlsson - Eriksson-Ek - Arvidsson

 

[Three On Zero]

I'm going to agree with the other poster on this.

The topic at hand is Team Sweden. This is Sweden's national team that represents them at international tournaments.

There are NHL players who play in international tournaments. However, the discussion is not NHL related outside of the fact that the players on this particular roster happen to play in the NHL. It's regarding players representing their country at an international best-on-best tournament. AKA an international tournament.

OP acknowledged it was based on NHL players, so it isn’t an international best on best. For example a NHL team Russia would look different than an international team Russia.

A true international best on best would need to open the doors for players who are outside the NHL/North America. Such as the Olympic and World Juniors

 

[Miro4Norris]

They could beat USA and Russia of the big 5 teams because US and Rus always choke. Canada and Jalonen's Finland would be pretty obvious final matchup

 

[OskarOskarius]

OP acknowledged it was based on NHL players, so it isn’t an international best on best. For example a NHL team Russia would look different than an international team Russia.

A true international best on best would need to open the doors for players who are outside the NHL/North America. Such as the Olympic and World Juniors

Russia is the only team among the elite teams that would have some players from outside NHL in a best on best

 

[Czechboy]

The Big 5 are extremely close and any of them could win a best on best and it wouldn't be a 'upset'. So yes, Sweden could win a best on best with their roster.

 

[Peiskos]

I'd say they'd have a chance, they would need some puck luck and things would have to go perfectly for them to win it but it wouldn't be impossible. I doubt anyone would be taking them lightly.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Been pointing this out for like two years in these conversations. Strange how some can’t acknowledge how insanse the difference of the D-corps of Fin and Swe are.

Its because Sweden have better offensive d-mans, which nobody denied but that Finland have better ds at defending. Being a d-man is first and firemost about defending, not having offensive skills. I would take Finlands d-corp over Swedens d-cop all days in week and twice on sundays. Im sure most people would agree with me.

 

[Eye of Ra]

They could beat USA and Russia of the big 5 teams because US and Rus always choke. Canada and Jalonen's Finland would be pretty obvious final matchup

Why would Sweden not have a chance against Czechia?

We have not seen Jalonen coach best possible team finland yet, so it remains to be seen.

Hedman - A. Larsson
Pettersson - Karlsson
Dahlin - R. Andersson
H. Lindholm

Well balanced between playmaking and defense.

I know Marcus Pettersson is doing great in NHL...but everytime he played for Tre Kronor he has been horrible. So no thanks to him. Ekholm is better.

 

[Eye of Ra]

The Big 5 are extremely close and any of them could win a best on best and it wouldn't be a 'upset'. So yes, Sweden could win a best on best with their roster.

Czechs could win it too. Strong forwards. You dont have to have full of world class offensive stars on backend, its enough just to have defenders playing it safe and follow a good system.

Im unsure about the czechs goalies thought....which 3 goales would Czechia send to best on best right now if there was one?

 

[wetcoast]

Its because Sweden have better offensive d-mans, which nobody denied but that Finland have better ds at defending. Being a d-man is first and firemost about defending, not having offensive skills. I would take Finlands d-corp over Swedens d-cop all days in week and twice on sundays. Im sure most people would agree with me.

Actually I'm pretty sure most wouldn't actually.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Actually I'm pretty sure most wouldn't actually.

Yeah most swedes would not agree. Homerism and hatred of the rivals is the answer.

 

[wetcoast]

Yeah most swedes would not agree. Homerism and hatred of the rivals is the answer.

I'm a neutral fan and think most other neutral people would take the Swedish defense over the Finnish one right now.

 

[Eye of Ra]

I'm a neutral fan and think most other neutral people would take the Swedish defense over the Finnish one right now.

You are not swedish? I seem to remember you where a Frölunda fan.

 

[Czechboy]

Czechs could win it too. Strong forwards. You dont have to have full of world class offensive stars on backend, its enough just to have defenders playing it safe and follow a good system.

Im unsure about the czechs goalies thought....which 3 goales would Czechia send to best on best right now if there was one?

My vote would be vanecek, vlejmelka and dostal

Our next trip is not much worse... Mrazek, Vladar and francouz

Dostal is our next big thing

 

[Eye of Ra]

My vote would be vanecek, vlejmelka and dostal

Our next trip is not much worse... Mrazek, Vladar and francouz

Dostal is our next big thing

Czechs have good tradition of good goalies, i remember Hasek, Chechmanek, Milan Hnilička, Prusek, Vokoun , Pavelec, Turek, Neuvirth...

 

[bobholly39]

Hedman on the 3rd pairing is insane lol.

Yeah they're definitely a threat....doesn't mean they'd win, but they'd be a threat. That defense is great. "On paper" Canada is always going to be #1 though

 

[Eye of Ra]

Hedman on the 3rd pairing is insane lol.

Yeah they're definitely a threat....doesn't mean they'd win, but they'd be a threat. That defense is great. "On paper" Canada is always going to be #1 though

I respect Canada. But an argument can be made that Russia and USA is just as good on paper.