Olympics: Your Country's 2022 Roster? (Assuming NHL participation)

[wingerdinger]

Good question We definetly have something to learn from other nations here.

1.
I think one reason is the lack of ice rinks and arenas here. If you see ice rinks by country. Canada: 2500, Sweden:330, Finland:240, USA:1800, Norway:50 However they have built some ice rinks here the later years and you can see good synergies fast when they open, new teams are established, the kids start playing etc.. We just have to few ice rinks here to really grow the sport. All ice rinks are full booked all the time so their is a uncovered demand for more ice rinks. I think this is a big bottleneck to grow the sport and recruit new players.

2.
Competion with other sports. Skiing, speed skating, soccer, handball ++. Those sports offer better career opurtunities and salaries here. If you're among the best skiiers or speed skaters here you'll become a national hero and millionaire. To get some attention as hockey player you have to be among the best in SHL or KHL but preferably play in the NHL.

3.
The national league here "Fjorkraftligaen" isn't of good quality those that are intersted in hockey prefer to watch NHL or maybe SHL on TV. Usually low attendance on the matches and low interst because of low quality. I think we have to improve the quality of our own league a lot to make more people interested in the sport.

+many more reasons

Thanks for the great response, I hope hockey can get a foot hold. It really should be able to become just as appealing as footie when it comes to team sports. Thou it may take a couple generations.

 

[jcs0218]

Stamkos and Tavares are certainly still playing at a level where both should be serious candidates for Team Canada 2022.

 

[jcs0218]

What size of ice surface are we talking here.?

I would assume international sized ice. 200 feet long by 100 feet wide.

From all my years of watching international sized ice being used, I think the emphasis on speed is over-rated. Especially since the length is the same as NHL sized ice. If the length was longer, then speed would become more of an issue, since the time spent skating to the offensive zone and on the back-check would be important issues.

For international sized ice. positional awareness is more important than speed. With the 15 extra feet in width, it becomes more important to have high IQ players who can play angles and lanes properly. Especially in the defensive end.

In the offensive end, the game becomes more more of a cycling game and much more peripheral. You need to have puck-moving players who excel playing these styles.

 

[wingerdinger]

Stamkos and Tavares are certainly still playing at a level where both should be serious candidates for Team Canada 2022.

Depends on how their skating holds up. Tavares in particular hasnt been impressing me. Stammer looks great since returning.

I'd rather bring the strongest skaters rather than the big names.

 

[Fjorden]

What size of ice surface are we talking here.?

Both sizez are allowed here(internatioanl and NHL). The older arenas about 90% are international size 30x60 m
The two best teams here Stavanger oilers and Vålerenga have built new arenas with NHL size 26x60 m.
So among the 10 teams in the top league "Fjordkraftligaen" 3 out of 10 teams play on NHL rinks and the 7 rest play on international rink size. Next year it will be 4 out of 10 teams playing on NHL rink when Asker finsish their new arena.So we see a slow shift towards more and more NHL rink size here.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

One guy that I can see see getting consideration for the U.S. blue line is Jeff Petry.

 

[GareFan18]

One guy that I can see see getting consideration for the U.S. blue line is Jeff Petry.

Definitely. He's played great recently. Really good options on the blue line -- Jones-Werenski, Carlson, Petry, Quinn Hughes. I think Jakob Chychrun could make the roster, too.

As for ice size, one of the rinks for the '22 Olympics is the home rink for Kunlun Red Star. I think it's 2 meters narrower than Olympic size. It'll be interesting to see if they make the two rinks uniform.

 

[Czechboy]

While not as impressive as the big 5, Seider for Germany or Josi for Switzerland... I will say that the Czech D is shaping up a little. Reasonable, as of today, to assume we will have 7 NHL D:
Hronek, Simek, Zboril (big surprise but having a good start), Rutta and Gudas are all regulars this year.
Add in Kempny (out for injury this season or at least most of it) and Hajek (taxi squad) and we could have an all NHL D. Not an elite one or anything but it's a start! Still hoping Masin makes his way back over and is the 8th guy. Nice mix of old and young.

 

[Gold Standard]

Definitely. He's played great recently. Really good options on the blue line -- Jones-Werenski, Carlson, Petry, Quinn Hughes. I think Jakob Chychrun could make the roster, too.

As for ice size, one of the rinks for the '22 Olympics is the home rink for Kunlun Red Star. I think it's 2 meters narrower than Olympic size. It'll be interesting to see if they make the two rinks uniform.

Chychrun already played for Canada at an IIHF event, therefore his only option is Team Canada. Unfortunately for him he isn't much of an option for Team Canada at the moment, but he's still got some development to do. so, that could change. It looks as though he's off to a decent start to this season.

 

[Claypool]

Ellis - Makar
Theodore - Pietrangelo
Chabot - Ekblad
Morrissey

Remember when Canada's defense used to be stacked with hall of famers? Sad what's happened to the country.

2002 Olympics

Pronger-Niedermayer
Blake-MacInnis
Foote-Jovanovski

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

Thanks for the great response, I hope hockey can get a foot hold. It really should be able to become just as appealing as footie when it comes to team sports. Thou it may take a couple generations.

Zuccarello has been huge for Norwegian hockey in a lot of different ways. I think it was really important for a lot of young Norwegian hockey players to see Zucca playing in the NHL and succeeding there. When he was at his peak with the Rangers, the Norwegian press always had updates on how he played, and there was a ton of people with Rangers gear that you'd see quite often. NYC is also a pretty popular destination in the US for Norwegians to travel to, so because he played there I think that also boosted his profile here as well as the NHL's and hockey in general.

Plus, he's like the most likeable guy ever. He just won an award at the Norwegian Sports Awards for Role Model of the Year for his efforts to make it easier for kids to play hockey, so he's doing a lot of grass roots stuff as well. And he really put Norway on his back to qualify for the 2018 Olympics, and that exposure helped. Great ambassador for the sport.

All that makes it easier for kids to get engaged and increases the talent pool, which hopefully increase the output level of young players.

Oslo just got a brand new ice hockey stadium as well. The old one was really old and pretty dismal, but an up-to-date facility should also help increase turnout to the games in Norway's biggest population center and hopefully interest in the sport.

Like NorwayIce said, there are a lot of obstacles for Norway, but I think the future looks pretty bright at the moment. We just have to hope Pettersen eventually makes the Flames and becomes as good as his Swedish namesake

 

[karhukissa]

Zuccarello has been huge for Norwegian hockey in a lot of different ways. I think it was really important for a lot of young Norwegian hockey players to see Zucca playing in the NHL and succeeding there. When he was at his peak with the Rangers, the Norwegian press always had updates on how he played, and there was a ton of people with Rangers gear that you'd see quite often. NYC is also a pretty popular destination in the US for Norwegians to travel to, so because he played there I think that also boosted his profile here as well as 0the NHL's and hockey in general.

Plus, he like the most likeable guy ever. He just won an award at the Norwegian Sports Awards for Role Model of the Year for his efforts to make it easier for kids to play hockey, so he's doing a lot of grass roots stuff as well. And he really put Norway on his back to qualify for the 2018 Olympics, and that exposure helped. Great ambassador for the sport.

All that makes it easier for kids to get engaged and increases the talent pool, which hopefully increase the output level of young players.

Oslo just got a brand new ice hockey stadium as well. The old one was really old and pretty dismal, but an up-to-date facility should also help increase turnout to the games in Norway's biggest population center and hopefully interest in the sport.

Like NorwayIce said, there are a lot of obstacles for Norway, but I think the future looks pretty bright at the moment. We just have to hope Pettersen eventually makes the Flames and becomes as good as his Swedish namesake

Great...this is exactly what we needed, Norway dominating another winter sport in few years Good to hear that things are getting better in Norway, i remember prime Thoresen and Olimb were always pain in the ass at the WHC. Lot of potential there to develop good NHL players, and you don't have to look too far for examples and ideas for developing hockey (SWE&FI).

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

Great...this is exactly what we needed, Norway dominating another winter sport in few years Good to hear that things are getting better in Norway, i remember prime Thoresen and Olimb were always pain in the ass at the WHC. Lot of potential there to develop good NHL players, and you don't have to look too far for examples and ideas for developing hockey (SWE&FI).

I can only imagine the meltdown that would occur in Sweden if Norway ever beat them in a major tournament.

Unfortunately, I think it's still a loooong, loooong way until that happens...

 

[BMann]

Maxim Noreau represented Canada at the 2018 Olympics and doesn´t have a swiss citizenship, at least according to eliteprospects. By Rochette you mean Theo Rochette? If so, he is a center, not a defender and choose to represent Canada internationally instead of his native Switzerland. Jonas Hiller has retired from national team. Otherwise the team might look like that for sure.

Not a chance Rochette ends up playing for Canada at a senior level. Bit silly to turn your back on the country where you were educated in the sport namely at Lausanne HC.

 

[DesertPenguin]

"Emphasis on two-way play". Get Toews and Dubois in the line-up, Toews is the reason McDavid is out of the playoffs. He is on the team for sure, and re-watch Dubois 2020 playoffs.

Huberdeau and Marner out. We need as many complete players as possible so we can play any system to counter any team. Everything matters even things like size/length.

Can you imagine Couturier, Toews and O'Reilly on a line together? The other team might as well play catch in their own end for a minute and change.

 

[Keke]

Patrik Laine - Aleksander Barkov - Mikko Rantanen
Roope Hintz - Sebastian Aho - Teuvo Teräväinen
Mikael Granlund - Anton Lundell - Kaapo Kakko
Artturi Lehkonen - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Joel Armia
Jesse Puljujärvi

Miro Heiskanen - Henri Jokiharju
Esa Lindell - Rasmus Ristolainen
Mikko Lehtonen - Sami Vatanen
Juuso Välimäki

Tuukka Rask
Juuse Saros/Joonas Korpisalo

 

[Eye of Ra]

Viktor Arvidsson - Elias Petterson - Filip Forsberg
Gabriel Landeskog - Nicklas Bäckström - William Nylander
Andre Burakovsky - Mika Zibanejad - Elias Lindholm
Victor Olofsson - William Karlsson - Patric Hörnqvist
Joel Eriksson Ek, Oskar Sundqvist

Victor Hedman - Rasmus Andersson
Jonas Brodin - John Klingberg
Rasmus Dahlin - Hampus Lindholm
OEL - Mattias Ekholm

Robin Lehner
Jacob Markstrom
Linus Ullmark

Yes, no Erik Karlsson. We already have full of offensive dmans, need some mixed players.

 

[TopCheese]

russia went from a glaring weakness on defence to a glaring weakness at center. They have malkin, then a bunch of 4th line quality centres. Wonder if they try converting one of there many great wingers to a center? Kucherov maybe?

 

[Elvs]

Viktor Arvidsson - Elias Petterson - Filip Forsberg
Gabriel Landeskog - Nicklas Bäckström - William Nylander
Andre Burakovsky - Mika Zibanejad - Elias Lindholm
Victor Olofsson - William Karlsson - Patric Hörnqvist
Joel Eriksson Ek, Oskar Sundqvist

Victor Hedman - Rasmus Andersson
Jonas Brodin - John Klingberg
Rasmus Dahlin - Hampus Lindholm
OEL - Mattias Ekholm

Robin Lehner
Jacob Markstrom
Linus Ullmark

Yes, no Erik Karlsson. We already have full of offensive dmans, need some mixed players.

I think EK65 is gonna make the team regardless of how bad he performs, unfortunately.

 

[Columbus Jack]

Viktor Arvidsson - Elias Petterson - Filip Forsberg
Gabriel Landeskog - Nicklas Bäckström - William Nylander
Andre Burakovsky - Mika Zibanejad - Elias Lindholm
Victor Olofsson - William Karlsson - Patric Hörnqvist
Joel Eriksson Ek, Oskar Sundqvist

Victor Hedman - Rasmus Andersson
Jonas Brodin - John Klingberg
Rasmus Dahlin - Hampus Lindholm
OEL - Mattias Ekholm

Robin Lehner
Jacob Markstrom
Linus Ullmark

Yes, no Erik Karlsson. We already have full of offensive dmans, need some mixed players.

OEL really going to be Sweden's 7th Dman??

 

[Eye of Ra]

OEL really going to be Sweden's 7th Dman??

Well we got many good dmans. Seems like he is getting worse and worse each year.

 

[Columbus Jack]

Well we got many good dmans. Seems like he is getting worse and worse each year.

Crazy to think considering what his career path has been. I bet him and EK start for Sweden based off reputation alone

 

[waitin425]

Canada as of Today....

MacKinnon - McDavid - Marner - elite scary speed plus elite skill....All three can score like maniacs...only concern is someone to do the dirty work but they may not need it...could bring Stone up here to work the corners
Marchand - Crosby - Bergeron - Nothing needs to be said about this trio
Stamkos - Tavares - Barzal - Stamkos will be a deadly finisher
ROR - Point - Stone - Perfect shut down line
Huberdeau and Schiefele are your extras

Pietrangelo - Makar - veteran keadership with you superstar
Reilly - Weber - Weber is still a dominating force in front of the net. His leadership is needed and he has a bomb from the point
Theodore - Doughty - speedy offensive minded D pair
Morrisey

Price
Hart
Binnington

 

[Czechboy]

Canada as of Today....

MacKinnon - McDavid - Marner - elite scary speed plus elite skill....All three can score like maniacs...only concern is someone to do the dirty work but they may not need it...could bring Stone up here to work the corners
Marchand - Crosby - Bergeron - Nothing needs to be said about this trio
Stamkos - Tavares - Barzal - Stamkos will be a deadly finisher
ROR - Point - Stone - Perfect shut down line
Huberdeau and Schiefele are your extras

Pietrangelo - Makar - veteran keadership with you superstar
Reilly - Weber - Weber is still a dominating force in front of the net. His leadership is needed and he has a bomb from the point
Theodore - Doughty - speedy offensive minded D pair
Morrisey

Price
Hart
Binnington

Reilly? Which one do you have on the 2nd pair of Team Canada? The only one I can think of is Morgan Reilly????

Marner on line 1, Reilly in top 4, Tavarres as 3C... any chance you're a Leaf Fan?

 

[Zippy316]

Canada as of Today....

MacKinnon - McDavid - Marner - elite scary speed plus elite skill....All three can score like maniacs...only concern is someone to do the dirty work but they may not need it...could bring Stone up here to work the corners
Marchand - Crosby - Bergeron - Nothing needs to be said about this trio
Stamkos - Tavares - Barzal - Stamkos will be a deadly finisher
ROR - Point - Stone - Perfect shut down line
Huberdeau and Schiefele are your extras

Pietrangelo - Makar - veteran keadership with you superstar
Reilly - Weber - Weber is still a dominating force in front of the net. His leadership is needed and he has a bomb from the point
Theodore - Doughty - speedy offensive minded D pair
Morrisey

Price
Hart
Binnington

Price and Binnington are almost certainly locks. Price because he's consistently solid (and the only good veteran Canadien goalie left) and Binnington because his clutch playoff performance is absolutely going to win him a spot in a short tournament like this.

More of a general question, but what does Blackwood have to do to eclipse Hart?

Raw number wise they seem pretty even. Blackwood has arguably had better numbers accounting for team quality, but that doesn't mean much in a tournament like this. Seems like the biggest difference is Hart has posted solid numbers in big situations (NHL playoffs, WJC, WC) whereas Blackwood's biggest stage (WJC) he struggled mightily.