WJC: 2024 WJC20 Switzerland roster talk

[Speyer]

I think it's probably a bit of both and I don't think you can fault him for either.

This may very well be some sort of a revenge for how the SIHF treated him. Him literally playing in the same facility as the Swiss WJC20 but not taking part is the ultimate way to rub it in

The SIHF clowns who stupidly extended their head clown despite zero results must be cooking

I don't think he's as big of a loss as you think though. Bünzli is probably a bit of a left field selection but all other 9 defensemen at camp totally deserve to be on this WJC20 roster. Even Bünzli has played well for Switzerland previously. I don't think they're gonna select more than 8 defensemen for the WJC20. Maybe just 7. I also don't think they're gonna count Dionicio as a forward so that means at least one defenseman with solid pro experience is gonna get cut despite Bichsel not playing. Could be more than one. I also think that David Moser and Joan Kyburz would be deserving of a WJC20 spot but they didn't even make the camp roster. Moser would have been one of few righties and has done quite well in the SL even last season already. Kyburz has become a regular in Sweden's top junior league as an 18yo.

So even with Bichsel out there's still huge competition for the defense slots on the Swiss WJC20 slots. I also don't think the selected defensemen are necessarily gonna be less solid than Bichsel...with the exception of Dionicio maybe depending on which face of his we're gonna see. The other defensemen, again with the exception of Dionicio, won't be able to create offense from the backend the way Bichsel would have but I don't think we have the team to power through opponents anyway (with the exception of Norway maybe) so a solid teamgame is probably the way to go and not smothering offense. The team is really gonna miss Bichsel's physicality and his ability to keep possession, hold onto pucks though. That can be a factor but without a dominant goalie and elite forward talent this team isn't gonna go anywhere anyway so I honestly don't care much. That's why I was always pretty indifferent re Bichsel's participation. I thought he was gonna play for sure but him not participating opens up a slot for another very good defensemen and allows all defensemen on the roster to get more icetime.

I agree that we wouldn't be able to get any further in the tournament with him. Historically dynamic forwards à la Nino, Hischier or even Kurashev could always elevate our U20 teams more than any dman, even Josi. But having a 6'5 monster on the backend that can eat 20+ minutes of ice time, play special teams and move the puck will always make you more competitive. And there is also the lingering danger of relegation. Granted I don't expect for the team to get sent down. Even if we loose to Norway, I see us as favorites against Latvia or Germany. But you never know. I certainly have not much confidence in Jenni outcoaching the opposition. And we are also not that far ahead of those nations in terms of talent that its a sure thing to win a relegation series. I'd rather go into such games with Bichsel on the roster. Here his puck moving ability could really come into play. And lets not forget that those teams have the edge against us when it comes to size. So we are loosing an important equalizer in that department too.

 

[Hinterland]

I agree that we wouldn't be able to get any further in the tournament with him. Historically dynamic forwards à la Nino, Hischier or even Kurashev could always elevate our U20 teams more than any dman, even Josi. But having a 6'5 monster on the backend that can eat 20+ minutes of ice time, play special teams and move the puck will always make you more competitive. And there is also the lingering danger of relegation. Granted I don't expect for the team to get sent down. Even if we loose to Norway, I see us as favorites against Latvia or Germany. But you never know. I certainly have not much confidence in Jenni outcoaching the opposition. And we are also not that far ahead of those nations in terms of talent that its a sure thing to win a relegation series. I'd rather go into such games with Bichsel on the roster. Here his puck moving ability could really come into play. And lets not forget that those teams have the edge against us when it comes to size. So we are loosing an important equalizer in that department too.

The only way we get relegated with this team is if something happens to Huet. With Beglieri or Grüter in net we're gonna need a lot of luck to stay up

Should we get relegated with Huet in net then the coaches deserve to get fired on the spot.

 

[Speyer]

The only way we get relegated with this team is if something happens to Huet. With Beglieri or Grüter in net we're gonna need a lot of luck to stay up

Should we get relegated with Huet in net then the coaches deserve to get fired on the spot.

We will see. I don't think its likely either but again I doesn't take that much to loose a series vs Germany if it should come to it. We can't just take it for granted to win such a series especially with our coaching staff. And lets not kid ourselves. Nobody is getting fired from the SIHF for doing anything short of assaulting the players physically. If the last few years of Swiss hockey have thought us anything then its this.

 

[Hinterland]

Beat the Germans twice but I don't think it means much. The exhibitions vs Sweden and Canada are gonna be more of a measuring stick.

 

[Hinterland]

Didn't get to watch a lot of the game but from what I saw, Weber and Taibel were among the worst forwards. Weber was particularly sloppy with giveaways, offsides etc. Taibel was the one who gifted the Swedes the victory when he lost control of the puck at the blueline with Huet already pulled. Hopefully it's just rust and they're actually healthy.

Dionicio was extremely dominant with the puck but his dumb penalty gifted Sweden a goal as well.

I don't know if he ever actually played Center but if Rico Gredig is the best plan the coaches have for the 4C job then they probably should have invited Pont and Dorthe to camp

I'm not sure if smallish and soft one way winger Simon Meier is the ideal 4th liner for such a tournament.

As an underdog it would be helpful to have a big and defensively strong 3rd line as well...especially with players like Simon Meier on the 4th line. I'm not sure players like Reber or Reinhard necessarily fit that description. Endo Meier more so but I'm not sure he's even good enough for such a tournament.

On defense, no Quinn or Schneller meant not a single RD in the lineup. Hopefully just an experiment. Especially Schneller has to be a regular. Would be nice to have Moser on the roster, eh? Oh well.

The results are good. Beat the Germans twice and a narrow loss vs Sweden but I still don't see the plan. There's no structure in this roster. It doesn't make sense.

 

[Hinterland]

Horrible game by Beglieri. 3 of 6 goals against clearly his fault. Why is he on the roster again? Just because he's 04 born?
Füllemann had the great pass to Muller's shorty but was caught out of position defensively several times. I think he was at least partly responsible for two goals against. Best player for Switzerland was Miles Muller. Great against the puck and was also driving offense quite a bit, got rewarded with a goal and a primary assist.

Braillard's injury is concerning though. That was a horrible boarding and him not returning to game makes it likely that he's concussed. Braillard is one of the guys Switzerland cannot afford to lose. The team is deep on defense but not so much on offense, especially when it comes to elite offensive skill. Braillard is one of very few difference makers.

 

[Kuracmugger]

Horrible game by Beglieri. 3 of 6 goals against clearly his fault. Why is he on the roster again? Just because he's 04 born?
Füllemann had the great pass to Muller's shorty but was caught out of position defensively several times. I think he was at least partly responsible for two goals against. Best player for Switzerland was Miles Muller. Great against the puck and was also driving offense quite a bit, got rewarded with a goal and a primary assist.

Braillard's injury is concerning though. That was a horrible boarding and him not returning to game makes it likely that he's concussed. Braillard is one of the guys Switzerland cannot afford to lose. The team is deep on defense but not so much on offense, especially when it comes to elite offensive skill. Braillard is one of very few difference makers.

He seemed alright at first but i noticed him not returning too. Forward depth will shrink even more if he‘s injured altough i didn‘t see him a lot in the first two games.

 

[Hinterland]

I wonder if they're fighting some sort of a flu because Matteo Wagner, Alessandro Lurati and Eric Schneller all played neither of the two exhibitions in Sweden. We could do without the forwards but Schneller would, in my opinion, be quite the loss since we're already lacking righty defenders.

Assuming everybody's healthy, I'd still cut Bünzli on defense. I don't think Muggli, Ustinkov, Meile or Füllemann have been any good so if Schneller is healthy and if we give the double underagers a chance that means either Füllemann or Meile have to watch from the outside. Christe and Quinn have been solid from what I've seen. Unsurprisingly, Terraneo and Dionicio have been clearly better than the rest of the group. Unfortunately, upfront, the lone standout has been Miles Muller. Taibel and Weber look rusty, Reber was inconsistent and the rest of them have all been rather underwhelming. Even Braillard has been quiet until his injury. I really think they have to stop the Center experiments. Gredig is definitely not a Center. Endo Meier played some Center I believe but he's not a natural Center either. Plugging the middle with wingers that aren't even overly creative is just killing the team. It would be great to have Dorthe or Pont on the team but now they're not, 4 of Miles Muller, Jonas Taibel, Jamiro Reber, Mattheo Reinhard and Alessandro Lurati have to play down the middle. I get that this kinda prevents the coaches from front loading but they should have thought about that before naming the camp roster. The WJC20 isn't the place for wingers to learn how to play Center. So upfront I don't really care who's gonna get cut as long it's not one of the natural Centers.

 

[Speyer]

I wonder if they're fighting some sort of a flu because Matteo Wagner, Alessandro Lurati and Eric Schneller all played neither of the two exhibitions in Sweden. We could do without the forwards but Schneller would, in my opinion, be quite the loss since we're already lacking righty defenders.

Assuming everybody's healthy, I'd still cut Bünzli on defense. I don't think Muggli, Ustinkov, Meile or Füllemann have been any good so if Schneller is healthy and if we give the double underagers a chance that means either Füllemann or Meile have to watch from the outside. Christe and Quinn have been solid from what I've seen. Unsurprisingly, Terraneo and Dionicio have been clearly better than the rest of the group. Unfortunately, upfront, the lone standout has been Miles Muller. Taibel and Weber look rusty, Reber was inconsistent and the rest of them have all been rather underwhelming. Even Braillard has been quiet until his injury. I really think they have to stop the Center experiments. Gredig is definitely not a Center. Endo Meier played some Center I believe but he's not a natural Center either. Plugging the middle with wingers that aren't even overly creative is just killing the team. It would be great to have Dorthe or Pont on the team but now they're not, 4 of Miles Muller, Jonas Taibel, Jamiro Reber, Mattheo Reinhard and Alessandro Lurati have to play down the middle. I get that this kinda prevents the coaches from front loading but they should have thought about that before naming the camp roster. The WJC20 isn't the place for wingers to learn how to play Center. So upfront I don't really care who's gonna get cut as long it's not one of the natural Centers.

Jenni is pretty high on Schneller, so my guess would be a Covid/Influenza outbreak.

In other news: Braillard doesn't seem to be injured after the boarding he took from Celebrini and can partake in the tournament.

 

[Kuracmugger]

I wonder if they're fighting some sort of a flu because Matteo Wagner, Alessandro Lurati and Eric Schneller all played neither of the two exhibitions in Sweden. We could do without the forwards but Schneller would, in my opinion, be quite the loss since we're already lacking righty defenders.

Assuming everybody's healthy, I'd still cut Bünzli on defense. I don't think Muggli, Ustinkov, Meile or Füllemann have been any good so if Schneller is healthy and if we give the double underagers a chance that means either Füllemann or Meile have to watch from the outside. Christe and Quinn have been solid from what I've seen. Unsurprisingly, Terraneo and Dionicio have been clearly better than the rest of the group. Unfortunately, upfront, the lone standout has been Miles Muller. Taibel and Weber look rusty, Reber was inconsistent and the rest of them have all been rather underwhelming. Even Braillard has been quiet until his injury. I really think they have to stop the Center experiments. Gredig is definitely not a Center. Endo Meier played some Center I believe but he's not a natural Center either. Plugging the middle with wingers that aren't even overly creative is just killing the team. It would be great to have Dorthe or Pont on the team but now they're not, 4 of Miles Muller, Jonas Taibel, Jamiro Reber, Mattheo Reinhard and Alessandro Lurati have to play down the middle. I get that this kinda prevents the coaches from front loading but they should have thought about that before naming the camp roster. The WJC20 isn't the place for wingers to learn how to play Center. So upfront I don't really care who's gonna get cut as long it's not one of the natural Centers.

I disagree with you that Muggli hasn‘t been any good he played very good and calm for his age IMO and should be one of the best players at the wjc.

 

[Hinterland]

I disagree with you that Muggli hasn‘t been any good he played very good and calm for his age IMO and should be one of the best players at the wjc.

After a low percentage play, TSN announcers called Ustinkov a riverboat gambler. They easily could have said the same about Muggli as well. They were mostly solid against the puck but from what I saw Quinn, Christe, Terraneo and Dionicio were the only ones providing consistent controlled zone exits with the latter two being the only ones regularly creating offense from the back end. Over both games I thought Terraneo was clearly the best defenseman since Dionicio had a few turnovers vs Canada.

I think both Muggli and Ustinkov were fair taking into account the strength of the opponents and the fact that they're double underagers but I didn't think they've done enough to clearly separate themselves from the likes of Meile or Füllemann.

 

[Hinterland]

Jenni is pretty high on Schneller, so my guess would be a Covid/Influenza outbreak.

In other news: Braillard doesn't seem to be injured after the boarding he took from Celebrini and can partake in the tournament.

I hope you're right. I didn't think losing Bichsel was a huge deal but if Schneller is out as well that would be yet another skilled defenseman out. If the two exhibitions in Sweden proved anything then it's probably the importance of controlled zone exits against aggressive forecheck. Our defensemen are very good against the puck but they sometimes cripple themselves with turnovers if pressured. Eric Schneller might not be the strongest on the puck but he's a good skater with very good hands. And he's a righty. I wouldn't want too many lefties playing their off side at the WJC20, especially if they're not doing it regularly in club hockey.

Braillard has been surprisingly quiet in exhibitions but he's one of very few difference makers upfront. One of very few players I think this team cannot afford to lose. The only loss that would be signifantly worse is Huet. Beglieri is brutal and he proved it once again vs Canada. Unfortunately, Grüter isn't any better. Didn't make any blatant mistakes during the few minutes he got vs Canada but lost his net for no particular reason a number of times. Reminds me a lot of Kevin Pasche. Both righties and good athletes but small and horrible positioning. Not a very promising combination. For some funny reasons, Pasche seems to be doing well these days but I don't know for how long it's gonna last and I don't think he should be a role model for goalie prospects. Way too nervous and unorthodox.

 

[Hinterland]

This is stupid. Apparently Lurati and Schneller are injured but that means two more righties gone. Lurati was also one of just five natural Centermen and one of very few bigger players on the camp roster.

Hornecker I didn't think was the worst forward and he scored a goal as well but I can live with this. Meile I thought has always been good internationally for Switzerland but I didn't like his exhibition performances and I don't think he's having a good season either. I can live with this as well. Why would you cut Benjamin Quinn though? Willingly head into an international tournament without a single righty defender? You're kidding yourself if you think that this won't get exposed. Quinn hasn't been outstanding but easily one of the more solid defensemen vs Canada. With Moser not even at the camp and Schneller injured it makes zero sense to cut him, especially with Bünzli still on the roster. And if you're really in love with Bünzli, might as well just cut another forward and carry 8 defensemen. Dionicio can absolutely play forward if necessary.

 

[Hinterland]

So the exhibitions were good. Beat Germany twice, a narrow loss vs Sweden and a rather close 3-6 loss vs Canada that would have been extremely close or even a win with Huet in goal because Beglieri gave up three softies.

Still don't see the plan though. Exhibition isn't the same as competition. The roster doesn't make sense. Coaches selected the wrong players all across the board from goalies to forwards.

 

[kudla]

So the exhibitions were good. Beat Germany twice, a narrow loss vs Sweden and a rather close 3-6 loss vs Canada that would have been extremely close or even a win with Huet in goal because Beglieri gave up three softies.

Still don't see the plan though. Exhibition isn't the same as competition. The roster doesn't make sense. Coaches selected the wrong players all across the board from goalies to forwards.

What are your expectations from the team ?

 

[Speyer]

This is stupid. Apparently Lurati and Schneller are injured but that means two more righties gone. Lurati was also one of just five natural Centermen and one of very few bigger players on the camp roster.

Hornecker I didn't think was the worst forward and he scored a goal as well but I can live with this. Meile I thought has always been good internationally for Switzerland but I didn't like his exhibition performances and I don't think he's having a good season either. I can live with this as well. Why would you cut Benjamin Quinn though? Willingly head into an international tournament without a single righty defender? You're kidding yourself if you think that this won't get exposed. Quinn hasn't been outstanding but easily one of the more solid defensemen vs Canada. With Moser not even at the camp and Schneller injured it makes zero sense to cut him, especially with Bünzli still on the roster. And if you're really in love with Bünzli, might as well just cut another forward and carry 8 defensemen. Dionicio can absolutely play forward if necessary.

It is what it is. I actually don't hate Bünzli as a prospect. If he hadn't lost a year of development he might be an absolute lock for the tournament. But he did. And as you said, Quinn was one of the better defensemen in the exhibition games and would have deserved the spot more. The lack of size and good two way players in the forward corps is also concerning. But its Jenni we are talking about. His selection practices have always been strange, already at the U18 level. I am not even getting upset by it anymore. We just have to accept it going forward.

 

[Hinterland]

What are your expectations from the team ?

4th place and quarterfinal loss most certainly

If something happens to Huet, the team might as well get relegated. Otherwise the team should be able to beat Norway and keep the game vs Slovakia tight as they almost always are. For Switzerland to win I think Slovakia would have to use a goalie not named Gajan though. The US and the Czech should be too strong though you never know with the US since I don't like their goalies much.

 

[Hinterland]

So based on exhibitions and the final cuts I expect the team to line up like this:

Ewan Huet (05)
Lorin Grüter (04)
Alessio Beglieri (04)

Simone Terraneo (04) "A", Rodwin Dionicio (04)
Gaël Christe (04), Leon Muggli (06)
Daniil Ustinkov (06), Timo Bünzli (05)
Louis Füllemann (04)

Julien Rod (04), Miles Muller (04) "A", Grégory Weber (04)
Léo Braillard (05), Jonas Taibel (04) "C", Thierry Schild (04)
Jamiro Reber (06), Mattheo Reinhard (04), Endo Meier (05)
Simon Meier (05), Rico Gredig (05), Timo Jenni (04)
Matteo Wagner (05)










...

Just for fun, here's what I'd line up:

Phileas Lachat (06)
Elijah Neuenschwander (06)
Christian Kirsch (06)

Simone Terraneo (04) "A", Rodwin Dionicio (04)
Gaël Christe (04), David Moser (04)
Joan Kyburz (06), Benjamin Quinn (04)
Daniil Ustinkov (06), Leon Muggli (06)

Léo Braillard (05), Jonas Taibel (04) "C", Thierry Schild (04)
Rico Gredig (05), Miles Muller (04) "A", Andro Kaderli (05)
Grégory Weber (04), Jamiro Reber (06), Jordan Forget (06)
Yannik Ponzetto (06), Jan Dorthe (05), Endo Meier (05)



explanation:

1.) I agree with Jenni on the top line and the top defense pairing. After that, not on all that much

2.) My team would be much younger but I actually think it would be better. Surely it would have a more logical roster structure with more righties, bigger players and more two way players. I'm not sure selecting a roster of a all lefty defenders and pretty much all smallish and skilled wingers upfront does make a lot of sense. I still don't see the plan.

3.) Jenni selected two extremely poor and useless 04 born goalies. I've got nothing bad to say about Huet but I believe the double underager goalies are just better. They're certainly more talented.

4.) I'd go with an 8/12 skater split. Firstly, do be able to roll out four pairs and lines each. Secondly, because Dionicio can play forward as well.

5.) There are no righty defenders on the roster. The Schneller injury is quite the blow and means Quinn and Moser have to be on the roster. I actually believe they're better than some of the selected ones anyway.

6.) There are too many nothing players on the roster, so you might as well go with double underagers who are the more promising class. On defense, I don't think Bünzli is better than Kyburz. Nick Meile is a highly regarded player who, rightfully, got cut. The same should have been done with Füllemann. If we select 04 born players, they have to be difference makers, not liabilities. Upfront, the same goes for Rod, Jenni and Wagner though the latter is 05 born. These are nothing players. Mattheo Reinhard and Simon Meier are great prospect and good players...for a different team. I don't think they fit in. This team needs more two way players and more size upfront. Ponzetto is lanky but tall and he can play big. Much better option for the 4th line than Jenni or Simon Meier. Andro Kaderli is a big and solid righty and, in my view, the ideal right wing man for Miles Muller, who I'd use in more of a shutdown role. Therefore, I don't think playing him with Weber does make much sense.

7.) This team needs more natural Centers who can win faceoffs and have an idea how to drive play and play against the puck. Rico Gredig is a great player but a winger, not a Center. I'd move him up from 4C to Muller's wing. Jan Dorthe does win faceoffs, he's gritty and he's rock solid against the puck...minus a few dumb penalties maybe. Much better 4C option than Gredig. I like having Jamiro Reber on the roster but he's a Center, not a Winger. He'll be much more efficient down the middle. Him and Forget had success in international games before. Plus, it might be a good chance for Forget to get going again.

 

[Hinterland]

Schild is kind of a left field pick. Surprising.

It was well justified but since he always was one of the A's, the Meile cut was a huge surprise to me.

When he did get cut I thought for sure that Terraneo was gonna get Meile's "A". He'd have been the logical pick. You normally give at least one defenseman a letter and Terraneo isn't just the team's best and most experienced defenseman. He also wore a letter for Switzerland many times before, even captained teams previously.

Certainly an interesting decision to pick three forwards for your leadership group.

 

[Hinterland]

The big question is though where the heck were Matteo Wagner and Ewan Huet. Do the Swiss mickey mouse coaches really see Huet as their nr.3 now and if so, what happened? Huet was the nr.1 in camp and he clearly outplayed Beglieri in exhibitions.


Wagner is a curious case as well since he's a perma scratch. Didn't play any of the exhibition games, still didn't get cut and now sat out vs Slovakia as well. If he's sick or injured, why keep him on the roster and cut a healthy forward instead? Or is he the team's designated press box Nacho tester?

Copied from the game thread, I just find it very strange.

I also noticed Terraneo barely played. Then I checked the stats and he played just over 10mins. Only Reber played less. Terraneo is this team's best and most experienced defenseman. Something really shady going on here...

 

[Hinterland]

The US are really exploiting the weaknesses of this team I already pointed out ahead of the tournament. The coaches decided to select a team of small speedsters, probably an attempt to make up for the lack of high end skill on the team. That worked beautifully vs Slovakia and I think they'll dominate even strength play vs Norway the same way.

However, when they can't just outpace their opponents and dominate possession like today then they don't really have enough players with two way qualities. They're losing all the battles as well because the US are just bigger and stronger. I feel like the US are dominating faceoffs as well, something the Slovaks were very poor at. That's when it really hurts to not have a natural Center on every line. You end up chasing the pucks and that's something the Swiss don't have the players for.

I already said enough about the goalies but I'd bet a lot that after the first two games, the mickey mouse coaches are totally convinced Alessio Beglieri should be their clear cut nr.1

 

[aonb]

The US are really exploiting the weaknesses of this team I already pointed out ahead of the tournament. The coaches decided to select a team of small speedsters, probably an attempt to make up for the lack of high end skill on the team. That worked beautifully vs Slovakia and I think they'll dominate even strength play vs Norway the same way.

However, when they can't just outpace their opponents and dominate possession like today then they don't really have enough players with two way qualities. They're losing all the battles as well because the US are just bigger and stronger. I feel like the US are dominating faceoffs as well, something the Slovaks were very poor at. That's when it really hurts to not have a natural Center on every line. You end up chasing the pucks and that's something the Swiss don't have the players for.

I already said enough about the goalies but I'd bet a lot that after the first two games, the mickey mouse coaches are totally convinced Alessio Beglieri should be their clear cut nr.1

I would be able to watch a game against Norway. Who is your best offensive player in this tournament and overall?

 

[Hinterland]

I would be able to watch a game against Norway. Who is your best offensive player in this tournament and overall?

Well, Grégory Weber has the most points but I don't think he's the best offensive player. Normally that would be Léo Braillard but he's been kinda invisible so far. Doesn't have any points yet but Miles Muller has been the team's best forward both offensively and defensively. The most talented forward is probably double underager Jamiro Reber. The most dangerous defenseman is Rodwin Dionicio.

...but again...this is mainly a deep team without star players.


I think the Swiss team will dominate Norway at even strength but there's a pretty good chance they still lose the game. I strongly suspect that Beglieri will get the start...which would be a problem. The Swiss special teams are really bad as well.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

I think the Swiss team will dominate Norway at even strength but there's a pretty good chance they still lose the game. I strongly suspect that Beglieri will get the start...which would be a problem. The Swiss special teams are really bad as well.

Norway put up a pretty good fight against the US, especially early on. I'm expecting a close battle between these two teams today

 

[Hinterland]

Norway put up a pretty good fight against the US, especially early on. I'm expecting a close battle between these two teams today

Norway does not have the speed to keep up with Switzerland at even strength. The Swiss even outpaced Slovakia. The Swiss mickey mouse coaches went all speed and skill when selecting their team. There is almost no size or grit on this team. I do expect a close game though if Beglieri is in goal. He can't be trusted. If Switzerland doesn't play Huet I think Norway should be the favourite for this game.