I think that Kenny Jonsson is severly underrated by people that haven't seen him play and might think that all good players are in the NHL. His only downside is that he's very injury prone and that one more concussion would force him to retire. Jonsson is today a much better hockey player than he was 5 or 10 years ago. Top5 in the world? Yes, that is not as crazy as it sounds for somebody who hasn't watch him play the last 3-4 years or so. He is definately top 15 in the world, at least. Jonssons biggest assests is his hockey sense, that is only second to Lidstrom of todays defenders, and his mobility. He can also log a huge amount of ice time and is a good leader.
Edler is a good talent but I doubt that he'll make the OG roster. He was cleary the worst player on Team Sweden last WCH. And anybody saying Edler is better than Jonsson is for me pure NHL/Vancouver or the here so famous "younger is better"-homerism. There is no coincidence that most OG rosters are made up of players around the age of 30. They are usually in their prime then.
I think these players are locks:
Lidstrom
K. Jonsson
Kronwall
Ohlund
These are very likely:
Ragnarsson
Murray
Enstrom
K. Johnsson
Tallinder
These are a long shot: (If they don't develop rapidly this autumn)
Stralman
Edler
J. Ericsson
Hjalmarsson
Lilja
M. Johansson
N. Wallin
Havelid
Grossman
My pick would be:
Lidstrom, Ohlund, K. Jonsson, Ragnarsson, Kronwall, Murray
And yes, Ragnarsson is almost as underrated as K. Jonsson. He is right now a much better defensman that Edler, Stralman, Enstrom etc. Of the younger guys I think Grossman might have a chance to get a spot if he succeeeds in this WCH.
Ohlund actually beat jonsson in a poll 3 months ago of who is the better d.
Edler belongs in the more likely or even lock category.
Edler>>Enstrom and tallinder combined.
Edler>Murray
Edler is better than enstrom and tallinder combined while also better than murray who is better physically though.
The person who commented above doesn't even know what he is talking about, jonsson in a different league than edler?
Id bet if edler was playing in the same league as jonsson is, you guys would easily change your mind and opinion about edler.
Edler was the worst player in that last year WCH because he was basically worn out, from playing top minutes for the canucks injury proned d, and 2 years before he wasn't even in the nhl, he was in ahl's farm team.
If you watched you would know that edler is something special. He has the hardest shot even beating s.salo who is notabley has the hardest shot, on the pp look at how great his stats are, hes getting better each year and hes far younger than jonsson. He can hit hard, play physical, solid defensivally and has great he reminds me of a young lidstrom but obviously not better ofcourse. He's only 22 while jonsson is in his 30s.
I think you swedes need to watch the nhl more, and watch canucks players ohlund and edler more often and even watch kronvall, ericsson from detroit.
Edler is easily imo better than k.jonsson, and you swedes saying that hes a top 5 best player is downright laughable. If jonsson was so good why isn't he playing in the best league NHL now. Because he is old, injury proned.
The person who commented above me doesnt know what he is talking about.
K.jonsson isn't in edler's league imo, edler is far the better player, and k.jonsson is only better defensivally by not much. I actually like k.jonsson i was a huge fan of his when he played for the islanders to bad he was injury proned. Edler is playing in the better league, and you guys don't watch him, kronvall and ohlund that much because they are easily the top 3 swedish d behind lidstrom.
Edler will have a huge chance to play for the olympics in vancouver in 2010, where he's playing great hockey representing that city.
Best swedes defenseman currently are in order
1.Lidstrom
2.Ohlund/Kronvall
3.Kronvall/Ohlund
4.Edler
5.Jonsson
6.K.johnsson
7.Enstrom
8.Murray
9.Tallinder
10.Havelid/Oduya
Heck I would even say that k.johnsson, murray and enstrom are better than jonsson but I wouldn't rank them highter than jonsson because you swedes will get offended.
