Upcoming World Championships...a big letdown?

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octopi

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Dec 29, 2004
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Well, with all the star Swedish players that have already said they're not going to Worlds, I guess we can count Sweden out as a contender. We can probably expect more of this from all the other countries as well. Canada will almost certainly end up with the deepest team, and will probably blow everyone else out of the water. Some of you may be okay with that, but personally, I'd like to see a competitive tournament.
 

Tb0ne

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Nov 29, 2004
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I think this tourney could be a "glimpse of things to come" in that many teams traditional stars either have not been playing this year or are injured.

Many teams will have to go with youthful lineups, which definatly won't be a bad thing, it will just be a preview of things to come.
 

HF2002

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octopi said:
Well, with all the star Swedish players that have already said they're not going to Worlds, I guess we can count Sweden out as a contender. We can probably expect more of this from all the other countries as well. Canada will almost certainly end up with the deepest team, and will probably blow everyone else out of the water. Some of you may be okay with that, but personally, I'd like to see a competitive tournament.
A couple of points:

- Sweden was never a contender, even with their best line up. Sweden is grossly overrated.

- Canada always has the most depth
 

Epsilon

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Oct 26, 2002
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HF2002 said:
A couple of points:

- Sweden was never a contender, even with their best line up. Sweden is grossly overrated.

That's ridiculous. Sweden's best lineup can play with and beat anyone. Their problem is that anyone can beat them as well.
 

arrbez

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Jun 2, 2004
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HF2002 said:
A couple of points:

- Sweden was never a contender, even with their best line up. Sweden is grossly overrated.


on paper (other than in net), Sweden SHOULD be a contender every time in best-on-best competition, but they just never are
 

HF2002

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ice berg slim said:
Umm didn't sweden make it to the finals the last couple of years? :huh:
What does that have to do with me saying that they aren't a contender this year?

Sweden is seriously overrated. When have they ever won anything of significance when the best players all have the opportunity to play (ie Canada Cup, World Cup, Olympics)?

They've got their golden generation right now and this generation is closing in on retirement. Who are the young guns for Sweden?
 

Epsilon

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HF2002 said:
What does that have to do with me saying that they aren't a contender this year?

Sweden is seriously overrated. When have they ever won anything of significance when the best players all have the opportunity to play (ie Canada Cup, World Cup, Olympics)?

They've got their golden generation right now and this generation is closing in on retirement. Who are the young guns for Sweden?

The young guns for Sweden have nothing to do with the strength of their top team NOW.
 

Art Vandelay

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HF2002 said:
What does that have to do with me saying that they aren't a contender this year?

Sweden is seriously overrated. When have they ever won anything of significance when the best players all have the opportunity to play (ie Canada Cup, World Cup, Olympics)?

They've got their golden generation right now and this generation is closing in on retirement. Who are the young guns for Sweden?

We will see what Team Sweden can do without their top players in this years World Championships. Since almost all our top players have turned down the national team this year.

Players not coming to the World Championships:
Mats Sundin: havent played in a year.
Markus Näslund: injured,tired etc.
Fredrik Modin: injured,tired etc.
Peter Forsberg: injured.
Mattias Öhlund: havent played, his son is sick.
Dick Tärnström: is becoming a father.
Michael Nylander: injured,tired etc.
Kristian Huselius: suspended.
Marcus Ragnarsson: havent played. (5 games)
Andreas Johansson: injured.
Thomas Holmström: injured.
Henrik Tallinder: suspended
Andreas Lilja: suspended.
Nicklas Lidström: havent played.
 

TORRUS

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May 31, 2004
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octopi said:
Well, with all the star Swedish players that have already said they're not going to Worlds, I guess we can count Sweden out as a contender. We can probably expect more of this from all the other countries as well. Canada will almost certainly end up with the deepest team, and will probably blow everyone else out of the water. Some of you may be okay with that, but personally, I'd like to see a competitive tournament.

I personally totally disagree that Canada will blow everyone. That's exactly what's not going to happen. What depth are you talking about? About a depth that hasn't played hockey (except couple of charity games) for 10 months? I consider Russia, Finland and Czech republic much bigger contenders for the gold. And about Sweden, I agree with you. That's pitty...
 

Macman

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May 15, 2004
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TORRUS said:
I personally totally disagree that Canada will blow everyone. That's exactly what's not going to happen. What depth are you talking about? About a depth that hasn't played hockey (except couple of charity games) for 10 months? I consider Russia, Finland and Czech republic much bigger contenders for the gold. And about Sweden, I agree with you. That's pitty...

I agree it won't be a blowout because they never are. It's always close, but Canada does have tremendous depth. The fact they will still be able to ice a team capable of winning despite several no-shows, while a country like Sweden can't, pretty much says it all.

I agree that the Czechs and Russia have to be favoured because all of their top guys are playing, but Canada will be in the hunt. Don't forget that guys like Heatley, Thornton, Nash, St. Louis, Briere, Morrison, Lecavalier, Bouwmeester, Draper and Bergeron have been playing and that's a pretty strong nucleus.
 

wilka91*

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May 5, 2004
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Seriously, I don't think Canada is the favorite this time around. I never questioned Canada's status as the heavy favorite before the World Cup, but this time they may have a very hard time against the Czech Republic, Finland and Russia, although the Russians have a big question mark : the coach. Besides, Canada has never looked very convincing overseas as it draws a lot of energy and momentum from the Canadian crowd.

I was also disappointed to learn about the Swedish refusals, but if we look at Sweden's past results with Sundin, Forsberg and Lidstrom, all you get is three quarterfinal losses in the last 3 best on best tourneys. So this year's team might actually surprise everyone.

Finland is always a tough team to play against, and could win it all.

Russia is likely to have a much better team on paper than at the past World Cup, but Bilyaletdinov is a big time loser, and this team could end up playing like Ak Bars Kazan.

The Czechs are my personal HEAVY favorites.

There's Slovakia, but I don't think they have any chance against the big 6.
 

Macman

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May 15, 2004
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wilka91 said:
Besides, Canada has never looked very convincing overseas as it draws a lot of energy and momentum from the Canadian crowd.

I agree with everything you said except this. Canada has won something like 22 world senior championships in Europe and I believe 10 of its 12 world junior titles on foreign soil. I don't know how much more convincing a team can be.
 

SChan*

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HF2002 said:
A couple of points:

- Sweden was never a contender, even with their best line up. Sweden is grossly overrated.

This is the World championchips, and Sweden has been to the finals two years in a row. How is that NOT a contender? We are NOT talking about World Cup or olympics here.
 

Radomon

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Jun 1, 2004
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Won't Nylander play? I thought he would be like a replacement for Forsberg. Anyway, those who say Sweden aren't a contender doesn't know what they're talking about.
 

SChan*

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Radomon said:
those who say Sweden aren't a contender doesn't know what they're talking about.

Well the dude is seriously misinformed about the world championchips. Sweden has always had great tournaments there.
 

12# Peter Bondra

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Apr 15, 2004
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wilka91 said:
.

There's Slovakia, but I don't think they have any chance against the big 6.

I like it when we are the underdogs. We fair better being an underdog than being a favorite.

The WC's are in 1 month or so? I think they are from the 30th of April to the 15th of May.
 

SChan*

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wilka91 said:
Yeah, that's true, but it's a best on best, something we've never seen before.

Need I remind you of AK bars something :P

I think sweden could do very well of being the underdogs.
 

Macman

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May 15, 2004
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SectionX said:
I think sweden could do very well of being the underdogs.

This is very true. Sweden's big guns have never handled the pressure of being contenders, that much is obvious. Maybe sending guys who will have no expectations whatsoever will be a good thing.
 

wilka91*

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May 5, 2004
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SectionX said:
I think sweden could do very well of being the underdogs.

That's also my opinion. This time I don't think they'll end up losing in the quarters, even if they face Brodeur or Vokoun.
 
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