WJC: Could a Top 10 NHL netminder lead...

[Eagle Eye Cherry]

either Latvia, Austria, Slovakia or Switzerland to a gold medal? Is it possible?

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[friction]

I think a healthy Switzerland with Luongo in net could do it. The other teams? I think that junior kids are still pretty good on breakaways, and there might be a lot of them. (Maybe Slovakia some years, but not this year)

 

[mlody841]

No way. Maybe a slight chance for Switzerland

 

[Thirty One]

no because they're over 20.








well I laughed.

 

[Spence334]

The swiss made it to the semis so with a NHL tender I think it is very possible

 

[Alfredsson11]

Perhaps Switzerland.

Other teams such as Latvia or Austria. No chance in Hell. Who would score the goals. Also NHL goalies playing on these teams would still get lit up, just not as bad.

 

[Titan124]

I definitely think a top 10 goalie could let Slovakia take gold. They have very strong forwards between Hossa, Gaborik, Palffy, and Demitra, as well as a bit of depth with Satan, Handzus, Stumpel, Zednik, and Kopecky.

But what really stands out to me is Slovakia's defense. The forwards are all old and don't seem to be being replaced, however they have a top defense core on paper with Visnovsky and Chara, which is complimented by Meszaros, Sekera, and Jurcina. Top 4 D Slovakia is one of the strongest teams in the tourney on paper, I'd put only Canada ahead of them.

If Slovakia had a top goalie this year I think they could do some serious damage, olympics in the future, however, I think they will be very, very weak.

 

[Alfredsson11]

I definitely think a top 10 goalie could let Slovakia take gold. They have very strong forwards between Hossa, Gaborik, Palffy, and Demitra, as well as a bit of depth with Satan, Handzus, Stumpel, Zednik, and Kopecky.

But what really stands out to me is Slovakia's defense. The forwards are all old and don't seem to be being replaced, however they have a top defense core on paper with Visnovsky and Chara, which is complimented by Meszaros, Sekera, and Jurcina. Top 4 D Slovakia is one of the strongest teams in the tourney on paper, I'd put only Canada ahead of them.

If Slovakia had a top goalie this year I think they could do some serious damage, olympics in the future, however, I think they will be very, very weak.

This thread is referring to the WJC.

 

[HSF]

either Latvia, Austria, Slovakia or Switzerland to a gold medal? Is it possible?

ya probably

you know in the movie Matrix where Neo dodges all those bullets ... everything would be slow-mo for the goalie

 

[SirKillalot]

No, even with Switzerland going to the semifinals. They just scored 1 goal. Even Luongo would let two goals in.

 

[pouskin74*]

I definitely think a top 10 goalie could let Slovakia take gold. They have very strong forwards between Hossa, Gaborik, Palffy, and Demitra, as well as a bit of depth with Satan, Handzus, Stumpel, Zednik, and Kopecky.

But what really stands out to me is Slovakia's defense. The forwards are all old and don't seem to be being replaced, however they have a top defense core on paper with Visnovsky and Chara, which is complimented by Meszaros, Sekera, and Jurcina. Top 4 D Slovakia is one of the strongest teams in the tourney on paper, I'd put only Canada ahead of them.

If Slovakia had a top goalie this year I think they could do some serious damage, olympics in the future, however, I think they will be very, very weak.

you mean old and wasted Satan,Palffy,Demitra,Zednik,Stumpel ?! all they got right now is just a NAMES .....
BTW: my answer is NO WAY !

 

[v-man]

Perhaps Switzerland.

Other teams such as Latvia or Austria. No chance in Hell. Who would score the goals. Also NHL goalies playing on these teams would still get lit up, just not as bad.

Well, Switzerland was no better at scoring than Latvia was. The Swiss had 19 while Latvia had 17 with one less game. Either way Latvia wouldn't stand a chance. Sure their goaltending was by far their biggest weakness, but the defense was not much better. I don't think an NHL tender could stop 65 shots a game either.

 

[Professor Dangles]

People are quick to forget that Conz was phenomenal this tournament.

 

[cupface52]

No, goals against might drop from about 10 to 7. I don't see those teams scoring 8+ goals.

 

[tony d]

I doubt it, Switzerland might have a chance but those other nations would not.

 

[Zam Boni]

No.
Take Switzerland, put Brodeur, Hasek AND Roy, all in their prime, in the net at once and that team would surely make it to the final.

But with Canada's knack for scoring junk goals when needed the most in the WJC, Canada would still win by one goal.

Note I am note knocking Canada, I love how they score out of nothing. As long as it is not against Sweden.

 

[Mr Kanadensisk]

No chance, even Switzerland the best of these teams this year only scored a total of one goal in its three games against Canada and the US. They were outscored 15-1 againts the NA teams, no goalie is going to make up that kind of difference. In order to win an NHL goalie would have to have a shutout every game, and that's not realistic.

 

[filek]

Well, Switzerland was no better at scoring than Latvia was. The Swiss had 19 while Latvia had 17 with one less game. Either way Latvia wouldn't stand a chance. Sure their goaltending was by far their biggest weakness, but the defense was not much better. I don't think an NHL tender could stop 65 shots a game either.

unless it's roloson vs maple leafs

 

[General Borschevsky]

What people forget is that many of these kids nearly have NHL calibre shots. The rest of their game is lacking in most cases, but the shot is typically there. I'm not sure that an NHL goalie would be enough of an improvement to be counted on to stop the 50+ shots that would be coming his way. But with a good goalie anything can happen.

 

[spirek]

If Slovakia had a top goalie this year I think they could do some serious damage, olympics in the future, however, I think they will be very, very weak.

have you ever heard about Jaro Halak?

 

[Lifer]

What people forget is that many of these kids nearly have NHL calibre shots. The rest of their game is lacking in most cases, but the shot is typically there. I'm not sure that an NHL goalie would be enough of an improvement to be counted on to stop the 50+ shots that would be coming his way. But with a good goalie anything can happen.

Pretty much spot on here. I've always felt that at the earlier stages of elite development elite offensive skill trumps elite defensive skill, especially when it's a team like the Swiss or Latvians playing defense. It doesn't matter who would be in net because they would still be hung out to dry.

 

[vippe]

No...

 

[Respect Your Edler]

I think some people are understating the difference between an elite NHL goalie and a junior goalie. That said, you still need to score goals to win a game.

 

[Joseppi]

People are quick to forget that Conz was phenomenal this tournament.

He was fantastic, but it's hard to say he played better than Luongo or Brodeur could have given the same situation.

Given these circumstances, could Luongo or any other elite goaltender in the NHL lead the Swiss or any other team mentioned to a gold medal?

I'd say probably not though. Hockey is a team sport, and if your defense lets you down at any level, the goaltender will get beat eventually.

 

[shadow1]

Slovakia has decent goaltending in Halak and Budaj; I could see them winning gold.