Ranking the best defense (after the big three nations)

[IceHockeyDude]

How would you rank the power-level among the top countries at defense right now after Canada, Sweden and USA?

Russia:

Sergachev-Provorov
Orlov-Zadorov
Zaitsev-Kulikov
Gavrikov

Finland:

Heiskanen-Lindell
Ristolainen-Vatanen
Määttä-Jokiharju
Välimäki

Czech Republic:

Hronek-Kempny
Gudas-Rutta
Polak-Simek
Sustr

Slovakia:

Chara-Cernak
Sekera-Jaros
Marincin-Fehervary
Cajkovsky

Switzerland:

Josi-Sbisa
Mueller-Weber
Kukan-Siegenthaler
Streit

To increase my international hockey knowledge I would also appreciate your comments on what the ideal D-roster of your country would look like right now.

Click to read more...

 

[Mickey Marner]

Two horse race. I think Russia has the best overall group, but Heiskanen has the potential to be the greatest difference maker in a short tournament.

 

[Lambo]

Two horse race. I think Russia has the best overall group, but Heiskanen has the potential to be the greatest difference maker in a short tournament.

Finland has a better defense!

 

[Czechboy]

Hronek-Kempny
Gudas-Rutta
Polak-Simek
Sustr

I'm not trying to be difficult. You said 'right now'. Kempny is out for most the season (Achilles which is not an easy injury to recover from). Polak is retired from the national team and not an option. Simek is temporarily injured.

Our D would be something like:
Gudas-Hronek
Simek- Zboril
Hajek-Rutta
Masin

FTR.. don't know which hands these guys are.

Bring back a healthy and good Kempny would make it better for sure.

 

[Czechboy]

To the actual question... Russia and Finland are on a higher level. I'd go with Finn's because Heiskanan is that damn good. Juolevi is finally in the NHL and I'm a big Vatanan fan but I'm in no position to argue about Finnish rosters.

After that it is Swizzterland.. not as deep as Czechs but we don't have anything like a Josi (maybe Hronek one day!).

I'd say there is no argument that Slovakia has had better D than the Czechs in the last 20 years but Sekera and Chara are very close to being done and there isn't much right now. Cernak is awesome and then it's a gap.

 

[teravaineSAROS]

Russia:

Sergachev-Provorov
Orlov-Zadorov
Zaitsev-Kulikov
Gavrikov

Finland:

Heiskanen-Lindell
Ristolainen-Vatanen
Määttä-Jokiharju
Välimäki

I personally wouldn't exclude Gavrikov, he'd be their #4D. I'd also like to see someone like Nutivaara or maybe even Lehtonen in over Jokiharju if it were to happen today.

 

[BlizzardSloth]

Switzerland:

Josi-Sbisa
Mueller-Weber
Kukan-Siegenthaler
Streit

Streit has ended his career years ago. Also I don't see Sbisa here. Would replace him with Raphael Diaz. 7th spot for a younger player like J.J. Moser, Tim Berni, Simon LeCoultre or Dominik Egli.

 

[jonlin]

Finland and Russia are as close as it gets.