Ranking WC teams

[RorschachWJK]

Forsberg thinks that Slovenia will get into the medal round? That's unbelievable.

I think this year we'll see a new champion. I get this feeling that this year's tournament will be like Euro 2004, where the big teams and big stars mostly struggled, and the more defensive minded team won in the end. This is based on nothing other than a hunch, but somebody will one day dethrone Canada. Perhaps that means that Sweden, with its general lack of stars, but strong defensive play will come out on top.

That could equally well be Finland

 

[stv11]

This is how Peter Forsberg is ranking the top 8:

1. Sweden
2. Canada
3. Slovakia
4. Russia
5. Czechs
6. Finland
7. USA
8. Slovenia

Source: Peter Forsberg

1) Canada
2) Czech Republic
3) Slovakia
4) Sweden
5) Russia
6) Finland
7) USA
8) Latvia

These predictions are not possible. You need four teams from both the E and F groups.

 

[Tricolore#20]

That could equally well be Finland

That's true too. Sweden or Finland, take your pick...

 

[wassup77]

That's true too. Sweden or Finland, take your pick...

I pick Sweden, better goalie.

 

[RorschachWJK]

I pick Sweden, better goalie.

Well, I woudn't be so sure about that. Niklas Bäckström has been very convincing this year. IMO the two teams have pretty similar chances this time around.

 

[12# Peter Bondra]

So much for not putting high expectations on your team huh?

What is he supposed to say? We will finish last?

 

[TORRUS]

Forsberg's predictions are funny. There is nothing wrong in predicting your home country to win (Sweden is allways a contender), but putting Slovenia in the medal round is just hilarious! It doesn't mean that it's impossible... I am 100% sure he said that because of Kopitar who plays in Sweden! I see no other reason to predict Slovenia ahead of Latvia, Germany, Belarus..

 

[Riddarn]

Peter was given 8 countries and numbered them. If the reporter who kindly gave him the paper with the countries had written Switzerland, Germany or Zimbabwe for that matter instead of Slovenia, that country would still have been numbered as 8th.

 

[wassup77]

Well, I woudn't be so sure about that. Niklas Bäckström has been very convincing this year. IMO the two teams have pretty similar chances this time around.

Okay, I don't really know anything about that guy so I shouldn't be saying anything. I am just really impressed of Lundqvist this year

 

[Raimo Sillanpää]

I pick Sweden, better goalie.

If Chicago lose in round 2, only Canada will have a better goalie than Finland (Lehtonen)

 

[wassup77]

If Chicago lose in round 2, only Canada will have a better goalie than Finland (Lehtonen)

oh yeah, but they won't lose with that kinda goalie

 

[Boomhauer]

My humble opinion:

1. Canada
2. Russia
3. Finland
4. USA
5. Czech Republic
6. Slovakia
7. Sweden
8. Switzerland
9. Austria
10. Latvia
11. Germany
12. Denmark
13. Belarus
14. Ukraine
15. Kazakhstan
16. Slovenia

This is how I think it will end up. I'm not saying that Finland has a better chance of winning the tournament than USA or the Czech Republic, but I think they'll beat a less motivated Team USA in the bronze medal game.

 

[mattihp]

This pretty up sums up my thoughts about the big 7

Safe picks for top 4 finish:

Canada, Sweden, Finland, Slovakia

Teams that'll go full out win or lose:
Czech, Russia, USA

 

[wassup77]

1. Rick Nash
2. Sweden
3. USA
4. Czech
5. Russia
6. Slovakia
7. Kazaks
8. Belarus

bye bye Finland!

 

[mattihp]

1. Rick Nash
2. Sweden
3. USA
4. Czech
5. Russia
6. Slovakia
7. Kazaks
8. Belarus

bye bye Finland!

As if Finland will continue to float after that embarrassement... Even a toilet dumper like Erkka can find motivation after that kind of game...

 

[RorschachWJK]

1. Rick Nash
2. Sweden
3. USA
4. Czech
5. Russia
6. Slovakia
7. Kazaks
8. Belarus

bye bye Finland!

You seem to get a lot of joy out of that hypothetical scenario.

 

[Twist and Shout]

Gold Czech Republic (Jagr will be the tournament MVP)

Silver Canada (will be stunned by the Czech offense)

Bronze Russia (Their lack of anything but offense will stop them from reaching the finals)

4th Sweden (Lundqvist will CARRY them to a 4th place finish)

Didn't get the Jagr tournament MVP right.... but I was close I guess

 

[Petey21]

And this is the final "Power Ranking" by the official IHWC.net site, some of the comments are pretty funny.

#1 Czech Republic
Number one! Saint Jaromir's pinkie will be forever revered

#2 Canada
Number one, eh?

#3 Russia
Anatoly Tarasov would be frowning, but maybe smiling inside

#4 Sweden
So, we got bored of winning silver, and your point is...?

#5 Slovakia
Slovak scientists hard at work on top secret G.O.A.L.I.E. project

#6 USA
Andy Roach: Gone Fishing

#7 Finland
Another year, another early lead, another early exit

#8 Switzerland
Klaus Zaugg says: "Swiss power training will make our bankers world-beaters someday!"

#9 Latvia
Riga, are you ready to RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMBLE?!!?

#10 Belarus
Coach Hanlonovsky, the President will gladly buy the Washington Capitals and move them to Minsk

#11 Ukraine
A Simchuk solution is often the most elegant

#12 Kazakhstan
Kazinform reports: "Our team dropped out of play though preserved the place in supreme division of the world hockey"

#13 Denmark
The Ugly Duckling is flying high!

#14 Slovenia
Hey, who'd believe it!

#15 Austria
The hills are alive with the sound of hockey sticks smashing

#16 Germany
Claudia Schiffer is also hot, and we make great beer

 

[Jazz]

You can see the Final IIHF World rankings for 2005 here

 

[deandebean]

You can see the Final IIHF World rankings for 2005 here

HOw the hell do they work? I mean, how do we get so many points??? This isn't like the freaking ITF or PGA here. We don't play a tourney per weekend. WTF???

 

[deandebean]

And this is the final "Power Ranking" by the official IHWC.net site, some of the comments are pretty funny.

#1 Czech Republic
Number one! Saint Jaromir's pinkie will be forever revered

#2 Canada
Number one, eh?

#3 Russia
Anatoly Tarasov would be frowning, but maybe smiling inside

#4 Sweden
So, we got bored of winning silver, and your point is...?

#5 Slovakia
Slovak scientists hard at work on top secret G.O.A.L.I.E. project

#6 USA
Andy Roach: Gone Fishing

#7 Finland
Another year, another early lead, another early exit

#8 Switzerland
Klaus Zaugg says: "Swiss power training will make our bankers world-beaters someday!"

#9 Latvia
Riga, are you ready to RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMBLE?!!?

#10 Belarus
Coach Hanlonovsky, the President will gladly buy the Washington Capitals and move them to Minsk

#11 Ukraine
A Simchuk solution is often the most elegant

#12 Kazakhstan
Kazinform reports: "Our team dropped out of play though preserved the place in supreme division of the world hockey"

#13 Denmark
The Ugly Duckling is flying high!

#14 Slovenia
Hey, who'd believe it!

#15 Austria
The hills are alive with the sound of hockey sticks smashing

#16 Germany
Claudia Schiffer is also hot, and we make great beer

Pretty good. The eh part is old, though. Us frenchies don't use the eh. We say tabarnak. Which is much better since it really translates our anger after such a boring hockey game.

By the way, Claudia Schiffer is not hot anymore. She's my age. But you do make great beer.

 

[Hedberg]

You can see the Final IIHF World rankings for 2005 here

Bottom 5: Turkey, Luxembourg, Mexico, Ireland, and Armenia.
I'm surprised Turkey is that good.

 

[Jazz]

HOw the hell do they work? I mean, how do we get so many points??? This isn't like the freaking ITF or PGA here. We don't play a tourney per weekend. WTF???

It's a calculation that is uses a weighted 4-year system (with the most recent results having the bigger weight) that takes into account a team's final placing in the past 4 World Championships and the most recent Olympics.

 

[Noutaja]

Finnish ranking progression from 2002 to 2005: 2.->4.->5.->7. Bah, this must be just a little tactical retreat before our next onslaught.

 

[RorschachWJK]

Finnish ranking progression from 2002 to 2005: 2.->4.->5.->7. Bah, this must be just a little tactical retreat before our next onslaught.

Also keep in mind our 'success' at the junior world championships lately...