Top 4 countries?

[ikzu]

If some kind of best-on-best tournament would happen right now, my TOP12-ranking is:

1. Canada
2. Sweden
3. Russia
4. USA
5. Finland
6. Czech Republic
7. Switzerland
8. Denmark
9. Slovakia
10. Germany
11. Latvia
12. France

 

[MaxV]

While I agree that Switzerland has surpassed Slovakia, I don’t think Denmark has also.

 

[Benedict Kovalchuk]

While I agree that Switzerland has surpassed Slovakia, I don’t think Denmark has also.

Agreed. The Danes need a lot more to go right to win than the Slovaks do.

 

[Maestro84]

Historically:
1. Canada
2. Russia/Soviet Union
3. Sweden
4. Czech Republic
5. USA
6. Finland

Currently:
1. Canada
2. Sweden
3. Finland
4. USA
5. Russia
6. Czech Republic

I think countries like Switzerland and Germany can improve for the future too

 

[jj cale]

Historically:
1. Canada
2. Russia/Soviet Union
3. Sweden
4. Czech Republic
5. USA
6. Finland

Currently:
1. Canada
2. Sweden
3. Finland
4. USA
5. Russia
6. Czech Republic

I think countries like Switzerland and Germany can improve for the future too

I think historically the former Czechoslovakia/Czech republic was a clear rank ahead of Sweden but it has clearly switched the last 20 years.

The old czech program used to be a pretty solid 3 behind Canada and the Soviet Union/Russia and had a short lived halcyon era in the late 1990's where you could say they held the number one spot.No way was Sweden ahead of them during the 70's. 80's and 90's. You could make a case they were their equal in some parts of the 90's but that's about it. The worm didn't turn clearly in swedens favour over the czechs until the 2000's.

 

[member 305909]

The problem is that the time for the best on best-tournament is very difficult to find. The best of the worst times available is in the pre-season in September.

The time of the tournament in the Olympics when the NHL'ers took part was very lousy. Totally disrupted the the season.

When the Olympic final was on a Sunday, the following wednesday or Thursday at the latest, included a full round of NHL-games.

 

[Bijelo]

If of best-on-best tournament would happen right now, my top12-ranking is:

1 - Canada
2 - USA
3 - Russia
4 - Finland
5 - Sweden
6 - Czech Republic
7 - Slovakia
8 - Germany
9 - Switzerland
10 - Great Britain
11 - Kazakhstan
12 - Latvia

 

[Czechboy]

If of best-on-best tournament would happen right now, my top12-ranking is:

1 - Canada
2 - USA
3 - Russia
4 - Finland
5 - Sweden
6 - Czech Republic
7 - Germany
8 - Switzerland
9 - Slovakia
10 - Great Britain
11 - Kazakhstan
12 - Latvia

if Russia is in it then I like Belarus to beat Great Britain and Kazakhistan for Top 12, Their program is on the rise.

 

[Bijelo]

if Russia is in it then I like Belarus to beat Great Britain and Kazakhistan for Top 12, Their program is on the rise.

Belarus cannot play best.

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

Currently :

1 Canada
2 USA
3 Sweden
4 Russia
5 Finland
6 Czechia
7 Switzerland
8 Germany
9 Slovakia
10 Belarus

In 10 years :

1 Canada
2 USA
3 Russia
4 Sweden
5 Finland
6 Czechia
7 Slovakia
8 Belarus (if not joined Russia)
9 Switzerland
10 Germany

 

[Nucks2001]

Currently :

1 Canada
2 USA
3 Sweden
4 Russia
5 Finland
6 Czechia
7 Switzerland
8 Germany
9 Slovakia
10 Belarus

In 10 years :

1 Canada
2 USA
3 Russia
4 Sweden
5 Finland
6 Czechia
7 Slovakia
8 Belarus (if not joined Russia)
9 Switzerland
10 Germany

Canada and USA are very close rn. The USA has far better goalies, 3/5 best defencemen in the NHL and the deepest crop of elite forward talent. Canada is still very deep up front, 43% of the NHL is still Canadian and holds generational stars in McDavid, Makar and Bedard. It’s closer than people think.

1A. Canada
1B. USA
2. Sweden
3. Russia
4. Finland
5. Czechia

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

Canada and USA are very close rn. The USA has far better goalies, 3/5 best defencemen in the NHL and the deepest crop of elite forward talent. Canada is still very deep up front, 43% of the NHL is still Canadian and holds generational stars in McDavid, Makar and Bedard. It’s closer than people think.

1A. Canada
1B. USA
2. Sweden
3. Russia
4. Finland
5. Czechia

Canada remains ahead and will remain ahead given the prospects born in the 2000s but in 20 years, I think USA will be on top.

 

[Albatros]

Very unnecessary necroposting.

 

[Nucks2001]

Canada remains ahead and will remain ahead given the prospects born in the 2000s but in 20 years, I think USA will be on top.

Canada’s not really ahead, maybe by a nose. I actually checked again, Canadian player share is closer to 40% than 43%. The USA sits at 30%. A good chunk of the Canadian figure is inflated by bottom 6 forwards and grinders, depth defencemen and veterans, who are important for the game nontheless.

If we’re talking about elite talent tho, I would argue the USA has a slight edge on Canada right now based on volume. Of course, the USA hasn’t produced someone like a McDavid or Makar and Canada hasn’t lost a best-on-best in a while so I still have to give it to my Canada, but the USA is here and they’re just as good. You don’t have to wait 20 years, just watch some games now and you’ll see American talent everywhere


Canadian goaltending is an embarrassment and the top-end American defencmen are as every bit as good as the top-tier Canadians defencemen. America still lacks the depth on the blueline, but the future looks bright with guys like Faber, Hughes, and Hutson.

 

[Mathieukferland]

Canada remains ahead and will remain ahead given the prospects born in the 2000s

Opposite, 97-01 age groups were a golden age for the NTDP, what’s come since hasn’t been as good.

 

[Eye of Ra]

If of best-on-best tournament would happen right now, my top12-ranking is:

1 - Canada
2 - USA
3 - Russia
4 - Finland
5 - Sweden
6 - Czech Republic
7 - Slovakia
8 - Germany
9 - Switzerland
10 - Great Britain
11 - Kazakhstan
12 - Latvia

How is Russia better than Sweden and Finland? Swedes and finns have better centers and Ds

Very unnecessary necroposting.

nah its been 6 years

 

[Hanji]

How is Russia better than Sweden and Finland? Swedes and finns have better centers and Ds


nah its been 6 years

Finland's defense is seriously lacking beyond Heiskanen.

1. Canada
2. USA
3. Sweden
4. Russia
5. Finland
6. Czechia
7. Switzerland
8. Slovakia
9. Germany
10. Belarus

 

[1Gold Standard]

Canada
USA
Sweden
Finland

That's your TOP 4.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Canada
USA
Sweden
Finland

That's your TOP 4.

Russia is clearly better than Finland, more NHL players and better numbers at every position, and that's with the No Transfer Agreement with the KHL, which the Finnish government no longer permits its players to play in.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Opposite, 97-01 age groups were a golden age for the NTDP, what’s come since hasn’t been as good.

6 American first round picks in 2021 Draft, 7 American first round picks in 2022 Draft, 6 American first round picks in 2023 Draft.

Some years are stronger than others (2016, 2019 Drafts stand out) but there has not been much of a dropoff in U.S. talent. The American 04s are a very good group and only now completing junior eligibility years.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Russia is clearly better than Finland, more NHL players and better numbers at every position, and that's with the No Transfer Agreement with the KHL, which the Finnish government no longer permits its players to play in.

You're free to have that incorrect opinion. Knock yourself out.

 

[WarriorofTime]

You're free to have that incorrect opinion. Knock yourself out.

Funny how someone can be so arrogant on their opinion and provide zero support.

 

[Czechboy]

6 American first round picks in 2021 Draft, 7 American first round picks in 2022 Draft, 6 American first round picks in 2023 Draft.

Some years are stronger than others (2016, 2019 Drafts stand out) but there has not been much of a dropoff in U.S. talent. The American 04s are a very good group and only now completing junior eligibility years.

The US are current U20, U16 and U18 champs... They are running out of gold's to win. It's impressive. Damn impressive. Like, Canada impressive or USSR impressive.

 

[WarriorofTime]

The US are current U20, U16 and U18 champs... They are running out of gold's to win. It's impressive. Damn impressive. Like, Canada impressive or USSR impressive.

Maybe one day they will win a World Championship Semifinals

 

[ViD]

Ukraine
USA
Sweden
Finland

That's your TOP 4.

FTFY

Funny how someone can be so arrogant on their opinion and provide zero support.

Do you not see the guy’s avatar ? That’s all you need to know