WC Ranks by Position.

[CraigC]

I just did the Ranks for top 7 countries, let me know your thoughts.

Goalies
1. Finland
2. Canada
3. Slovakia
4. USA
5. CZE
6. Russia
7. Sweden

Defense
1. Canada
2. Russia
3. CZE
4. Slovaks
5. USA
6. Finland
7. Sweden

Left Wing
1. Russia
2. Canada
3. Slovakia
4. USA
5. Finland
6. CZE
7. Sweden

Center
1. Canada
2. Russia
3. Slovakia
4. USA
5. CZE
6. Finland
7. Sweden

Right Wing
1. Slovakia
2. Russia
3. Canada
4. USA
5. Finland
6. CZE
7. Sweden

Taking this approach to see who should be the fav. Russia could be if their goaltending does better than I think, or even with shoddy tending they have a great offense and should have a sick PP.

Canada is solid overall, lack some big name scoring however.
Slovaks are solid up front and a top 3 offense, have Chara, but not much after that on the point.

Please let me know your thoughts....

Click to read more...

 

[ViD]

wow, Sweden has #7 for each position. Are they really so bad?

 

[Crazyhorse]

wow, Sweden has #7 for each position. Are they really so bad?

Kenny Jönsson is probably one of the best defenders in the tournament, and would alone put us ahead in the ranking. Otherwise i pretty much agree.

 

[Panopticon]

Wow. Sweden, Finland and the Czech suck.

 

[Kap-the-Head]

Russia's defense should not even be listed be around - it simply does not exist

 

[Dima_BLR]

2 CraigC
For what reason Belarus, Switzerland, Latvia are not mentioned in the ranks, while Slovakia is? I don't really think that the current SVK squad is stronger than those teams. I can't understand why Team USA is so highly ranked...All I see is a strong disbalance in favour of Canada and Russia. What about Finland and Sweden? I suppose these teams should be ranked in a more respectful manner.
Of course, only time will show who is who, but I'm pretty sure your ranks just suck!

 

[Dima_BLR]

Russia's defense should not even be listed be around - it simply does not exist

Sadly, it's true.
Still, on home soil energized by the home crowd's support Russia can surprise everybody.

 

[Den]

Koshechkin is a good goalie. #6 is not his place. But defence does suck

 

[pouskin74*]

Russia's defense should not even be listed be around - it simply does not exist

markov and gontsar on list!!! i think you over reacting

 

[CraigC]

2 CraigC
For what reason Belarus, Switzerland, Latvia are not mentioned in the ranks, while Slovakia is? I don't really think that the current SVK squad is stronger than those teams. I can't understand why Team USA is so highly ranked...All I see is a strong disbalance in favour of Canada and Russia. What about Finland and Sweden? I suppose these teams should be ranked in a more respectful manner.
Of course, only time will show who is who, but I'm pretty sure your ranks just suck!

Thanks, I was looking for others opinions, you added alot to the discussion. BTW how many Demitra's-Gaboriks-Hossa's do the Swiss, latvians or Belarus have?

 

[CraigC]

markov and gontsar on list!!! i think you over reacting

Yeah these two alone seem better than many countries. Gonchar on the PP will be a luxury many teams don't have.

 

[Den]

Yeah these two alone seem better than many countries. Gonchar on the PP will be a luxury many teams don't have.

Or: Gonchar on D will be a luxury we can not afford

 

[Garl]

Defense
1. Canada
2. Russia
3. CZE
4. Slovaks
5. USA
6. Finland
7. Sweden

Russia #2? No way.
I would rank:
1.Cze
2.Can
3.Swe
4.Svk
5.USA
6.Fin
7.Rus

 

[Madness]

I think you are underestimating Sweden's Defense.

 

[sgt Hartman]

These ranks are based on quantity of NHL players or what?

 

[ktf]

um i have to ask why the finnish goalies are ahead of the canadian, lethenon was awful in teh playoffs, and norrenen was pretty decent this year but i give roli and cam ward both the edge ( at leats at this point, lethonen have the potential to be one fo teh best tendies in teh world and show it at times)and i dont know the third finnish goalie but due to there depth of goalies im sure hes good still
as for the other rankings they seem to be kind of bias towards us(canada) and russia, but it is a very difficult thing to speculate, for the teams are all very close and the difference between one and 7 is not very far so no oneshould be to critical, no matter how its done someone isnt gonna be happy.
as for judging on nhl talent... it is teh bets league, but there are high calibre players aroudn the world and this beign played on european ice gives them an advantage.

 

[Dima_BLR]

Thanks, I was looking for others opinions, you added alot to the discussion. BTW how many Demitra's-Gaboriks-Hossa's do the Swiss, latvians or Belarus have?

Not so many - zero I guess. However, the presence of the above-mentioned personalities (if they join the squad) is not a 100% guarantee of SVK's success, cause hockey is a team game. Slovaks might have several extremely skilled players but Can Those Superstars Play the Team Game? Besides, many NHLers feel strong discomfort playing on European size rinks where they fail to perform at their best.

A counter-question:
How many Mezin-class goalies does Slovakia (or USA) have?

 

[Garl]

Not so many - zero I guess. However, the presence of the above-mentioned personalities (if they join the squad) is not a 100% guarantee of SVK's success, cause hockey is a team game. Slovaks might have several extremely skilled players but Can Those Superstars Play the Team Game? Besides, many NHLers feel strong discomfort playing on European size rinks where they fail to perform at their best.

A counter-question:
How many Mezin-class goalies does Slovakia (or USA) have?

Dima you seriously think that Belarus can compete with Slovakia A squad? Well at Worlds it would be not an A squad, but not a team you beat last year. It will be funny to see, how you 30+ y.o. D-man will try catch Gaborik.

And about Mezin. Why do you think he's so great goalie? He's good for Belarus, yes, but overall he's just a good goalie in RSL, not the best.
Slovakia has Budaj, Halak, Stana, Krizhan. USA has Miller, Graham, Thomas, DiPietro.

 

[sivert]

A counter-question:
How many Mezin-class goalies does Slovakia (or USA) have?

Slovakia has at least 5 better than Mezin, and USA even more

 

[Hennessy]

These ranks are based on quantity of NHL players or what?

Apparently.

 

[Rare Jewel]

man no love for sweden didnt they just win the gold at turrin lol

 

[Faktisti*]

i cant believe how u gous underrate finland offence!

as great players as peltonen, m.koivu, t.ruutu, kapanen, kontiola, miettinen, lehtinen, bergenheim and all other european tops!

 

[Faktisti*]

goaltending

1. finland
2. czech
3. canada
4. usa
5. russia
6. slovak
7. sweden

defence

1. russia
2. canada
3. finland
4. sweden
5. czech
6. slovak
7. usa

offence

1. slovak
2. russia
3. czech
4. canada
5. finland
6. sweden
7. usa

 

[Faktisti*]

slovakies problem is that they have several superhyper great players like hossa, gaborik and demitra, but the overall level of the team isnt so high. one great defender and others are way from that :S

 

[sgt Hartman]

goaltending

1. finland
2. czech
3. canada
4. usa
5. russia
6. slovak
7. sweden

defence

1. russia
2. canada
3. finland
4. sweden
5. czech
6. slovak
7. usa

offence

1. slovak
2. russia
3. czech
4. canada
5. finland
6. sweden
7. usa

There's no such thing as Russian defence