Switzerland:
Niederreiter - Hischier - Meier
Fiala - Kurashev - Bärtschi
Hofmann - Moser - Andrighetto
Scherwey - Haas - Suter
Thürkauf/Knak
Josi - Weber
Diaz - Müller
Siegenthaler - Egli
Fora/Genazzi
Genoni
Senn
van Pottelberghe
This is a possibility for us, did not include Malgin and Kukan because they‘re not going to be in as long as Fischer is the coach.
Didn't Fischer state something like, Kukan's and Malgin's ban would be for the home WHC only, and afterwards they would reconsider the situation?
Even as a longtime supporter of Fischer's approach to coaching, through his wild years in Lugano and the bumpy start as Nati-choach, I think that would be a tremendously stupid and childish move and his first big mistake as a coach... if the reasons for the bans are the ones that were published.
I mean a guy like Sbisa made a career out of excuses for not accepting calls by several Nati-coaches, unlike Malgin or Kukan, and is still an option?
While we could live with the absence of Malgin with the current alltime high in depth and quality on the centerposition, Kukan is probably the 2nd best swiss defender right now and very like in 2 years as well. This would be a significant loss in quality on D.
About your choices for the team. I think one can hardly argue against the guys you picked. Except Genazzi, who probably will be surpassed by some of the youngsters by then. Like Egli for example, or Berni or Aebischer to name a few. And I don't think Knak will be an option by then yet, unless he develops really quickly , which I'd gladly take.
And Moser isn't a center, but you could switch him Suter.
I have a hard time predicting a forward line-up. There's a pool of about 30 players to choose from. And while the first few picks are easy, the further you get, the more various the options get. One obvious thing is, that there are so many guys who are capable to play center, that some of them have to play wing. I tried to put players together with proven chemistry:
Niederreiter-Corvi-Andrighetto (or Fiala)
Kurashev-N.Hischier-Hofmann
Meier-Malgin-Fiala (or Andrighetto)
Bärtschi-Haas-Suter
Vermin/Miranda
HM: Ambühl, Bertaggia, Moser, Scherwey, Richard, Thürkauf, Bertschy, Rod, Nussbaumer, Martschini, Heim
The D is a bit easier to put together. As there's not so much depth. But some promising youngsters push hard, some of them could surpass some veterans.
The locks: Josi, Kukan, Müller and probably Siegenthaler (all lefties)
The veterans: Frick, Sbisa (LD), Fora, Loeffel, Untersander, Diaz, Weber (all righties) and Rathgeb, who hasn't played any WHCs or OGs yet.
Youngsters: Berni, Geisser, Gross, Moser, Le Coultre (all LD), Karrer, Egli, Aebischer (all RD)
Diaz will be 36 by then. I won't pick him. But of course, he'll be an option if he sustains his level of play. Kukan is proven and capable of playing the wrong side.
Josi-Kukan
Müller-Rathgeb
Berni-Fora
Siegenthaler-Loeffel
Goal:
Berra
Genoni
Senn
still actual.
