Predatore said:
The preliminary Swedish WJC team has already been selected.
Löfberg: Not even named = about 20 forwards born 1986 or later that were considered better than him
Ryno: Named, has IMO a 70-30 chance of making the final roster
Ritola: Named, has IMO a 50-50 chance of making the final roster. Why do you dislike his game? I thought all people enjoyed a very technically skilled forward? Where did you see him play and in what way did you not like what you saw?
Axelsson: Named, has IMO a 95-5 chance of making the final roster
I saw Ritola play at the U18s in Ann Arbor last winter.
If he had skill, he didn't show it.
Decent size. Decent speed.
No hustle. Very lazy game.
Fred Petterson (Ritola's linemate in the tournament) was EASILY the best Swedish player. He was the only Swedish forward who could do anything against the USA's tremendous defense (J. Johnson, Mark Mitera, Chad Morin, Mark Mitera, Zacj Jones, Brandon Gentile)
He took a beating, but the little guy kept getting up and kept driving to the net.
Backstrom was pretty good (a bit younger, but good). Robin Lindqvist and Nikclas Person also had good tournaments against the Euro teams.
I can't believe Niklas Hjalmarsson didn't make the team. Good offensive defenseman who matched the USA hit for hit. This kid amazed me. He went up against a physical US team that was punishing everyone with huge hits (Ryan Stoa and Jack SKille and Jason Bailey and Peter Mueller Zac McAvoy) and he was great. He probably threw more open ice hits than anyone not named Jack Johnson.
Chicago got a steal in Hjalmarsson.
Calgary (or was it Edmonton) got a steal in Pettersson, IMO.