One of my favourite games (and tournaments...) ever. And that says alot, as my team lost.
Swedens biggest weakness would have been goal and 3rd pair D and depth forward. But even the SHL-career players are players that today would easily find jobs in the NHL, and everyone on that team outside Nylander are players that where known to play team first and being able to be an bigger part together than as indivudals would indicate. Maybe Nylander has the worst repetutation to some here, but in the WorldCup 96 was actually more physical than I´ve ever seen him. And around that time he was often Swedens best player in tournamenst. One of Tre Kronors greatest according to me, even if his NHL-career left mor wanting. Remember early in the game, when Lindros had a few shifts where he, as he sometimes did, just didn´t care about the puck. He just flew around the rink trying to hit swedes as hard as he could to set the tone of the game. The swedish commentators where going nuts. I just laughed and loved it. Nylander was actually the only that got the best of Lindros as I remember it (some years ago now...). Not nearly as soft as some remember him. Most because he, like the Sedins of today, didn´t play an way that sought out contact. But he, at least prime, could take an big hit and still control the puck.
And an young just emerging Salo (who was coming off two incredible IHL-seasons...) and an Söderström who had 1 NHL game left in his career where playing great. But an US-team facing them 3 straight games may have found more weakness there. Or it would have been Salos coming out party (he was the starter on the Islanders that season...) and his career may have taken an different road. He had already shown that he was an tournament goalie in the IHL and Olympics. So he was as tought as an up and coming winning goalie that rose to the occassion. And just a few years from being an top 5-10 goalie, even if people seem to forget that about him as well
That was an great defense, with an Calle Johansson playing the hockey of his life to go with prime Lidstrom, just emerging Norstrom, prime puck-boards-out-Albelin and very underrated Roger Johansson and Popovic.
Up front an possessed Sundin led the squad. Along with LeClair the best forward of that tournament as I see it. Sweden had an great center depth. The wingers didn´t have the flare the swedish have had since the early 00´s. But every single winger on that team was "the smart type" that wouldn´t cost you anything, even if they wouldn´t create tons of chances on their own. And Dahlén, Garpenlöv, mid 90´s Sundström and a few others could be 1st-2nd liners on any team for a few games.
That sure was an team that was greater than their indivudal parts would suggest. One of the best swedish teams ever, even if not close to best assemlings of swedish hockey players. But such teams are most often better in 1 game against an "greater" opponent than more games. I would love to say Sweden here, but I think no one was taking US that tournament. An hope for Sweden would be that the US wasn´t coming in to the finals against them with as much to prove as against big brother Canada. That could have taken the edge of a few of their players. But I think not. What an great team that US was. Damn. Got to watch some of those games again. Even if I may turn it off after Alfredssons and Garpenlövs posts...
