Olympics: Your Country's 2022 Roster? (Assuming NHL participation)

[smitty10]

What's your guess at your country's 2022 Olympic roster?

Canada:

Huberdeau-McDavid-Mackinnon
Marchand-Crosby-Stamkos
Point-Schiefele-Marner
Couturier-Barzal-Bergeron
Lafreniere

Rielly-Pietrangelo
Chabot-Doughty
Theodore-Makar
Parayko/Ekblad

Price
Hart
Binnington

Click to read more...

 

[MosTLucky]

Canada 2022
Huberdeau - McDavid - Mackinnon (beat any first line matchup)
Marchand - Crosby - Bergeron (beat any first/second line matchup)
Stone - ORielly - Scheiflie (elite two-way line, with offense)
Stamkos - Couturier - Marner (Skilled and dangerous offensively, couturier holds down the line defensively)
Tavares
Chabot - Peitrangelo
Theodore - Parayko
Morrissey - Makar
Doughty
Price
Hart

Trying to guess who might improve, and who might regress is pretty tough. Such a solid forward core. Hard to leave off Point, Seguin, Barzal, etc. and Rielly/Weber/Hamilton on defense.

 

[Kshahdoo]

So according to TASS, IOC and IIHF had another meeting with NHL, and IOC spokeperson called it "positive". Of course, still no any decisions.

 

[Maverick41]

I'll give it a try for Germany though aside from a small number of sure bets there are a lot of players on a similar level right now and it is difficult to guess who will the best of these two years from now.

Lean Bergmann - Leon Draisaitl - Markus Eisenschmid
Marcel Noebels - Tim Stützle - Dominik Bokk
Dominik Kahun - Marc Michaelis - Lukas Reichel
Frederik Tiffels - Nico Sturm - Tobias Rieder
John-Jason Peterka

Konrad Abeltshauser - Moritz Seider
Jonas Müller - Leon Gawanke
Tim Bender - Simon Sezemsky
Lukas Kälble - Leon Hüttl
Maximilian Glötzl

Philip Grubauer
Mathias Niederberger

 

[ValeriKamensky]

Panarin - Malkin - Svechnikov
Ovi - Namestnikov - Kucherov
Dadonov - Barbashev - Tarasenko
Nichushkin - Anisimov - Gurianov
Mikheev

Provorov - Zaitsev
Orlov - Sergachev
Zadorov - Gavrikov
Romanov (Kulikov, Lyubushkin)

Vasilevskiy
Bobrovskiy
Samsonov

Kuznetsov is out because IIHF suspension

 

[Kshahdoo]

Panarin - Malkin - Svechnikov
Ovi - Namestnikov - Kucherov
Dadonov - Barbashev - Tarasenko
Nichushkin - Anisimov - Gurianov
Mikheev

Provorov - Zaitsev
Orlov - Sergachev
Zadorov - Gavrikov
Romanov (Kulikov, Lyubushkin)

Vasilevskiy
Bobrovskiy
Samsonov

Kuznetsov is out because IIHF suspension

Kaprizov, Gusev, Shesterkin? Orlov and Sergachev both are offensive D, they will be exposed defensively. And I think, Kuznetsov's suspension will be lifted to that time, because cocaine is rather a drug, than a doping.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Panarin - Malkin - Svechnikov
Ovi - Namestnikov - Kucherov
Dadonov - Barbashev - Tarasenko
Nichushkin - Anisimov - Gurianov
Mikheev

Provorov - Zaitsev
Orlov - Sergachev
Zadorov - Gavrikov
Romanov (Kulikov, Lyubushkin)

Vasilevskiy
Bobrovskiy
Samsonov

Kuznetsov is out because IIHF suspension

Probably more wing talent than most...center is not exactly world class after Malkin.

 

[Czechboy]

I'll give it a try for Germany though aside from a small number of sure bets there are a lot of players on a similar level right now and it is difficult to guess who will the best of these two years from now.

Lean Bergmann - Leon Draisaitl - Markus Eisenschmid
Marcel Noebels - Tim Stützle - Dominik Bokk
Dominik Kahun - Marc Michaelis - Lukas Reichel
Frederik Tiffels - Nico Sturm - Tobias Rieder
John-Jason Peterka

Konrad Abeltshauser - Moritz Seider
Jonas Müller - Leon Gawanke
Tim Bender - Simon Sezemsky
Lukas Kälble - Leon Hüttl
Maximilian Glötzl

Philip Grubauer
Mathias Niederberger

I'd bring the second NHL goalie personally... your team would be a massive pain in the ass to play against and could cause a few upsets.

 

[PanniniClaus]

I'll give it a try for Germany though aside from a small number of sure bets there are a lot of players on a similar level right now and it is difficult to guess who will the best of these two years from now.

Lean Bergmann - Leon Draisaitl - Markus Eisenschmid
Marcel Noebels - Tim Stützle - Dominik Bokk
Dominik Kahun - Marc Michaelis - Lukas Reichel
Frederik Tiffels - Nico Sturm - Tobias Rieder
John-Jason Peterka

Konrad Abeltshauser - Moritz Seider
Jonas Müller - Leon Gawanke
Tim Bender - Simon Sezemsky
Lukas Kälble - Leon Hüttl
Maximilian Glötzl

Philip Grubauer
Mathias Niederberger

You are right that they have a number of players at a similar level. Plachta and Macek will still only be 30. Macek brings a nice right sided piece to a pp unit. Can play across from Drai or maybe be a focal point to a second unit. I see him being there.

Pfoderl can score... It will be really tight for some of these spots. I can see Kahun paired with Drai on a line.

Longshot..Daniel Fishbuch

The bottom 4 on d...maybe Wagner breaks in but I like your choices. Nowak with an outside chance as a right sided d as I can't see Holzer being there at 34. Who knows though.

 

[ValeriKamensky]

Kaprizov, Gusev, Shesterkin? Orlov and Sergachev both are offensive D, they will be exposed defensively. And I think, Kuznetsov's suspension will be lifted to that time, because cocaine is rather a drug, than a doping.

Kaprizov... he should prove his level at NHL firstly.
Gusev... I don’t see him above top-9 forwards. Also I think national team is not just a mix of best offensive guys. There should be a place for forwards with size, speed and some defensive abilities. This is the reason why Nichushkin, Gurianov and Mikheev make the roster , but Gusev doesn’t
Shesterkin... Unfortunately there’s place only for 3 goalies ))))

 

[Kshahdoo]

Kaprizov... he should prove his level at NHL firstly.
Gusev... I don’t see him above top-9 forwards. Also I think national team is not just a mix of best offensive guys. There should be a place for forwards with size, speed and some defensive abilities. This is the reason why Nichushkin, Gurianov and Mikheev make the roster , but Gusev doesn’t
Shesterkin... Unfortunately there’s place only for 3 goalies ))))

Exactly. That's why Ovi shouldn't be on the team. Gusev >>>>> Ovechkin in international games.

 

[ValeriKamensky]

Exactly. That's why Ovi shouldn't be on the team. Gusev >>>>> Ovechkin in international games.

Unfortunately I never saw Gusev at international games in all stars formation

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

1st line Laine Barkov Rantanen
Heiskanen Lindell

2nd line Aho Teräväinen Kakko
Vaakanainen Jokiharju

3rd line Donskoi Kotkaniemi Armia
Heinola Välimäki

4th line Anttila Haula Kuusela
7th dman Sami Niku / Niko Mikkola / Sami Vatanen / Rasmus Ristolainen ( depending injuries etc )
13th forward Anton Lundell / Jesse Ylönen / Eeli Tolvanen / Juho Lammikko ( depending injuries etc )

Rinne
Rask
Luukkonen

Other candidates
Justus Annunen
Juuse Saros
Kevin Lankinen
Ville Husso
Kaapo Kähkönen
Antti Raanta
Jesse Puljujärvi
Artturi Lehkonen
Brad Lambert ( if he has played well in liiga and got some EHT games )
Mikael Granlund
Markus Granlund
Mikko Koivu ( if still playing )
Valtteri Filppula ( if still playing )
Jussi Jokinen ( if still playing )
Juhani Tyrväinen
Teemu Turunen
Niko Ojamäki
Arttu Ilomäki
Harri Pesonen
Toni Rajala
Roope Hintz
Joel Kiviranta
Henrik Borgström
Rasmus Kupari

Edit
No need to get mad or rip your ass off.
This is only SPECUALTION.

 

[MNRube]

1st line Laine Barkov Rantanen
Heiskanen Lindell

2nd line Aho Teräväinen Kakko
Vaakanainen Jokiharju

3rd line Donskoi Kotkaniemi Armia
Heinola Välimäki

4th line Anttila Haula Kuusela
7th dman Sami Niku / Niko Mikkola / Sami Vatanen / Rasmus Ristolainen ( depending injuries etc )
13th forward Anton Lundell / Jesse Ylönen / Eeli Tolvanen / Juho Lammikko ( depending injuries etc )

Rinne
Rask
Luukkonen

Edit
No need to get mad or rip your ass off.
This is only SPECUALTION.

Trying to imagine how Mikael Granlund doesn't make this team. He had a rough time in Nashville but he got it together before Corona shut everything down and this is a guy who is probably among the 5 best interantional performers in the NHL. He always shows up big for his country. Also, he can play W or C and he is solid in both ends. I don't see any scenario where he is left off.

 

[MNRube]

I'll give it a try for Germany though aside from a small number of sure bets there are a lot of players on a similar level right now and it is difficult to guess who will the best of these two years from now.

Lean Bergmann - Leon Draisaitl - Markus Eisenschmid
Marcel Noebels - Tim Stützle - Dominik Bokk
Dominik Kahun - Marc Michaelis - Lukas Reichel
Frederik Tiffels - Nico Sturm - Tobias Rieder
John-Jason Peterka

Konrad Abeltshauser - Moritz Seider
Jonas Müller - Leon Gawanke
Tim Bender - Simon Sezemsky
Lukas Kälble - Leon Hüttl
Maximilian Glötzl

Philip Grubauer
Mathias Niederberger

Very impressed by this lineup. Another couple years of solid prospects and they will have a very competitive lineup in 5-10 years. Great for hockey!

 

[ORRFForever]

Canada 2022
Huberdeau - McDavid - Mackinnon (beat any first line matchup)
Marchand - Crosby - Bergeron (beat any first/second line matchup)
Stone - ORielly - Scheiflie (elite two-way line, with offense)
Stamkos - Couturier - Marner (Skilled and dangerous offensively, couturier holds down the line defensively)
Tavares
Chabot - Peitrangelo
Theodore - Parayko
Morrissey - Makar
Doughty
Price
Hart

Trying to guess who might improve, and who might regress is pretty tough. Such a solid forward core. Hard to leave off Point, Seguin, Barzal, etc. and Rielly/Weber/Hamilton on defense.

2022 will be the weakest defensive team Canada has sent in a long while.

I don't like the idea of Marner or Stamkos going - Marner is an error machine and Stamkos ALWAYS disappoints internationally. Perhaps Marner can feed Stamkos but... I REALLY don't like them being on the same line.

NO Tavares - slow, slow, slow. Send someone young.

After decades of dominance, a 2022 team is ripe to be beaten.

 

[jaro]

Tatar (A) - Hrivik - Panik
Cehlarik - Hudacek - Lantosi
K.Pospisil - Kristof - Studenic
M. Pospisil - Ruzicka - Dano

Chara (C) - Sekera (A)
Cernak - Fehervary
Marincin - Cajkovsky
Jaros - Gernat

Halak
Tomek

 

[ORRFForever]

Players I do NOT want to see on Team Canada...

Tavares
Dougie Hamilton
Stamkos

Marner - maybe as the 13th forward.​

 

[cg98]

I'll give it a shot

O'Reilly - McDavid - MacKinnon
Marchand - Crosby - Bergeron
Huberdeau - Seguin - Stamkos
Couturier - Scheifele - Stone
Point

Chabot - Pietrangelo
Morrissey - Doughty
Theodore - Parayko
Makar

Binnington
Price
Hart

 

[William H Bonney]

Here's a stab at Team USA:

Forwards (x14):

Kyle Connor - Jack Eichel - Patrick Kane
Jake Guentzel - Auston Matthews - Matthew Tkachuk
Johnny Gaudreau - Dylan Larkin - Blake Wheeler
J.T. Miller - Brock Nelson - Max Pacioretty
Brock Boeser
Extra: Chris Kreider

Defense (x8):

Jaccob Slavin - John Carlson
Ryan Suter - Charlie McAvoy
Zach Werenski - Seth Jones
Torey Krug
Extra: Brett Pesce

Goalies (x3):

Connor Hellebuyck
Ben Bishop
John Gibson
​

Notes:

• Definitely capable of bringing home gold but the top teams are all very good and everyone is still chasing Team Canada.
• The deepest pool and best 'paper' Team USA since the '90s teams.
• USAH would characteristically try to jam some undeserving and unnecessary role players on the team (paging Trevor Lewis and Jack Johnson) but I ignored that for now.
• I didn't bother projecting the progression of our youngest players since it's so variable. There are a few really young guys (i.e. Quinn Hughes) who deserve consideration now and would be on this team if they keep it up.
• Other players I considered:
  • Forward: T.J. Oshie, Brady Tkachuk, Alex DeBrincat, Kevin Hayes, Cam Atkinson
  • Defense: Quinn Hughes, Jacob Trouba, Brandon Carlo, Ryan McDonagh
  • Goalie: None
• Some impressive young and/or newly emerged players to monitor if they can build on their notable current play:
  • Forward: Brady Tkachuk, Bryan Rust
  • Defense: Quinn Hughes, Neal Pionk, Adam Fox, John Marino
  • Goalie: None
• Player pool depth is at a point where they can/should start considering player enthusiasm for USAH (with limits, so more for toss-up decisions and/or lower-end roster selections):
  • A guy like Trocheck (among others like Yandle, etc.) is good enough to be under consideration for a 4th/5th center role but he can't be bothered to play for Team USA despite continual invites.
  • Whereas a guy like Brock Nelson continually shows up for USAH (and is also currently playing better) and should get extra consideration for it. The same goes for a guy like Kreider.
• None of the "old guard" should be under consideration beyond Ryan Suter as he's still a top player. The rest of those guys (Parise, Quick, Stastny, Brown, etc.) did a lot for USAH but their time at this level should be over.

 

[ORRFForever]

Here's a stab at Team USA:

Forwards (x14):

Kyle Connor - Jack Eichel - Patrick Kane
Jake Guentzel - Auston Matthews - Matthew Tkachuk
Johnny Gaudreau - Dylan Larkin - Blake Wheeler
J.T. Miller - Brock Nelson - Max Pacioretty
Brock Boeser
Extra: Chris Kreider

Defense (x8):

Jaccob Slavin - John Carlson
Ryan Suter - Charlie McAvoy
Zach Werenski - Seth Jones
Torey Krug
Extra: Brett Pesce

Goalies (x3):

Connor Hellebuyck
Ben Bishop
John Gibson
​

Notes:

• Definitely capable of bringing home gold but the top teams are all very good and everyone is still chasing Team Canada.
• The deepest pool and best 'paper' Team USA since the '90s teams.
• USAH would characteristically try to jam some undeserving and unnecessary role players on the team (paging Trevor Lewis and Jack Johnson) but I ignored that for now.
• I didn't bother projecting the progression of our youngest players since it's so variable. There are a few really young guys (i.e. Quinn Hughes) who deserve consideration now and would be on this team if they keep it up.
• Other players I considered:
  • Forward: T.J. Oshie, Brady Tkachuk, Alex DeBrincat, Kevin Hayes, Cam Atkinson
  • Defense: Quinn Hughes, Jacob Trouba, Brandon Carlo, Ryan McDonagh
  • Goalie: None
• Some impressive young and/or newly emerged players to monitor if they can build on their notable current play:
  • Forward: Brady Tkachuk, Bryan Rust
  • Defense: Quinn Hughes, Neal Pionk, Adam Fox, John Marino
  • Goalie: None
• Player pool depth is at a point where they can/should start considering player enthusiasm for USAH (with limits, so more for toss-up decisions and/or lower-end roster selections):
  • A guy like Trocheck (among others like Yandle, etc.) is good enough to be under consideration for a 4th/5th center role but he can't be bothered to play for Team USA despite continual invites.
  • Whereas a guy like Brock Nelson continually shows up for USAH (and is also currently playing better) and should get extra consideration for it. The same goes for a guy like Kreider.
• None of the "old guard" should be under consideration beyond Ryan Suter as he's still a top player. The rest of those guys (Parise, Quick, Stastny, Brown, etc.) did a lot for USAH but their time at this level should be over.

Very good team!

My only concerns...

I'm surprised you want to bring Blake Wheeler and Max P.
Both good players, of course, but neither brings their "A Game" internationally - IIRC.
To me, they are like Stamkos - who I would leave home.

Jake Guentzel NEEDS a dynamic center - and you've done that.

Ryan Suter would worry me on the big ice - 37 in 2022.

Other than that, Team U.S.A. has finally gotten the strong middle they've always wanted.

 

[ORRFForever]

I'll give it a shot

O'Reilly - McDavid - MacKinnon
Marchand - Crosby - Bergeron
Huberdeau - Seguin - Stamkos
Couturier - Scheifele - Stone
Point

Chabot - Pietrangelo
Morrissey - Doughty
Theodore - Parayko
Makar

Binnington
Price
Hart

Good team. Brings in a LOT of young blood which will be needed in a fast tournament.

You left Tavares at home. Bravo!

I appear to be the ONLY poster who wants to replace 30 year old Stamkos with someone more reliable. I do NOT understand the love?

If / When Stamkos has a BIG game for us internationally (or for Tampa in the playoffs), please let me know. Otherwise, bring someone else.

 

[William H Bonney]

Very good team!

My only concerns...

I'm surprised you want to bring Blake Wheeler and Max P.
Both good players, of course, but neither brings their "A Game" internationally - IIRC.
To me, they are like Stamkos - who I would leave home.

Jake Guentzel NEEDS a dynamic center - and you've done that.

Ryan Suter would worry me on the big ice - because of his age, 37 in 2022.

Other than that, Team U.S.A. has finally gotten the strong middle they've always wanted.

I didn't consider ice size for my projected roster, although it would alter my choices a bit. I haven't been following the IOC/IIHF/NHL drama, but I imagine it's possible if the NHL agrees to participate they'll want NHL ice to be a part of that decision as I know that was previously bandied about.

I think it's tough to give Wheeler and Pacioretty those labels in international play.

• They had prominent roles at the 2016 World Cup and sucked but that was a 3 game sample size, that roster was laughably built and coached, and the entire team was a dumpster fire.
• Tough to count their 2014 Olympics against them as they barely played. They were 12th & 13th in minutes per game at forward.
  • Wheeler played just 29 minutes in 6 games (31% of it in the bronze medal game). I remember folks wishing he was playing more because he brought a lot of energy in his extremely rare shifts.
  • Pacioretty only played 51 minutes in 5 games and almost missed the tournament due to injury.
• Both were impressive in their only World Championship appearances.

I think both Wheeler and Patches are solid choices from my forward list to not be worthy of the team 18 months from now (or at least in reduced roles), as I didn't factor in any projected progression/regression in my current choices. But I think if that happens it will be due to the fact that there are young guys nipping at their heels who are likely to keep improving (i.e. Boeser) and take those spots more than a reflection of their past Team USA performances.

The big ice would hurt Suter's chances more than his age IMO. He's always been one of the most underrated NHLers and his style of play is very adaptable since his hockey IQ is so good and he maximizes time and space really well even those he's not an elite skater. Similar to Wheeler/Patches, I think he's a good candidate to get passed by younger players and left off the team or included in a reduced role. There are a couple of factors in his favor though: he's the only true international veteran worthy of contention on defense (and USAH loves that whether or not we think it should be a factor) and right now, the only other real LHD considerations are McDonagh (down season offensively) and Hughes (great rookie season but he's only 20).

 

[ORRFForever]

I didn't consider ice size for my projected roster, although it would alter my choices a bit. I haven't been following the IOC/IIHF/NHL drama, but I imagine it's possible if the NHL agrees to participate they'll want NHL ice to be a part of that decision as I know that was previously bandied about.

True. Given that it is in China, I doubt there would be any pre-existing international rinks so NHL size rinks may be the way they go.

As for Max P and Wheeler, I'm a "once bitten, twice shy" kinda fan because I find players that have failed to produce in big games internationally, never produce, and I hate going back to the well. In Canada I'm thinking of Tavares and Stamkos.

 

[Rene Saari]

TEAM FINLAND 2022:

Four strong lines, and Granlund playing center because of larger rink.
Also trying to create lines between players I would like to see playing together (4 strong lines in mind).
If the lines won’t work they could be ”easily” changed for the ones we have had in the previous tournaments (like Aho-Teräväinen or Laine-Barkov etc.).

Kapanen-Barkov-Teräväinen*
Laine-Aho-Puljujärvi**
Lehkonen-Hintz-Rantanen***
Donskoi-Granlund-Armia****
(Kakko / Kotkaniemi / {Haula})

*All around line with TOP5 center Barkov, Teuvo passes from a right slot and speedy Kappe finishes.

**Star line from U20 WJC. IF Puljujärvi would step up to be a decent 3rd liner in the NHL, this line would be a monster especially in wider european rinks.

***Two way Arsi who can create space, speedy 2way Hintz and one of the best around the boards and set up- player Rants.

****Joonas and Mikael has previous history playing together, IMO Joppe mixes in well.

Defense, this could change a lot...

Lindell-Ristolainen (previous history)
Heiskanen-Jokiharju (previous history)
Määttä-Vatanen (previous history)
IN THE MIX:
Nutivaara, Lehtonen, Vaakanainen, Niku, Välimäki

IN THE CREASE:
Rask
Saros
Raanta

Tough international games, so probably there is not much room for youngsters.
Kakko, Heiskanen, Jokiharju (because R) and Kotkaniemi are the safest bets.

EDIT. Forgot Haula. Added {}