Scandinavia: Sweden and Finland

by Beanster on Dec 30, 2011 11:06 PM EST

Sweden:

Forwards:

Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin- Loui Eriksson

Henrik Zetterberg - Niklas Backstrom - Johan Franzen

Viktor Stalberg - Alexander Steen -Daniel Alfredsson

Gabriel Landeskog - Marcus Johansson - Mikael Samuelsson

Tomas Holmstrom

Defence:

Niklas Lidstrom -Tobias Enstrom

Erik Karlsson - Alexander Edler

Victor Hedman - Niklas Kronwall

Henrik Tallinder

Goalie:

Henrik Lundqvist (starter)

Johan Hedberg

Jhonas Enroth

NHL cuts from Vancouver: Jonas Gustavsson, Douglas Murray, Mattias Ohlund, Johnny Oduya, Patric Hornqvist, Fredrik Modin, Samuel Pahlsson

See you in Socchi: Oliver Enkman-Larsson, Adam Larsson, Jakob Markstrom

Team breakdown: The Swedes are good. Like really good their top 2 lines could be tops on any international squad and their 4th line is still home to some great NHLers. The Swedes did still use some SEL players on their Vancouver squad but I may only see 2-3 cracking this lineup especially with the strong young players from being drafted into NHL teams. The Swedes major weakness is perhaps a lack of toughness but this is less of an issue at the Olympics than in the playoffs. With a top goalie, the best passing defensemen, and a very skilled set of forwards the Swedes are a team to beat.

Trending: Upward the strong junior sides of 2008-2010 are coming into their own combine that with never ageing Swedish ability they will be a medal favorite come Socchi.

Ranking: Silver Medal

Finland

Forwards:

Saku Koivu - Mikko Koivu -Teemu Selanne

Lauri Korpikoski - Olli Jokinen - Jussi Jokinen

Niklas Hagman - Valtteri Filppula - Tuomo Ruutu

Sean Bergenheim - Ville Leino - Antti Miettinen

Defence:

Kimmo Timonen - Sami Salo

Joni Pitkanen - Toni Lydman

Teemu Laakso - Sami Lepisto

Goalie:

Pekka Rinne (Starter)

Antti Niemi

Miikka Kiprusoff

NHL cuts from Vancouver: Antero Nittymaki, Jarko Ruutu Jere Lehtinen (retired)

See you in Socchi: Joel Armia, Mikael Granlund

Team breakdown: Team Finland has had the same core for a number of years and will likely see a similar group from Vancouver to Socchi. This lack of turnover show there is little depth especially at the NHL level for the Finns and it is likely that at least 4-5 European league players crack the roster especially if more than 12 and 6 are taken at each position. This being said this roster consistency has truly allowed for this group of players to be a better team than any of the medal contenders. The Finns also have 6 goaltenders that could make the roster. Rinne is the class of goaltender that could carry a team a long way.

Trending: Steady the team isn't getting younger but it still has a number of stars especially in goal who are in/hitting their prime

Ranking: 5th

This FanPost was written by a member of the Silver Seven community, and does not necessarily reflect the beliefs or opinions of the site managers, editors, or Sports Blogs Nation, Inc.

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This is just my opinion:

So please share what you think about these teams and how they would do now and will do in the future I would love to hear from our knowledgeable fan base

by Beanster on Dec 30, 2011 11:19 PM EST reply actions

From a Swedish point of wiew.

It all depends on when, Team Sweden of today or Team Sweden a couple of years from now.
Well, should I pick a Team Sweden today, it would be close to your pick. Have some changes though.

Goalies:
Henrik Lundqvist

Viktor Fasth (SEL)

Jakob Markström.

Victor Fasth should play in the NHL, Lundqvist is better than him, but not by much. Jakob Markström will be better than Lundqvist in a close future. In my opinion no.2 and 3 of Swedish goalies at the moment. I could even throw in a joker, Anders Lindbäck, Predators.

At defence I Would pick Doug Murray over Tallinder and Magnus Johansson (SEL) over Alex Edler.

Lack of toughness it is, thats why i want Murray on the team. And to be honest, Tallinder is in my opinion overrated. But why Magnus Johansson? Well, eliteprospects.com says it best: “One of Europe’s best defensemen. A very good passer with a good shot. Almost never misses the net and has an excellent eye for the game.”

Forwards.
Daniel Sedin – Henrik Sedin- Loui Eriksson

Henrik Zetterberg – Niklas Backstrom – Jacob Silfverberg (SEL)

Martin Törnberg(KHL)- Alexander Steen -Daniel Alfredsson

Marcus Johansson – Carl Söderberg(SEL) – Johan Franzén.

Silfverberg was good last season, this season he is on another planet. As captain of a serious contender to the cup this year he leads his team both on and of the ice in a great way, and he´s only 21. I put him with Nicklas Bäckström for a couple of reasons, but mostly because their familiar with how each of them play hockey.

Martin Törnberg has got a mouth that can agitate, he can play a physical game and even like to do it in a bit of a ugly way that you just love when he´s on your team byt hates when he´s on the other team. But most of all he is a sniper.

Carl Söderberg. The wonderchild who said no to NHL more than once in his teens, who said no to top-SEL teams rigth after that, all because of a dream to help his hometownteam (currently playing in the second tier division) to reach the SEL. At the age of 26 he finally decided to move on to the SEL. He´s a great two-way centre whit an offensive uppside.

by SwedeTom on Dec 31, 2011 8:57 AM EST reply actions

GREAT POST!!

Like i described in my initial breakdown I have little to no knowledge of the European level players and how they match up to the NHL…

The team I have written out is for 2012 assuming the Olympics were this February. The “See you in Socchi” section labels players that are on the rise and should have a place on the team.

I will agree with you on the goalies after Lundqvist it is a bit of a crap shoot and Markstrom is definitely on the rise.

As for the defence Doug Murray is tough and I had Tallinder as a 7th D so that swap is definitely possible. I may have overloaded the backline with passing D-men. The description of Magnus Johanssen sounds very similar to everything we heard about Rundblad and frankly I was a bit disappointed.

For the forwards you took out what I would have considered the bottom 3 in Samuelsson Landeskog and Stalberg. I do think Landeskog will be there in 2014 but I included him for that extra grit/ North American styled game that you seem to desire in Tomberg. I will take your word on Soderberg. As for Silfverberg WOW is he really that good? If so this makes me very happy/very upset he is not with us this year. I hope his transition to the NHL next year can be smooth and see him represent Sweden in 2014.

Thanks for your addition to the thread always great to hear about all the other great hockey players around the world

by Beanster on Dec 31, 2011 2:50 PM EST up reply actions

Not to be that guy, but Finland isn’t part of Scandinavia. It’s a Nordic country, but not a Scandinavian one.

Other than that, great write-up!

Co-manager, Silver Seven

by DarrenM on Jan 3, 2012 12:02 AM EST reply actions

bring 'em out of reitrement...

just skimmed over the players on your rosters and the first thing that jumped out at me was the number of players you have that will most likely be retired by then. Lidstrom, Alfie, Temmu, Saku…

by SBS138 on Jan 3, 2012 12:07 AM EST reply actions