Sweden D Pairings

"@drosennhl: Sweden's D pairs as expected: Karlsson-OEL, Ericsson-Kronwall, Oduya-Hjalmarsson, Edler-Tallinder."/Impressive group.

Thats some skill right there.
- PhillySportsGuy

The Swedes are nasty

The Swedes are nasty
- Giroux_Is_God

I think they play Russia really early on. Thats a tough spot for Russia because I think it's their first game. Swedes will be tough for them. Especially with jitters.

I think they play Russia really early on. Thats a tough spot for Russia because I think it's their first game. Swedes will be tough for them. Especially with jitters.
- PhillySportsGuy

OEL-Karlsson is hands down the best d-pair in the tourny -- and they get to face off against the best top-six in the tourny OV-Malkin-Semin/Kovalchuk-Datsyuk-Radulov.

I think they play Russia really early on. Thats a tough spot for Russia because I think it's their first game. Swedes will be tough for them. Especially with jitters.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think Sweden takes gold. I really do.

I also don't think Russia medals.

The Fins could make some noise, and hey- so can the US. They have Miller back there.

Canada is Canada.

This is gonna be a fun tournament I think.

I think Sweden takes gold. I really do.

I also don't think Russia medals.

The Fins could make some noise, and hey- so can the US. They have Miller back there.

Canada is Canada.

This is gonna be a fun tournament I think.
- Giroux_Is_God

I have a feeling that neither NA team will medal.

I think it's a toss-up between Sweden and Russia... Russia's fire-power versus Sweden's D... Varlamov vs Lundqvist.

I think Sweden takes gold. I really do.

I also don't think Russia medals.

The Fins could make some noise, and hey- so can the US. They have Miller back there.

Canada is Canada.

This is gonna be a fun tournament I think.
- Giroux_Is_God

I like the US roster a lot. They are very strong on two-way forwards and two-way defenseman.

They can really just roll lines and not worry as much about match ups.

I have a feeling that neither NA team will medal.

I think it's a toss-up between Sweden and Russia... Russia's fire-power versus Sweden's D... Varlamov vs Lundqvist.
- Tomahawk

I hope Canada and Russia both lay an egg.

I agree. Make trades with the viewpoint of making the team better in the long term. And as far as trading a player like Timonen. I'd speculate that if the Flyers are in a fight for the playoffs, he isn't going to want to go anywhere. And I don't think the Flyers would force the issue.
- MJL

They will be in the playoff hunt even if they lose the three games before the deadline, so I don't see Kimmo going anywhere, either.

Sweden D Pairings

"@drosennhl: Sweden's D pairs as expected: Karlsson-OEL, Ericsson-Kronwall, Oduya-Hjalmarsson, Edler-Tallinder."/Impressive group.

Thats some skill right there.
- PhillySportsGuy

And no room for Hedman, not even on the reserve list.

And no room for Hedman, not even on the reserve list.
- Feanor

A little surprised by that. I can understand Hjalmarsson and Oduya because they have good chemistry together, but I would have put Hedman ahead of Edler or Tallinder. I like both those guys, but I like Hedman more.

I like the US roster a lot. They are very strong on two-way forwards and two-way defenseman.

They can really just roll lines and not worry as much about match ups.
- PhillySportsGuy

US team seems like it's built for the smaller ice... they have enough foot speed, but outside of Kane (and Parise), I'm wondering if they have enough quality decision makers with the puck up front, and they don't seem like a team that will east-west well to take advantage of the wider surface.

US team seems like it's built for the smaller ice... they have enough foot speed, but outside of Kane (and Parise), I'm wondering if they have enough quality decision makers with the puck up front, and they don't seem like a team that will east-west well to take advantage of the wider surface.
- Tomahawk

I think positioning is more important than overall speed on the wider surface. The US has enough speed, but they have very good positional players.

They were beatable. They were still very young and freewheeling. Niemi also wasn't a top goaltender at that point.

Had they been able to keep that team together and moved Byfuglien to defense. Wow
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree. If the Flyers had gotten great goaltending, they could've won that Series and the Cup.

I think positioning is more important than overall speed on the wider surface. The US has enough speed, but they have very good positional players.
- PhillySportsGuy

Positioning is completely different on the bigger ice -- I wonder if they can adjust quickly enough. The closing distance is so much greater on the larger ice, too... guys like Backes, Callahan, Orpik and Kesler might not be very effective.

I think they'll go as far as their Ds and Gs can carry them.

OEL-Karlsson is hands down the best d-pair in the tourny -- and they get to face off against the best top-six in the tourny OV-Malkin-Semin/Kovalchuk-Datsyuk-Radulov.
- Tomahawk

I think the Keith-Weber pairing is easily better. And so is the Pietrangelo-Bouwmeester pairing.

Positioning is completely different on the bigger ice -- I wonder if they can adjust quickly enough. The closing distance is so much greater on the larger ice, too... guys like Backes, Callahan, Orpik and Kesler might not be very effective.

I think they'll go as far as their Ds and Gs can carry them.
- Tomahawk

Kesler can move pretty well. I think they'll be good. I don't see them blowing teams out, but I see them being very difficult to play against. Similar to the team of 4 years ago, but with more skill.

I think the Keith-Weber pairing is easily better. And so is the Pietrangelo-Bouwmeester pairing.
- MJL

Keith-Weber is the best in the tournament I think. OEL-Karlsson is the best offensive pairing.

I think the Keith-Weber pairing is easily better. And so is the Pietrangelo-Bouwmeester pairing.
- MJL

On NHL ice maybe.

On NHL ice maybe.
- Tomahawk

Valid point...

I guess Bill is working on Sochi time

Bill's got an Olympic post up:
http://www.hockeybuzz.com...nits-Take-Shape/203/57902

On NHL ice maybe.
- Tomahawk

On any ice surface, that Keith-Weber pairing is a dream pairing. A perfect combination of all the aspects you want in a defense pairing.

On any ice surface, that Keith-Weber pairing is a dream pairing. A perfect combination of all the aspects you want in a defense pairing.
- MJL

Blake/Bourque/Desjardins/Foote/MacInnis/Pronger/Stevens failed to medal in 1998.

Ditto Blake/Bouwmeester/Foote/McCabe/Pronger/Redden/Regehr in 2006.

Countries/players used to playing on the big ice have a huge advantage in these short tournaments.

Blake/Bourque/Desjardins/Foote/MacInnis/Pronger/Stevens failed to medal in 1998.

Ditto Blake/Bouwmeester/Foote/McCabe/Pronger/Redden/Regehr in 2006.

Countries/players used to playing on the big ice have a huge advantage in these short tournaments.
- Tomahawk

And in 2010 they did what?

Blake/Bourque/Desjardins/Foote/MacInnis/Pronger/Stevens failed to medal in 1998.

Ditto Blake/Bouwmeester/Foote/McCabe/Pronger/Redden/Regehr in 2006.

Countries/players used to playing on the big ice have a huge advantage in these short tournaments.
- Tomahawk

There's more to a team then just defense pairings. Who has the best team and plays the best will decide who's going to win the Toruney. I agree that players and teams that are used to playing on a larger surface, have an advantage. But Hockey is hockey, and players can adjust.