The World Championship began yesterday, so sorry for the late previews. Here is the preview for the teams in Group Stockholm this year.
Note: Most information from the IIHF website.
Belarus
Goalies: Vitali Belinski (Yunost Minsk, Belarus), Stepan Goryachevskikh (Donbass Donets'k, KHL), Dmitri Milchakov (Metallurg Zhlobin, Belarus)
Defense: Pavel Chernaok (Dynamo Minsk, KHL), Andrei Filichkin (HK Gomel, Belarus), Oleg Goroshko (Dynamo Minsk, KHL), Roman Graborenko (Albany Devils, AHL), Ilya Kaznadei (Metallurg Zhlobin, Belarus), Yaroslav Maslenikov (HK Gomel, Belarus), Ilya Shinkevich (Metallurg Zhlobin, Belarus)
Forwards: Vyacheslav Andryushenko (Metallurg Zhlobin, Belarus), Artyom Demkov (Hamburg Freezers, DEL), Artyom Kisly (Neman Grodno, Belarus), Alexander Kitarov (Dynamo Minsk, KHL), Konstantin Koltsov (Atlant Mytishi, KHL), Yevgeni Kovyrshin (Severstal Cherepovets, KHL), Alexander Kulakov (Dynamo Minsk, KHL), Dmitri Meleshko (Dynamo Minsk, KHL), Yevgeni Solomonov (HK Gomel, Belarus), Andrei Stas (Dynamo Minsk, KHL), Mikhail Stefanovich (HK Gomel, Belarus), Alexei Ugarov (Torpedo Nizhni Novogorod, KHL), Alexei Yefimenko (Shakhtyor Soligorsk, Belarus)
World Ranking: 13th
Last Years Result: 14th
Top Threat: No pressure to have a good showing, as they are ineligible for relegation since they host next year's tournament.
Weakness: Despite being safe from relegation, they have come close to it in the past couple years. Should start playing with a sense of urgency.
Projected Finish: Preliminary Round
Canada
Goalies: Devan Dubnyk (Edmonton Oilers, NHL), Mike Smith (Phoenix Coyotes, NHL)
Defense: T.J. Brodie (Calgary Flames), Brian Campbell (Florida Panthers), Brenden Dillon (Dallas Stars), Jay Harrison (Carolina Hurricanes), Stephane Robidas (Dallas Stars), Luke Schenn (Philadelphia Flyers, NHL), Justin Schultz (Edmonton Oilers)
Forwards: Matt Duchene (Colorado Avalanche, NHL), Jordan Eberle (Edmonton Oilers, NHL), Claude Giroux (Philadelphia Flyers, NHL), Taylor Hall (Edmonton Oilers, NHL), Andrew Ladd (Winnipeg Jet, NHL), Ryan O'Reilly (Colorado Avalanche, NHL), Matt Read (Philadelphia Flyers, NHL), Wayne Simmonds (Philadelphia Flyers, NHL), Jeff Skinner (Carolina Hurricanes, NHL), Eric Staal (Carolina Hurricanes, NHL), Jordan Staal (Carolina Hurricanes, NHL), Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL)
World Ranking: 5th
Last Years Result: 5th
Top Threat: Definitely some Olympic-level talent on this roster.
Weakness: Really questioning if Duchene and O'Reilly will be focused on this and not Vegas.
Projected Finish: Medal Round
Czech Republic
Goalies: Pavel Francouz (HC Verva Litvinov, ELH), Alexander Salak (Farjestad BK, SEL)
Defense: Petr Caslava (Severstal Cherepovets, KHL), Jan Hedja (Colorado Avalanche, NHL), Zdenek Kutlak (HC Ambri-Piotta, NLA), Zbynek Michalek (Phoenix Coyotes, NHL), Jakub Nakladal (Lev Praha, KHL), Ladislav Smid (Edmonton Oilers, NHL)
Forwards: Tomas Fleischmann (Colorado Avalanche, NHL), Martin Hanzal (Phoenix Coyotes, NHL), Tomas Hertl (Slavia Praha, ELH), Petr Hubacek (JYP Jyvaskyla, SM-liiga), Jiri Hudler (Calgary Flames, NHL), Zbynek Irgl (Dynamo Minsk), Jan Kovar (HC Plzen, ELH), Jiri Novotny (Lev Praha, KHL), Petr Tenkrat (Sparta Praha, ELH), Jiri Tlusty (Carolina Hurricanes), Jakub Voracek (Philadelphia Flyers, NHL), Petr Vrana (Lev Praha, KHL), Radim Vrbata (Phoenix Coyotes, NHL)
World Ranking: 3rd
Last Years Result: 3rd
Top Threat: Forward core looks solid, should do some damage.
Weakness: I really wonder about the impact of constantly rotating goalie tandems year after year.
Projected Finish: Medal Round
Denmark
Goalies: Patrick Galbraith (IK Oskarshamn, Mestis), Simon Nielsen (Lukko Rauma, SM-liiga)
Defense: Mads Bodker (IF Malmo Redhawks, HockeyAllsvenskan), Jesper B. Jensen (Rogle BK, SEL), Stefan Lassen (IF Malmo Redhawks, HockeyAllsvenskan), Markus Lauridsen (Lake Erie Monsters, AHL), Oliver Lauridsen (Philadelphia Flyers, NHL), Daniel Nielsen (Hamburg Freezers, DEL), Rasmus Nielsen (Herning Blue Fox, Denmark)
Forwards: Mads Christensen (Eisbaren Berlin, DEL), Morten Green (Hannover Scorpions, DEL), Nichlas Hardt (Jokerit Helsinki, SM-liiga), Julian Jakobsen (Hamburg Freezers, DEL), Jesper Jensen (Karlskrona HK, HockeyAllsvenskan), Morten Madsen (MODO Ornskoldsvik, SEL), Morten Poulsen (IK Oskarshamn, HockeyAllsvenskan), Kirill Starkov (IK Oskarshamn, HockeyAllsvenskan), Frederik Storm (IF Malmo Redhawks, HockeyAllsvenskan)
World Ranking: 12th
Last Years Result: 13th
Top Threat: Defense seems to have improved from last year.
Weakness: Their offense is definitely weaker without it's NHL talent.
Projected Finish: Preliminary Round
Norway
Goalies: Lars Haugen (Dynamo Minsk, KHL), Lars Volden (Espoo Blues, SM-liiga)
Defense: Alexander Bonsaksen (Rogle BK, SEL), Jonas Holos (Vaxjo Lakers, SEL), Henrik Odegaard (Sparta Sarpsborg, GET-ligaen), Daniel Sorvik (Valerenga Oslo, GET-ligaen), Henrik Solberg (Stavanger Oilers, GET-ligaen), Ole-Kristian Tollefsen (MODO Ornskoldsvik, SEL), Mats Trygg (HV71 Jonkoping, SEL)
Forwards: Morten Ask (Valerenga Oslo, GET-ligaen), Anders Bastiansen (Farjestad BK, SEL), Kristian Forsberg (MODO Ornskoldsvik, SEL), Mads Hansen (Brynas Gavle, SEL), Marius Holtet (Farjestad BK, SEL), Andreas Martinsen (Dusseldorfer EG, DEL), Ken Andre Olimb (BIK Karlskoga, HockeyAllsvenskan), Mathis Olimb (Frolunda Gothenburg, SEL), Niklas Roest (Sparta Sarpsborg, GET-ligaen), Martin Roymark (Farjestad BK, SEL), Per-Age Skroder (MODO Ornskoldsvik, SEL), Lars Erik Spets (Lorenskog IK, GET-ligaen), Patrick Thoresen (SKA St. Petersburg, KHL)
World Ranking: 8th
Last Years Result: 8th
Top Threat: Have performed pretty well in previous tournaments.
Weakness: The strength of this group will not be kind to Norway.
Projected Finish: Preliminary Round
Slovenia
Goalies: Luca Gracnar (EC Red Bull Salzburg, EBEL), Andrej Hocevar (Sokol Kyiv, Ukraine), Robert Kristan (KHL Medvescak Zagreb, EBEL)
Defense: Blaz Gregorc (Odense IK, Denmark), Sabahudin Kovacevic (HK SKP Poprad, Slovakia), Ales Kranjc (Kolner Haie, DEL), Ziga Pavlin (Rogle BK, SEL), Klemen Pretnar (EC VSV, EBEL), Mitja Robar (Krefeld Pinguine, DEL), Andrej Tavzelj (Rouen, France)
Forwards: Luka Basic (Amiens, France), Bostjan Golicic (Briancon, France), Gaspar Kopitar (Mora IK, HockeyAllsvenskan), Ziga Jeglic (Sodertalje SK, HockeyAllsvenskan), Ales Music (Olimpija Ljubljana, EBEL), Rok Pajic (HC Val Pusteria, Italy), Ziga Pance (Olimpija Ljubljana, EBEL), Tomaz Razingar (EV Ravensburg, Germany), David Rodman (Bietigheim Steelers, Germany), Marcel Rodman (Bietigheim Steelers, Germany), Robert Sabolic (ERC Ingolstadt, DEL), Rok Ticar (Kolner Haie, DEL), Jan Urbas (Vaxjo Lakers, SEL)
World Ranking: 18th
Last Years Result: 1st (Division I, Group A)
Top Threat: Overall, must feel great coming in to this tournament knowing that they get to play in the Olympics next year.
Weakness: Still close to that not-good-for-Worlds, too-good-for-Division I zone.
Projected Finish: Relegation
Sweden
Goalies: Jhonas Enroth (Buffalo Sabres, NHL), Jacob Markstrom (Florida Panthers, NHL)
Defense: Elias Falth (HV71 Jonkoping, SEL), Johan Fransson (Lulea HF, SEL), Petter Granberg (Skelleftea AIK, SEL), Erik Gustafsson (Philadelphia Flyers, NHL), Staffan Kronwall (Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, KHL), Henrik Tallinder (New Jersey Devils, NHL)
Forwards: Dick Axelsson (Frolunda Gothenburg, SEL), Nicklas Danielsson (Lev Praha, KHL), Loui Eriksson (Dallas Stars, NHL), Jimmie Ericsson (Skelleftea AIK, SEL), Simon Hjalmarsson (Linkopings HC, SEL), Andreas Jamtin (HV71 Jonkoping, SEL), Calle Jarnkrok (Brynas Gavle, SEL), Gabriel Landeskog (Colorado Avalanche, NHL), Oscar Lindberg (Skelleftea AIK, SEL), Joel Lundqvist (Frolunda Gothenburg, SEL), Niklas Persson (CSKA Moscow, KHL), Martin Thornberg (Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, KHL)
World Ranking: 4th
Last Years Result: 6th
Top Threat: Kept most of the core from the Czech Games win, plus added a few NHLers.
Weakness: I don't know why, but that goalie tandem of Enroth and Markstrom just seem leery
Projected Finish: Quarter Finals
Switzerland
Goalies: Reto Berra (EHC Biel, NLA), Martin Gerber (Rogle BK, SEL)
Defense: Eric Blum (Kloten Flyers, NLA), Severin Blindenbacher (ZSC Lions Zurich, NLA), Philippe Furrer (SC Bern, NLA), Robin Grossmann (HC Davos, NLA), Roman Josi (Nashville Predators, NHL), Mathias Seger (ZSC Lions Zurich), Julien Vauclair (HC Lugano, NLA), Patrick von Gunten (Kloten Flyers, NLA)
Forwards: Andres Ambuhl (ZSC Lions Zurich, NLA), Matthias Bieber (Kloten Flyers, NLA), Simon Bodenmann (Kloten Flyers, NLA), Luca Cunti (ZSC Lions Zurich, NLA), Ryan Gardiner (SC Bern, NLA), Denis Hollenstein (Kloten Flyers, NLA), Simon Moser (SCL Tigers Langnau, NLA), Nino Niederreiter (Bridgeport Sound Tigers, AHL), Martin Pluss (SC Bern, NLA), Reto Suri (EV Zug, NLA), Morris Trachsler (ZSC Lions Zurich, NLA), Julian Walker (Geneve-Servette, NLA)
World Ranking: 9th
Last Years Result: 11th
Top Threat: Gerber should proved solid goaltending for the Swiss.
Weakness: Forward crop seems lighter than usual.
Projected Finish: Quarter Finals
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