Since people were asking me to continue and try my best to do most of the major Olympic teams rosters, I’ve decided to postpone my Benjamin Conz article until I’m done with these. Now many countries have taken a little bit of the sport out of it by announcing their camp invitees, so it will be more like picking names out of a hat than just stabbing blindly in the dark and hoping it’s the person you hate. The Tre Kronor have always been a formidable opponent and have always been in that contender category. In recent years the Swedes have really been a driving force in hockey, producing more and more top-end talent. They won Gold in 2006 at Turin on the backs of some of the greatest NHL players of the decade in Peter “Two Foot” Forsberg, Nicklas Lidstrom, Daniel Alfredsson, Mats Sundin and this little known goalie coming off a rookie season in the NHL Henrik Lundqvist. The Swedes just recently won Gold at the World Championships. So here is my take on the team that could very well win it all.
Oh ya, and before somebody guts me for it, Daniel Alfredsson was not invited to the camp, so that’s why I’m leaving him off, I know some Sens fans didn’t like that I had Spezza off, so this isn’t a “hate Sens” things mates.
Daniel Sedin – Henrik Sedin (A) – Johan Franzén
The reasoning behind this is simply that the Sedin’s will be expected to do major heavy lifting offensively. They’ll be there, they have chemistry and while most complain about their “softness” this is the big ice and a tournament where you aren’t allowed to punch somebody repeatedly in the face and have no league consequence. Henrik in particular has really matured his game in my mind…Daniel…well I’ll save my criticisms. Franzén however is the key, not only is he surprisingly the best natural right winger Sweden has, he’s probably the only “power forward.” Yes he’s inconsistent as all hell, yes he’s pretty slow and yes he’s always freaking hurt…but when he’s on his game The Mule can dominate down low and score at will. He’ll find his way onto the team, but knowing him he’ll be a first liner one game and on the fourth the next.
Henrik Zetterberg (C) – Nicklas Bäckström – Loui Eriksson
This could probably be the actual first line to be honest. A mix of top-end skill, excellent speed and all three guys can make magical passes and two can put it in the net. I think Zetterberg gets the captaincy this year, with Alfie left off there really is no “old guard” left. He’s the face of Swedish hockey to me (for forwards at least) and has already taken the “C” from one of the greatest legends ever in Detroit. The other two, well Bäckström is one of the top playmakers in the game and Eriksson is a top two-way threat.
Gabriel Landeskog – Patrik Berglund – Alexander Steen
Landeskog had an injury shortened shortened season which kind of screwed up his sophomore year, but he’s mature beyond his 21 birthdays. The young power forward won the Calder and provides fantastic play in all three zones. Berglund comes into the tournament as the highest NHL goal scoring Swede after his 17 goal campaign. He’s always been a bit of a tweener, never really consistent enough to be a true 2nd line centre, but I think after that big season he’s shown that he can make this team…sadly the Swedes are not as deep as they used to be at centre so he’s kind of a lock. Steen is pretty underrated in the hockey world; some injuries seem to keep him from that discussion of being a top-line forward. He plays a responsible all-around game yet provides some offense. This line could be a real bitch to handle.
Carl Hagelin – Marcus Krüger – Oscar Lindberg
Hagelin is one of the fastest skaters in the NHL and his game on the big ice will probably be something to watch. He’s coming off a very good season in New York where he’s developing into a top-6 threat. Krüger while not big is a very accomplished two-way player. It’s hard to describe, but he’s got fantastic positioning, he really thinks the game better than his skill level can ever reach…which is why he’s doomed to be a 2nd/3rd line kind of guy. He isn’t a Patrice Bergeron that you can slap in at the 4th line position and go “Holy crap how the hell is he only there,” but he’s a good player. Now the last member of the forward group some people might not know. Lindberg is a 21 year old prospect now part of the Rangers organization after a moronic trade from Phoenix…ugg…and he has blossomed in the past year from an extremely defensively solid forward with little offensive upside, to well…a two-way scoring threat. He played a similar role for the WC team that won Gold this past year, so I think he will be the surprise player on the team.
Gustav Nyquist
I think a big start would help find him a place on this team; he certainly has the talent and the dangles, not sure if he’s quite there yet. I have him over Johansson, Hörnqvist (too slow for this kind of thing) and Persson.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Erik Karlsson
This is the future of Sweden…and what a future it is. Ekman-Larsson has quickly become one of the best all-around defensemen in the game. Before you protest, watch this kid play, he’s amazing. Offensively he’s gifted, defensively brilliant, he hits, he stick checks, he wins board battles, he can score on a lob from the point like nobody else. Karlsson, simply put is born for this kind of competition; he can use his speed and smarts to dominate possession and scoring. OEL is one of the few people in my mind that can keep up with Karlsson in each zone. Come to think of it, this could be the best pairing in the entire tournament if Karlsson’s foot heals well.
Niklas Kronwall (A) – Niklas Hjalmarsson
Get the two Niklas’ on a pairing and you have a really solid tandem. Kronwall has some explosive tendencies like going for the big hit or making a risky play, but is still fairly reliable in his own zone. He could use the steadying presence of Hjalmarsson though. Hjalmarsson really proved that he is a top-4 defender in the NHL last season and I really liked his play in the playoffs. He still makes a few mistakes, but defensively he’s very strong and is showing a little bit of puck moving as he evolves.
Alexander Edler – Victor Hedman
This one took a little pondering because there are a whole lot of guys really in the same league at this point, so a good start will determine who rounds out the obvious top-4. Edler like Kronwall can make the dynamic play and bring some magic…but he also has some inconsistency issues and likes to tease you with elite play then “wtf” moments. He missed the last Olympics, but was still a young and growing player then, now he’s in his prime and if he can put it together can be one of the better defenders in the NHL. Hedman took the last spot because in my mind he’s really grown as a player despite massive expectations on him. The 22 year old was given more ice-time and responsibilities with the Lightning and seemed to really begin to become the top-pairing two-way guy they hoped. He’s not Pronger, but he’s pretty good.
Johnny Oduya
I really wanted to put Jonas Brodin as the extra because I think he’s fast on the track to becoming one of the best defensive defenders in the league…alas, he’s still too young. Oduya beats out two glaciers in Douglas Murray and Jonathan Ericsson.
Henrik Lundqvist
The King might be the best goalie in the world, he’s consistently near the top in the NHL each season and if he continues at his pace will likely be in the HOF at some point. He’s already won the Swedes a Gold in Turin and while the Swedes disappointed in 2010, he didn’t. No brainer here.
Jhonas Enroth
I wrestled with this one for a bit because he and Fasth are both very close in terms of ability, and really won’t be called on barring an injury. Unlike Canada, Lundqvist will be the guy unless he gets hit by a car or something. Enroth recently won the Swedes Gold at the World Championships and was named the Best Goaltender after a miniscule 1.15 GAA and .956sv% in the 7 games. I guess you go with who is hot and Enroth was really bloody hot in that tournament.
Robin Lehner
I always like to think that the third stringer should be a position for a younger player or an older vet on his last legs to sit and be a part of the Olympics and the team. A position where a young player can see the world stage and learn what it takes to perform when it’s his turn, or for an old goalie to give his advice and presence. I went with Lehner because I might be in the minority of people who think he’s better than Markstrom and is going to be an amazing number one in a few years. He was dominant in his call-up to Ottawa and was dominant in the AHL, I think he’s probably already better (though less experienced) than the Ewok Enroth.
Thanks for reading.
http://swehockey.se/Startsidesnyheter/2013/Juni2013/TreKronorsamlasforenOS-traffden12-14augustiiStockholm/
The full list of invitees.
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