WJC: Preliminary Swedish WJC Roster

(guess this thread could be moved once the WJC board pops up)

Goalies (1 will be cut)
Jhonas Enroth (06 eligible)
Daniel Larsson
Magnus Åkerlund (Carolina)

Defensemen (3 will be cut)
Niklas Andersson
Alexander Edler (Vancouver)
Oscar Hedman (Washington)
Patrik Hersley (Los Angeles)
Patrik Nevalainen
Marcus Nyberg
Anton Strålman (Toronto)
Petter Ullman
Tobias Viklund
Tommy Wargh

Centres
Erik Andersson
Nicklas Bäckström (06 eligible)
Mattias Hellström
Sebastian Karlsson
Jonathan Granström

Wingers (3 wingers/centres will be cut)
Anton Axelsson (Detroit)
Nicklas Bergfors (New Jersey)
Patric Hörnqvist (Nashville)
Magnus Isaksson
Robin Lindqvist
Fredrik Pettersson (Edmonton)
Mattias Ritola (Detroit)
Johan Ryno (Detroit)
Johannes Salmonsson (Pittsburgh)
Oscar Sundh
Björn Svensson

Reserves (these will most, most likely not make the team
Joel Gistedt (06 eligible)
Stefan Ridderwall (06 eligible)
Jonas Ahnelöv (06 eligible)
Richard Demén-Willaume (Colorado)
Alexander Hellström
Alexander Ribbenstrand
Marcus Olsson
Patrik Zackrisson
Tommy Enström
Anton Hedman (Boston)
Christopher Thörn
Tomas Wallgren

Goaltending: Three good options, Enroth is born 1988 and one heck of a prospect
Defense: Great depth, a big star/leader is missing
Forward: Impressive depth, great centres, few high-scoring players

Key-players:
- The starting goaltender (whoever it might be)
- Anton Strålman, the top defenseman on the team
- Nicklas Bäckström, by many considered to be the top prospect coming out of Sweden in a long while
- Nicklas Bergfors, something as rare as a Swedish sniper. Hopefully (for Sweden's sake) he will be available to play and not called up to the Devils

Predicted line-up

Daniel Larsson
Magnus Åkerlund

Anton Strålman - Niklas Andersson
Ocar Hedman - Tobias Viklund
Alexander Edler - Petter Ullman
Patrik Hersley

Nicklas Bergfors - Nicklas Bäckström - Johan Ryno
Fredrik Pettersson - Erik Andersson - Anton Axelsson
Oscar Sundh - Mattias Hellström - Johannes Salmonsson
Björn Svensson - Jonathan Granström - Patric Hörnqvist
Sebastian Karlsson

(Very tough to predict though, a lot will depend on how well they fair at the champ held before the WJC).

Sweden's medal chances
Slim, but still a lot greater than in the past. Swedish junior hockey is finally turning for the better, as proved by the 87's bronze medal in the U18 WJC last spring and all the new quality prospects popping out born 1989+. There is something unique about this year's team. It consists of very many players that have seen quality ice time in the SEL, which is usually no the case. I predict Sweden will finish fourth or fifth.

Nicklas Bergfors - Nicklas Bäckström - Johan Ryno

That would be one sick line!! Let's wish for Bergfors not being called up to the Devils..

No Hjalmarsson? Hard to believe he couldn't crack the top 7 on defense. His game seems well suited for playing the North American teams.

Hjalmarsson has been injured since October and will still be out of play for a month or two I believe. However, I do not think Hjalmarsson would have made the team.. all the defensemen above (with the exception of WHL:er Edler) have seen quality ice time among seniors and are older than Hjalmarsson. Hjalmarsson would have spent his time mostly in the juniors, like he did before being injured.

He'll be lock next year though.

Nice to see some Wings prospects on there. Hopefully they can make the team.

Stralman the best defenseman on the Swedish roster? How are the rest of the players though?

Did the Leafs find another late-round gem?

IMO the best Swedish defensive corps in several years, but like I said earlier.. there is no major start, but instead many very good defensemen. Strålman is one of those and judging by his SEL performance and earlier games with the U20 national team, he is the best one.

Late round-gem? Perhaps. For sure he has much more potential than Staffan Kronwall for example.

Key-players:

- Anton Strålman, the top defenseman on the team

Predicted line-up

Daniel Larsson
Magnus Åkerlund

Anton Strålman - Niklas Andersson
Ocar Hedman - Tobias Viklund
Alexander Edler - Petter Ullman
Patrik Hersley

Nicklas Bergfors - Nicklas Bäckström - Johan Ryno
Fredrik Pettersson - Erik Andersson - Anton Axelsson
Oscar Sundh - Mattias Hellström - Johannes Salmonsson
Björn Svensson - Jonathan Granström - Patric Hörnqvist
Sebastian Karlsson

Hey Johan

From a Leaf fan point-of-view that is some promising news on Anton Strålman

:handclap:

I'd imagine Salmonsson would be tried on the top line, judging by his performance at the WJC last year.

whoo hooo go bergfors...i dont think he'll be called up

woohoo GO EDLER!!!

What are your thoughts on Fredrick Pettersson and what kind of a role will he play for the team?

I've heard that he's a good offensive player, but can also act as a sparkplug.

thanks

Why would Carl Soderberg not be on that team? Politics? :dunno:

I have a hard time believing that there are four centers in Sweden less than 20 years of age who are better than Soderberg.

P_B

:bow: :blues

Why would Carl Soderberg not be on that team? Politics? :dunno:

I have a hard time believing that there are four centers in Sweden less than 20 years of age who are better than Soderberg.

P_B

:bow: :blues

He's an '85, and thus too old.

He's an '85, and thus too old.

Gotcha... thanks for the clarification.

October 12, 1985.

P_B

:bow: :blues

no Alexander Sundstrom? has he been doing well?

no Alexander Sundstrom? has he been doing well?
He had surgury in his knee earlier this season, and has been recovering by playing with the juniors. He is getting better and better, but has still some way to go. Next year, if he is recovered he´ll be a lock for the JWC-team.

What are your thoughts on Fredrick Pettersson and what kind of a role will he play for the team?

I've heard that he's a good offensive player, but can also act as a sparkplug.

thanks

Unfortunately I have not been able to see him in action this fall, considering I am based in Sweden and he is playing WHL hockey. However, from what I have seen earlier, he will/should have a scoring role. He can do a lot of damage with his skating, technical skills and scoring ability. I'd also refer to him as a "clutch player" and among the most likely Swedes to score for example an overtime goal.

The Swedish pre - WJC camp starts tomorrow, Sunday, and will last to the 15th of December. Plenty players seem to be in good shape right now judging by their play in the SEL. I have heard that Robin Lindqvist is injured, but not seen anything about a potential replacement... anyone with an insight?