Sweden....getting a medal this year?

I'm sure hoping so....got a lot of Red Wings on that team.

However, Sundin and Nasland seem to be having pretty quiet seasons.....so who knows.

Well, at least they've got some sweet goaltending going this time.

I think it looks pretty bad actually

Alfie - Good year but injured a lot
Forsberg - Good year but injured a lot.
Zetterberg - Good year buy injured right now.
Naslund - Quiet year by his standards.
Sundin - Bad year by his standards

Then our coached choosed the worst players from SEL while leaving out players such as Holmstrom, Nylander and Hedstrom. It's going to haunt him. :shakehead

Verdict - out in the quarterfinal again.

Well they are due. But only silver or bronze :)

i think they are going to be in the championship game....

I think it looks pretty bad actually

Alfie - Good year but injured a lot
Forsberg - Good year but injured a lot.
Zettberg - Good year bu injured right now.
Naslund - Quiet year by his standards.
Sundin - Bad year by his standards

Then our coached choosed the worst players from SEL while leaving out players such as Holmstrom, Nylander and Hedstrom. It's going to haunt him. :shakehead

Verdict - out in the quarterfinal again.

Actually, I think Alfredsson only has missed 4 games due to injury....cracked rib which has healed, apparently

Zetterberg is being listed as day to day with some kind of minor hip injury so should probably also be good to go.

I'm very surprised at Sundin and Nasland this year, I expected thm to be tearing the league up. Oh well, off years happen I guess.

i worry this all is gonna wear lundqvist down...hopefully he has a good tourney though

i worry this all is gonna wear lundqvist down...hopefully he has a good tourney though

He is used to play a lot. No worries about him really. My concern is our forwards. They're still good, but getting old and beat up.

Actually, I think Alfredsson only has missed 4 games due to injury....cracked rib which has healed, apparently

Zetterberg is being listed as day to day with some kind of minor hip injury so should probably also be good to go.

I'm very surprised at Sundin and Nasland this year, I expected thm to be tearing the league up. Oh well, off years happen I guess.

they say Naslund is playing with an injury.

they say Naslund is playing with an injury.

He is.

Anyway, the Sedins are having an amazing year. They'll pick up the slack.

He is.

Anyway, the Sedins are having an amazing year. They'll pick up the slack.

so why isn't naslund resting?

they say Naslund is playing with an injury.

Hmmm, wonder if he's going to drop out of the olympics then?

That would suck.

so why isn't naslund resting?

I don't know, go ask him. Wants to help his team win, I suppose?

I don't know, go ask him. Wants to help his team win, I suppose?

yeah playing injured sure helps your team. [/sarcasm]

yeah playing injured sure helps your team. [/sarcasm]

He's still putting up points. Four in his last three games.

yeah playing injured sure helps your team. [/sarcasm]

What exactly is his injury? Anyone know?

What exactly is his injury? Anyone know?

Seems to be a groin injury. The team isn't really talking about it.

Seems to be a groin injury. The team isn't really talking about it.

great, I am just waiting for him to announce he cant join our olympic team. He better be playing for sweden if he can play for canucks.

Sweden will grab the silver, Czech's will win gold though.

My Americans are gonna do horrible though.

Sweden usually tears up the round robin, and then loses their first elimination game. I'm hoping Lundquist will change this trend. Don't wory about the forwards, even with a couple injuries they will still be great up front.
I predict Sweden will finish first in their pool, and probably play Switzerland or Germany in the Quarter Final.

so why isn't naslund resting?

You heard anything about Kipper or Sami Kapanen both are playing with an injury, and Kipper is resting in the Olympic brake.

Canada is going to win. We'll be end up 2nd to 4th and a lot of that is going to be because of Lundqvist, he's going to steal games for us. What worries me is the fact the our new coach seems to be going in his predecessors footsteps with traditional oldfashioned swedish type of play. That type of play won us tournaments 10-15 years ago but not in a best on best tournament. If we meet Canada in a game that matters they are going to beat us, just because our coaches fail to see that we can't stand up against them where it counts the most, in front of net. That's where the Canadians beat us everytime and yet our coach pick a player like Hannula instead of Homer to the roster. Sad.

That's where the Canadians beat us everytime and yet our coach pick a player like Hannula instead of Homer to the roster. Sad.

I think that's one of the worst coach decisions ever. I would compare it with if Gretzky was in his prime, and Canada choosed to pick someone like Ryan Smyth instead.

I think that's one of the worst coach decisions ever. I would compare it with if Gretzky was in his prime, and Canada choosed to pick someone like Ryan Smyth instead.

That's a pretty unbalanced comparison. There is noway Holmström is that good a player. The comparison would be fair if Hannula had been in and Forsberg out.

Having said that, I think it was a very bad decision myself to leave Holmström out of the team and select Hannula.

You might be suprised...

Sweden gold/silver
Russia gold/silver
Finland/Slovakia Bronze

Seems to be a groin injury. The team isn't really talking about it.


Nope, he's got a hip flexor. I don't know why he wouldn't just sit out for a few games and rest up. He's not exactly helping the team, then again, he's not hurting us either. He's barely over a point a game this season, but I haven't seen him take his deadly wrist shot in a while and that's probably due to the hip flexor. That's why he's been stuck at 22 goals for a while. Even Anson Carter is catching up to him in the goal department (thanks to the Sedins).

Nope, he's got a hip flexor. I don't know why he wouldn't just sit out for a few games and rest up. He's not exactly helping the team, then again, he's not hurting us either. He's barely over a point a game this season, but I haven't seen him take his deadly wrist shot in a while and that's probably due to the hip flexor. That's why he's been stuck at 22 goals for a while. Even Anson Carter is catching up to him in the goal department (thanks to the Sedins).


so basicly he should have sat like 10 games ago.

I expect Sweden to play their hearts out and go at it 120% this year.

Sweden has the most to lose out of all of the teams this year. This is realistically their last chance at Gold for the next decade. I like Sweden but with the passing of the core, they'll be a much weaker team. Here are guys who will retire or be too old to be very effective by 2010.

Naslund
Sundin
Forsberg
Lidstrom
Alfredsson
Modin
Norstrom
Jonsson
Nylander

The only quality players they have coming up are Zetterberg, Sedin, Sedin, Lundqvist and Kronvall. Combine those with Ohlund, Johnson and the other guys, that isn't a very strong team.

Right now if I had to pick the favorites for medals, I'd say Canada gold, Czech Republic silver and Sweden bronze. They finally have a goaltender and they have scored goals in Toronto and Austria with worse skaters than they will send to Turin. The Swedes are going to have the best top line at the competition assuming Forsberg is healthy and playing with Alfredsson and Naslund, interesting to see if they play maybe play the Sedin brothers with Sundin on a line and/or the second power play unit. Given the age of some stars (Foppa, Sundin, Lidstrom etc), you gotta figure these guys will all show up if possible and play hard, they could gun for gold but realistically I say bronze unless they get exceptional clutch play and exceptional goaltending, which are possibilities looking at the roster.

Hopefully the sedins are given some legitimate ice time. For those that haven't had a chance to watch them this year, they could be the biggest surprise of the tournament. They have really come into their own.

Ultimately though, I think that Swden's medal hopes hinge on Lundqvist. He'll have to play out of his mind for the team to go anywhere.

The only quality players they have coming up are Zetterberg, Sedin, Sedin, Lundqvist and Kronvall. Combine those with Ohlund, Johnson and the other guys, that isn't a very strong team.

Finland played the World Cup Final with a team that on paper doesn't look like much. Swedish teams generally thrive of being the underdogs. Bäckman, Johnsson, Tallinder, Kronwall and Öhlund is a decent enough D-core for the next Olympics and I don't think there is much of a crisis on the forward side either. Bäckström, Bergfors, Carl Söderberg, Loui Eriksson and Robert Nilsson could all develop into good NHL-forwards by 2010.

Right now if I had to pick the favorites for medals, I'd say Canada gold, Czech Republic silver and Sweden bronze. They finally have a goaltender and they have scored goals in Toronto and Austria with worse skaters than they will send to Turin. The Swedes are going to have the best top line at the competition assuming Forsberg is healthy and playing with Alfredsson and Naslund, interesting to see if they play maybe play the Sedin brothers with Sundin on a line and/or the second power play unit. Given the age of some stars (Foppa, Sundin, Lidstrom etc), you gotta figure these guys will all show up if possible and play hard, they could gun for gold but realistically I say bronze unless they get exceptional clutch play and exceptional goaltending, which are possibilities looking at the roster.

Alfredsson will play with Sundin on the first line, with Naslund and Forsberg on the second line - at least that's what I heard. It will be interesting to see where D. Sedin, Zetterberg, and Modin end up. Can any of the 3 play on the right? Seems as if there's a bit of a logjam down the left for Sweden.

Zetterberg - Sundin - Alfredsson
Naslund - Forsberg - D. Sedin

would be the ideal, and most likely the strongest top 6 in the tournament. Usually Modin and Sundin play together though.

Any team that ices Forsberg, Sundin, Naslund, Lidstrom and Alfredsson has a good chance IMO.

That is a pretty good way to distribute it, Sundin with the Sedin brothers is all pass-first players. I'd like to Zetterberg on a line with Forsberg and Naslund. I think Modin would best fill out the Sundin-Alfredsson line and then keep the Sedin brothers together on a line with one of the ES league players (whoever is a goal scorer, dont know much about those two).U

The problem is that the swedish coach has made some bonehead decisions. For example, he is skipping Holmstrom and Nylander in favor of two mediocre SEL players Jönsson and Hannula.

I have no answer why really...

I expected Sweden to win the gold medal last time around. That team was playing so well until "that" quarterfinal.

Now I really don't know what to expect from this team.

The Swedes are going to have the best top line at the competition assuming Forsberg is healthy and playing with Alfredsson and Naslund,


I dunno about that... There's plenty of other countries that could put together some good looking top lines, Russia could have quite an explosive top line if they wanted, and Thornton and Nash and whoever else they put on that line certainly would warrant consideration considering what Thornton and Nash were able to do last year.

What exactly is his injury? Anyone know?
A groin injury has been rumoured (seems to be the injury du jour in the NHL) but several credible reports say it is a hip flexor which makes more sense since he is still playing. Naslund has played in every game this season.

I would not be surprised to see Naslund withdraw from the Olympics to rest.

Even with the injury he is 15th in league scoring and tied for 13th in goals.

A groin injury has been rumoured (seems to be the injury du jour in the NHL) but several credible reports say it is a hip flexor which makes more sense since he is still playing. Naslund has played in every game this season.

I would not be surprised to see Naslund withdraw from the Olympics to rest.

Even with the injury he is 15th in league scoring and tied for 13th in goals.

It would be a fatal blow for sweden if naslund also withdrew. I hope not.

First three lines are predicted to be:

Modin - Sundin - Alfredsson (Has worked well before)
Näslund - Forsberg - Zetterberg (I don't like this line)
Sedin - Sedin - Samuelsson (Best Swedish line in the Worlds)

I don't like the idea of Forsberg and Näslund on the same line, I would rather see Näslund play with Sundin. The reason for that is that Forsberg feels more dependent on a great scorer and Näslund has never proven himself to be in the national team. I am afraid that it will end up with Forsberg trying to get Näslund going, just like in the World Cup. It's better to put Sundin there instead who usually is a great force and goal scorer in the national team. Forsberg has also proven that he love to play with a right handed shooter (Weinhandl, Knuble, Hejduk etc) and Alfredsson would be a perfect fit.

Anyway, we have a great team if everybody is healty and play at their best and FINALLY we have superb goaltending.

First three lines are predicted to be:

Modin - Sundin - Alfredsson (Has worked well before)
Näslund - Forsberg - Zetterberg (I don't like this line)
Sedin - Sedin - Samuelsson (Best Swedish line in the Worlds)

I don't like the idea of Forsberg and Näslund on the same line, I would rather see Näslund play with Sundin. The reason for that is that Forsberg feels more dependent on a great scorer and Näslund has never proven himself to be in the national team. I am afraid that it will end up with Forsberg trying to get Näslund going, just like in the World Cup. It's better to put Sundin there instead who usually is a great force and goal scorer in the national team. Forsberg has also proven that he love to play with a right handed shooter (Weinhandl, Knuble, Hejduk etc) and Alfredsson would be a perfect fit.

Anyway, we have a great team if everybody is healty and play at their best and FINALLY we have superb goaltending.


but our 4th line sucks :/

I would play the 4th line in the group play then go with 3 lines only in elimination games.

but our 4th line sucks :/

I would play the 4th line in the group play then go with 3 lines only in elimination games.
Offensivly they aren't good but as long as they play +- 0 in the games I am pleased, which I belive they can do. We just need them to take a few shifts here and there so we can rest the other lines. So don't worry about that line.

Will be fun to see the twins cuz they are having a superb year.

Offensivly they aren't good but as long as they play +- 0 in the games I am pleased, which I belive they can do. We just need them to take a few shifts here and there so we can rest the other lines. So don't worry about that line.

Will be fun to see the twins cuz they are having a superb year.

yeah but canada's 4th line is very good. Imagine Hannula+Jönsson going against Canada's 4th. I would be worried everytime that happend.

First three lines are predicted to be:

Modin - Sundin - Alfredsson (Has worked well before)
Näslund - Forsberg - Zetterberg (I don't like this line)
Sedin - Sedin - Samuelsson (Best Swedish line in the Worlds)


I agree. The Näslund - Forsberg - Zetterberg line makes me cringe just looking at the names. Just imagine if Holmström had been part of this team. We could have had:
Zetterberg - Sundin - Holmström
Näslund - Forsberg - Modin
Sedin - Sedin - Alfredsson
(right wingers could easily be shifted around for best chemistry)

With of course Nilson - Påhlsson - Axelsson as the fourth line but hey.. I'm sure we can do just fine with Jönsson and Hannula.. :sarcasm:

I agree. The Näslund - Forsberg - Zetterberg line makes me cringe just looking at the names. Just imagine if Holmström had been part of this team. We could have had:
Zetterberg - Sundin - Holmström
Näslund - Forsberg - Modin
Sedin - Sedin - Alfredsson
(right wingers could easily be shifted around for best chemistry)

With of course Nilson - Påhlsson - Axelsson as the fourth line but hey.. I'm sure we can do just fine with Jönsson and Hannula.. :sarcasm:

damn I forgot!

Nilson, Axelsson and Påhlsson are also on this team right? Then Jönsson and Hannula might not see any playing time!

Then again I am sure BÅG will screw it up så Jönsson is even playing on the 3rd line.

damn I forgot!

Nilson, Axelsson and Påhlsson are also on this team right? Then Jönsson and Hannula might not see any playing time!

Then again I am sure BÅG will screw it up så Jönsson is even playing on the 3rd line.
Nilsson isn't on the team but Påhlsson and PJ who are two excellent forwards in the defence and Jönsson is usually very good in the national team aswell. So I don't worry too much about the defencive on that line. Hannula should be sitting in the stands.

Nilson, Axelsson and Påhlsson are also on this team right?


No, Nilson is not on the team, I believe.

No, Nilson is not on the team, I believe.

dammit! BÅG missed another good player :shakehead

So one of Påhlsson, Jönsson and Hannula sits. I believe it will be Hannula.

It would be a fatal blow for sweden if naslund also withdrew. I hope not.

Why? He has been about as effective in tre kronor as Tomi Kallio for Finland in international tournaments.

I'd even ask "was he even there" in the last few super tournaments but I know that he played...he was just invisible. So that should not be a biggie for you guys, you still have great talent in the lineup.

Why? He has been about as effective in tre kronor as Tomi Kallio for Finland in international tournaments.

I'd even ask "was he even there" in the last few super tournaments but I know that he played...he was just invisible. So that should not be a biggie for you guys, you still have great talent in the lineup.

I'd say that if Naslund finds his game in our national team he could very deadly. In the past interviews he has said that he wants to show he can play great in sweden. I rather have him than a backup player.

with several great NHL seasons behind him, You know Nazzy's real potential.

I dunno about that... There's plenty of other countries that could put together some good looking top lines, Russia could have quite an explosive top line if they wanted, and Thornton and Nash and whoever else they put on that line certainly would warrant consideration considering what Thornton and Nash were able to do last year.

I stick by my statement, if they put that line out there it would be the best in the competition. Forsberg>Thornton, Naslund>Nash and this year Alfredsson has been better than Iginla.

I'd say that if Naslund finds his game in our national team he could very deadly. In the past interviews he has said that he wants to show he can play great in sweden. I rather have him than a backup player.

with several great NHL seasons behind him, You know Nazzy's real potential.

Näslund is a low risk - high reward player. If he plays to potential, he could be the difference. If not, he can be benched.

Or at least, had Hannula not been in the roster, he could have been benched...

Näslund is a low risk - high reward player. If he plays to potential, he could be the difference. If not, he can be benched.

Or at least, had Hannula not been in the roster, he could have been benched...

exactly. I cuss to the decision of selecting hannula every day :madfire:

First three lines are predicted to be:

Modin - Sundin - Alfredsson (Has worked well before)
Näslund - Forsberg - Zetterberg (I don't like this line)
Sedin - Sedin - Samuelsson (Best Swedish line in the Worlds)

I don't like the idea of Forsberg and Näslund on the same line, I would rather see Näslund play with Sundin. The reason for that is that Forsberg feels more dependent on a great scorer and Näslund has never proven himself to be in the national team. I am afraid that it will end up with Forsberg trying to get Näslund going, just like in the World Cup. It's better to put Sundin there instead who usually is a great force and goal scorer in the national team. Forsberg has also proven that he love to play with a right handed shooter (Weinhandl, Knuble, Hejduk etc) and Alfredsson would be a perfect fit.

Anyway, we have a great team if everybody is healty and play at their best and FINALLY we have superb goaltending.


Are we really wondering if Naslund can find the net? Show me a better goal scorer besides Alfredsson on the team. It's better for the team chemistry, too, two O-Vik guys that have actually been conspiring to no avail to play on a line together in the NHL when the opportunity has arisen. It would rub them wrong not to play them together, I think, as soon as the dude above mentioned Alfredsson would not be on their line I figured immediately that theyd go with Zetterberg and Modin go with Sundin and Alfredsson.

I dont think Sweden will have trouble scoring, even with less talented personnel the offense has been pretty fluid. Not to say that they are weak on defense but I do think they will need to be at the top of their game against all the best competition, particularly Canada.

Are we really wondering if Naslund can find the net? Show me a better goal scorer besides Alfredsson on the team. It's better for the team chemistry, too, two O-Vik guys that have actually been conspiring to no avail to play on a line together in the NHL when the opportunity has arisen. It would rub them wrong not to play them together, I think, as soon as the dude above mentioned Alfredsson would not be on their line I figured immediately that theyd go with Zetterberg and Modin go with Sundin and Alfredsson.

I dont think Sweden will have trouble scoring, even with less talented personnel the offense has been pretty fluid. Not to say that they are weak on defense but I do think they will need to be at the top of their game against all the best competition, particularly Canada.


I dont worry about naslund. The only thing that worries me now are injuries.

I stick by my statement, if they put that line out there it would be the best in the competition. Forsberg>Thornton, Naslund>Nash and this year Alfredsson has been better than Iginla.


we shall see, I'd take the Canadian line though because they bring the added dimension of size. Throw Bertuzzi for example on that line and the smallest guy on the line would be Nash and he goes around 220 pounds and 6'2 I think. Nice combination of skill and goal scoring ability and the size across the board to dominate any defense physically, it's a pretty easy choice.

Any team that can ice a top 4 defense of

Ohlund-Lidstrom
Norstrom-Jonsson

Has a good chance at a medal. Backman and Kronwall manning the bottom pairing is also very solid. Even without Johnsson, this is one of the best defenses for the big ice, especially with how heavily a team can rely on the top 4 in tournament play. Between the defense and Lundquist likely continuing his very strong play, this will be a very difficult team to score against. Add in the fact that they have some pretty darn good scoring with guys like Alfredsson and Forsberg, and I think they have a good shot at a medal. Though, with only so many medals to go around, they could end up just on the outside. I would give them the same odds as Czechs, and better odds than USA, Russia and Finland. Canada I would have to say are the favorites.

Are we really wondering if Naslund can find the net? Show me a better goal scorer besides Alfredsson on the team. It's better for the team chemistry, too, two O-Vik guys that have actually been conspiring to no avail to play on a line together in the NHL when the opportunity has arisen. It would rub them wrong not to play them together, I think, as soon as the dude above mentioned Alfredsson would not be on their line I figured immediately that theyd go with Zetterberg and Modin go with Sundin and Alfredsson.

I dont think Sweden will have trouble scoring, even with less talented personnel the offense has been pretty fluid. Not to say that they are weak on defense but I do think they will need to be at the top of their game against all the best competition, particularly Canada.
Ofcourse I know that Näslund can score but he's only done that in the NHL so far. In the national team he hasn't been good and when he played in the SEL last season when the games meant something (playoffs) he was totally invisible.

It's all in his head though so if he can get that in order he'll be a superb asset.

TEAM SWEDEN per 31 JANUARY - 2 weeks to go until faceoff

Player Team Pos GP GA GAA Svs Sv% PM Record Comment
H Lundquist New York G 35 75 2,12 945 .926 0 .21-8-5 Top 3 in NHL
M Tellquist Toronto G 14 37 2,79 356 .906 0 .6-5-2 Very stable backup
S Liw HV-71 G 42 64 1,93 834 .929 4 na Up and down - mostly up

Player Team Pos GP G A Pts .+/-. PM PPG Comment
Lidström Detroit D 51 10 38 48 4 28 0,941176471 Leagues best defensemen
Norström Los Angeles D 53 3 20 23 7 52 0,433962264 Good form
Öhlund Vancouver D 52 7 14 21 5 68 0,403846154 OK form
Hävelid Atlanta D 52 3 15 18 1 28 0,346153846 Good form
Bäckman St Louis D 22 3 10 13 -6 26 0,590909091 Been injured
Tjarnquist Minnesota D 33 2 9 11 -9 14 0,333333333 Defensive liability ?
Jönsson Rögle D 24 5 12 17 1 53 0,708333333 Playing in Swedens Div. 2 League
TOTAL 287 33 118 151 3 269 0,526132404

Player Team Pos GP G A Pts .+/-. PM PPG Comment
Alfredsson Ottawa F 45 32 38 70 32 24 1,555555556 Great form
Forsberg Philadelphia F 42 15 47 62 20 34 1,476190476 Injured
Zetterberg Detroit F 49 23 30 53 9 18 1,081632653 Good form
Näslund Vancouver F 51 23 31 54 -6 40 1,058823529 Injured
H Sedin Vancouver F 52 12 35 47 11 38 0,903846154 Good year
D Sedin Vancouver F 52 12 30 42 7 26 0,807692308 Good year
Sundin Toronto F 39 10 27 37 -1 32 0,948717949 Worst season ever
Modin Tampa Bay F 50 22 12 34 5 38 0,68 Scoring lots of goals
Samuelsson Detroit F 50 17 16 33 18 30 0,66 Good rookie year
Axelsson Boston F 51 10 16 26 0 4 0,509803922 Good season bad team
Påhlsson Anaheim F 50 3 8 11 -6 24 0,22 Out of form
Hannula HV-71 F 37 12 17 29 11 44 0,783783784 A joke - totally out of form
Jönsson Färjestad F 41 15 13 28 54 4 0,682926829 Been bad most of season
TOTAL 609 206 320 526 154 356 0,863711002

Not on team
Player Team Pos GP G A Pts .+/-. PM PPG Comment
Nylander New York F 51 12 35 47 17 52 0,921568627 Reserve - cut Jönsson?
Holmström Detroit F 51 18 17 35 4 44 0,68627451 Reserve - Cut Hannula ??
Ekman San José F 45 12 17 29 8 22 0,644444444 On 65 troop
Steen Toronto F 44 13 15 28 -5 24 0,636363636 Rookie - not on 65 troup
Hedström Anaheim F 48 7 18 25 -3 34 0,520833333 Reserve - cut Påhlsson
Nilsson Calgary F 50 6 9 15 14 24 0,3 On 65 troop
Sundström Montreal F 45 6 7 13 -4 24 0,288888889 On 65 troop
Tärnström Edmonton D 34 5 5 10 -9 52 0,294117647 Cut - reserve

Huselius Calgary F 48 13 19 32 -5 28 0,666666667 Suspended "The Lab"
Tallinder Buffalo D 49 5 6 11 7 42 0,224489796 Suspended "The Lab"
Lilja Detroit D 51 1 7 8 13 24 0,156862745 Suspended "The Lab"

K Jonsson Philadelphia D 47 6 19 25 5 34 0,531914894 Wimping at home with wife
N Kronwall Detroit D 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Injured

Player Team Pos GP GA GAA Svs Sv% PM Record Comment
J Hedberg Dallas G 12 30 2,71 237 0,888 6 .8-2-0 Great Joker - not on 65 troop!!