2014 World Junior Hockey Championships – Group B Preview

SWEDEN

Last Year: Sweden made it right to the Gold Medal game, having an easy run in their pool before beating Russia in the semi-final.  They lost 3-1 to the US in the gold medal game, settling for Silver.

Returning Players:  G Oscar Dansk, D Christian Djoos, D Linus Arnesson, D Robert Hagg, F Alexander Wennberg, F Filip Forsberg, F Sebastien Collberg, F Elias Lindholm, F Jacob de la Rose, F Nick Sorenson, F Filip Sandberg

Key Missing NHL players:  none

Ottawa Interests:  G Marcus Hogberg was a 2013 draft pick of the Senators.

Key Players:  F – Forsberg and Lindholm were both loaned from their NHL clubs (Nashville and Carolina respectively)  Both have the potential to lead the tournament in scoring.  D – Hagg was a pick of the Flyers in 2013, and is a big, rugged defenseman.  G- Dansk plays for the Erie Otters in the OHL, got into 1 game last year but should shoulder the load for the Swedes this year.

Draft Watch:  Anton Karlsson (no relation to Ottawa’s Erik) is a projected top 10 pick this year, and could be a top 5 before all is said and done.

Key To Victory:  Sweden is built to win, and to win now.  The influx of Forsberg and Lindholm make a potential to have 10 or 11 returnees from last year’s silver medal winning team. Combine that with the fact they are playing at home and they will be tough to beat.

Projected Round Robin Finish:  Sweden should progress through the round robin like a hot knife through butter, and will be the surest bet to win their pool.

Potential Finish:  Barring a huge upset in the tournament, Sweden should breeze through to the semi-finals, where their best test will be a matchup with either the Canadians or the Americans.   It would be tough for them not to match last year’s result, and most likely will better it by one spot.