2014 World Junior Hockey Championships – Group B Preview
Sweden, after suffering a loss in the Gold Medal game one year ago, become the host this year and they do not want to be gracious hosts. They have a powerful lineup and will be regarded as the favorites heading into the tournament, bolstered by a couple of late additions from NHL clubs.
Oct 10, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Elias Lindholm (16) checks Washington Capitals center Michael Latta (46) in the first period at Verizon Center. The Hurricanes won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Here is a look at the teams in Group B, which features Sweden, Russia, Finland, Switzerland and Norway.
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.
RUSSIA
Russia
Last Year: The Russians were supposed to win, playing on home ice but they fell to the Swedes in the semi-finals. Credit to them for showing up and beating Canada in the Bronze medal game after the disappointment of the semi-finals.
Returning Players: G Andrei Vasilevski, G Igor Ustinski, D Andrei Mironov, F Anton Slepyshev, F Mikhail Grigorenko
Key Missing NHL players: Valeri Nichushkin
Ottawa Interests:
Key Players: F – Grigorenko has been loaned to the Russians by the Buffalo Sabres, had 2 goals and 6 points last year. D – Nikita Zadorov is a big defenseman who has seen time with the Sabres this season before being returned to the London Knights of the OHL. G- Vasilevski is playing in his 3rd WJHC and will be the backstop in all important games for the Russians.
Draft Watch: Ivan Barbashev is projected to be a top 20 pick in the first round this coming summer.
Key To Victory: The veteran presence of Vasilevski could provide the edge they need in goal, and that could be the difference between a 2nd and a 3rd place finish in the round robin.
Projected Round Robin Finish: It will be the pesky Finns and the talented Russians who battle for the 2nd seed behind the Swedes and a much easier quarterfinal matchup, avoiding Canada and the US presumably.
Potential Finish: There are essentially 5 teams compiting for 4 semi-final spots, and the Russians could see themselves on the outside looking in at that group. Or they could be powerful enough to score their way into the semis and a shot at another medal.
FINLAND
Last Year: The Finns definitely disappointed last year, being sent to the relegation round. They didn’t risk relegation and handled that round easily, but they weren’t happy with their 7th place finish.
Returning Players: G Janne Juvonen, D Ville Pokka, D Jusso Vainio, F Teuvo Teravainen, FArtturi Lehkonen, D Rasmus Ristolainen
Key Missing NHL players: F Aleksander Barkov, D Olli Maata
Ottawa Interests: none
Key Players: F – Teravainen had 11 points in 6 games last year in this tournament. He will be the key to any offense the Finns put up. D – Pokka will be playing in his third straight World Junior and had 6 points in 6 games last year. G- Juvonen split time last year but will be the key in goal for the Finns this year.
Draft Watch: One of the top rated prospects is Kasperi Kapanen, but he is injured and will not participate in this torunament
Key To Victory: The Finns might not have the top end talent of the Russians or Swedes, but they play an in-your-face style that is more North American than European. They will play with a grit that could frustrate the Russians, their key game in the round robin.
Projected Round Robin Finish: With Barkov and Maata in the lineup, the Finns could have made some noise, but they don’t have enough offense to know what you are going to get from them.
Potential Finish: They will have a quarterfinal spot, but a semi-final seems unlikely
SWITZERLAND
Last Year: Thw Swiss had a very succsessful tournament last year, as they didn’t lose a game in regulation. They didn’t win very many either, as they finished with 3 extra time losses. They also put a scare into the Russians in the quarterfinals, bowing out 4-3 in a shootout. THey finished the tournament ranked 6th.
Returning Players: G Melvin Nyffeler, D Phil Baltisberger, D Mirco Mueller, F Christoph Bertschy, F Sandro Zangger, Lukas Sieber, F Dario Simion, F Lukas Balmelli
Key Missing NHL players: none
Ottawa Interests:
Key Players: F – Bertschy was second on the team in points last year, and is the most dangerous offensive player among the forwards. D – Mirco Mueller was a first round draft pick by the Sharks in 2013 and will be the leader of the Swiss. G- Nyffeler was the reason the Swiss were in so many games last year, and will be counted upon again this time around.
Draft Watch:Baltisberger will get a look in the 2014 draft, but looking ahead, D Jonas Siegenthaler could be a first round pick in 2015.
Key To Victory: Every game the Swiss play seems to be close, but it is a matter of finding that one goal that could push them over the edge. They are close to being in the mix of the teams that can compete for medals, but not quite.
Projected Round Robin Finish: With the Norwegians looking like the weakest team in the tournament, the Swiss should have no difficulty in making the quarterfinals under the new format, either in 3rd or 4th place in the pool.
Potential Finish: Just like the Slovaks, a quarterfinal appearance might have to be good enough for the Swiss this year. However, staying in the top group yet again is good for the development in the country.
NORWAY
Last Year: Norway won the Group A title last year, going undefeated in 5 games to earn a promotion to the Top group this year.
Returning Players: G Joakin Svendsen, D Mattias Norstebo, D Erlend Lesund, F Jorgen Katerund, F Markus Soberg, F Erik Saltsen
Key Missing NHL players: none
Ottawa Interests:
Key Players: F – Marcus Soberg is the lone NHL draftee on the roster, and was second on the team with 7 points as the Norwegians earned promotion. D -Norstebo is playing in the Swedish Hockey League and had 2 assists last year. G- Svendsen was on the team last year but didn’t see a minute of action as the backup.
Draft Watch: Norstebo leads a duoo of players that could get selected in the 2014 draft, along with Martin Ronnild.
Key To Victory: No one is under the delusion that the Norwegians will be able to do much in the way of competing in this tournament. Their victory will come if they can avoid relegation in the best of 3 format against the 5th place finisher in Group A.
Projected Round Robin Finish: They will be the 5th seed in the group, without a doubt.
Potential Finish: Even beating the Germans in the best of 3 relegation round will be a tall task. Look for the Norwegians to be back in tier 2 when Denmark takes their place in 2015.
Projected Order of Finish – Group B
1. Sweden
2. Russia
3. Finland
4. Switzerland
5. Norway
Please check out my preview of GROUP A, including TEAM CANADA