World Championships- Group A Preview

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Mar 10, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche center

Nathan MacKinnon

(29) during the third period against the Winnipeg Jets at Pepsi Center. The Avalanche won 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The World Championships open up on Saturday, and even in an Olympic year there will be pressure on those players representing Canada to bring home a gold that they haven’t been able to win since 2007. Canada’s Group A consists of Sweden, Czech Republic, France, Slovakia, Italy, Norway and Denmark.

Who’s most likely to survive and advance from Group A? The following rankings are the most likely outcome you’ll see in Belarus.

Mar 5, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Ottawa Senators center Kyle Turris (7) skates with the puck against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

1. CANADA

Canada’s roster looks far worse than what it could be, so it looks pretty poor in a vacuum. However, when you compare it to the other teams in the tournament, Canada has far and away the best lineup from top to bottom. Canada is the only team that can boast a roster filled with solid NHLers. The only thing in the way of this squad winning the Gold will be chemistry. The majority of the Eurpoean teams will be filled with players who have played together all winter. Dave Tippett will do his best to try and create some lines that allow these players to mesh in a small window.

Player to Watch: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
MacKinnon follows in the footsteps of fellow Cole Harbour star, Sidney Crosby, as an 18 year-old to be a key player for Canada’s World Championship team. After an incredible performance in Colorado’s brief playoff stint, it will be interesting to see how Nathan follows it up in Minsk.

Player to Watch: Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs
Many expect Rielly to represent Team Canada at the next Winter Olympics and these World Championships will provide us with a bit of a preview.

Coach: Dave Tippett

Forwards:
Troy Brouwer, Washington Capitals
Alexandre Burrows, Vancouver Canucks
Jason Chimera, Washington Capitals
Cody Hodgson, Buffalo Sabres
Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida Panthers
Nazem Kadri, Toronto Maple Leafs
Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
Sean Monahan, Calgary Flames
Matt Read, Philadelphia Flyers
Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets
Brayden Schenn, Philadelphia Flyers
Kyle Turris, Ottawa Senators
Joel Ward, Washington Capitals

Defence:
Kevin Bieksa, Vancouver Canucks
Ryan Ellis, Nashville Predators
Jason Garrison, Vancouver Canucks
Erik Gudbranson, Florida Panthers
Marc Methot, Ottawa Senators
Tyler Myers, Buffalo Sabres
Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs

Goalies:
Justin Peters, Carolina Hurricanes
James Reimer, Toronto Maple Leafs
Ben Scrivens, Edmonton Oilers

April 17, 2014; San Jose, CA, USA; San Jose Sharks center Tomas Hertl (48) scores a goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period in game one of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

2. CZECH REPUBLIC

Czech Republic is extremely strong at forward, led by names like Tomas Hertl, Jiri Hudler, Jaromir Jagr, and Vladimir Sobotka. Although they are lacking on the back end and between the pipes, they certainly have the talent up front to compete with Canada.

Player to Watch: Tomas Hertl, San Jose Sharks
Nathan MacKinnon isn’t the only young gun that could light up these Worlds. After missing a large portion of the season with a knee injury, Hertl was extremely dangerous when healthy and didn’t back down in a tough first-round playoff loss to the LA Kings.

Coach: Vladimir Ruzicka

Forwards:
Roamn Cervenka, SKA St. Petersburg
Milan Gulas, Farjestad Karlstad
Tomas Hertl, San Jose Sharks
Jiri Hudler, Calgary Flames
Jaromir Jagr, New Jersey Devils
Lukas Kaspar, Donbass Donetsk
Jakub Klepis, Lev Prague
Jan Kovar, Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Jiri Novotny, Lev Prague
Jakud Petruzalek, Ak Bars Kazan
Thomas Rolinek, Sparta Prague
Martin Ruzicka, Ocelari Trinec
Jiri Sekac, Lev Prague
Vladimir Sobotka, St. Louis Blues
Michal Vondrka, Slovan Bratislava
Martin Zatovic, HC Karlovy Vary

Defence:
Michal Jordan, Charlotte Checkers
Jakub Klindl, Detroit Red Wings
Jan Kolar, Donbass Donetsk
Ondrej Vitasek, Bili Tygri Liberec
Petr Zamorsky, HC Zlin

Goalies:
Davel Francouz, HC Litvinov
Jakub Kovar, Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg
Alexander Salak, SKA St. Petersburg

3. SWEDEN

Apr 2, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings center

Gustav Nyquist

(14) takes a shot for a goal in the third period against the Boston Bruins at Joe Louis Arena. Detroit won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Considering the depth of talent that Sweden possesses, the lineup Sweden will be playing is quite poor. Although they have some intriguing names up front in Gustav Nyquist, Mikael Backlund, and Oscar Moller, they do no have any sold NHL defencemen on the back end and New York Islanders backup, Anders Nilsson, will likely be shouldering the load in net.

Player to Watch: Gustav Nyquist, Detroit Red Wings
Although Nyquist had 0 points in Detroit`s 5 game first round loss to Boston, Gustav was the NHL`s hottest scorer in the second half. It will be interesting to see if he can replicate his scoring touch in Minsk.

Coach: Par Marts

Forwards:
Dick Axelsson, Frolunda Gothenburg
Mikael Backlund, Calgary Flames
Nicklas Danielsson, Rapperswil-Jona Lakers
Jimmie Ericsson, Skelleftea AIK
Simon Hjalmarsson, Linkopings HC
Calle Jarnkrok, Nashville Predators
Linus Jlasen, Lulea HF
Joakim Lindstrom, Skelleftea AIK
Joel Lundqvist, Frolunda Gothenburg
Oscar Moller, Skelleftea AIK
Gustav Nyquist, Detroit Red Wings
Dennis Rasmussen, Vaxjo Lakers
Mattias Sjogren, Linkopings HC
Anreas Thuresson, Brynas Gavle

Defence:
Jonas Ahnelov, Frolunda Gothenburg
Niclas Anderson, Severstal Cherepovets
Mattias Ekholm, Nashville Predators
Tim Erixon, Columbus Blue Jackets
Johan Fransson, Lulea HF
Erik Gustafsson, Philadelphia Flyers
Magnus Nygren, Farjestad Karlstad
Daniel Rahimi, Linkopings HC

Goalies:
Joacim Eriksson, Vancouver Canucks
Anders Nilsson, New York Islanders
Linus Ullmark, MODO Ornskoldsvik

Apr 8, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Tomas Tatar (21) looks to make a pass against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

4. SLOVAKIA

The Slovaks follow the group theme with a weak defensive core and things aren`t very promising on offense either. But Tomas Tatar is certainly a good get at forward and Jan Laco is a solid foreign goalie. Considering Slovakia`s competition to make it the quarters will likely be Norway and Denmark, they should be able to squeak through to the knockout stage.