As much as Canada’s world championship rosters suffer from the concurrence of the National Hockey League playoffs, the reality is just as problematic (and perhaps even more so) for the other hockey powers.
Yet for the hockey fans of Europe, the tournament means just as much, if not more, than the Stanley Cup playoffs do for those on this side of the Atlantic. Unlike the Olympics, where all of the NHL’s best are featured, it is at the world hockey championship where the puck enthusiasts across the pond get to watch all their local heroes fight for national glory alongside the available and willing from North America.
When the 2013 IIHF World Hockey Championship kicks off May 3 in Sweden and Finland, all 16 countries in the tournament start with a clean slate. Some will hope to not get relegated, while others dream of a playoff spot or even a bronze medal, yet only four (including Canada) have a legitimate chance at the gold.
Here are the top three threats to Canada’s dream of returning from Scandinavia with gold medals.
Team Czech Republic
The 12-time gold medalists (including Czechoslovakia), unlike a lot of the countries in the tournament, have had almost no trouble securing the services of their best available players. Led by the goaltending of Winnipeg Jets starter Ondrej Pavelec, head coach Alois Hadamczik has a formidable blend of talent and experience up and down the roster.
Phoenix Coyotes forward Radim Vrbata followed up his huge season last year (35 goals) with a solid — if injury plagued — one this campaign and enters his fourth worlds as a key cog in the Czech attack. He is joined up front by Carolina’s 23-goal scorer Jiri Tlusty, Florida Panthers sniper Thomas Fleischmann and Flyers’ budding star Jakub Voracek.
The back end lacks a bit of mobility and offensive gusto, but in the likes of Zbynek Michalek (Phoenix) and Petr Caslava (Severstal Cherepovets, KHL), they have as much international experience and pedigree (not to mention size) as any D-corps in the tournament.
Team Russia
Winners of three of the last five tournaments, the Russians are always strong and their NHL stars are always willing to join the group whenever their respective playoff runs are done. In the meantime, Ilya Kovalchuk will lead the line in his incredible ninth world championship, and will have plenty of talented help beside him in the Kontinental Hockey League’s second leading scorer Alexander Radulov of CSKA Moscow and Traktor Chelyabinsk’s 20-year-old prodigy Evgeni Kuznetsov (a Washington Capitals prospect). The KHL’s scoring champion, Sergei Mozyakin (76 points in 48 games) from Metallurg Magnitogorsk, is also set to try to help head coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov’s club repeat as champions.
Former Atlanta Thrashers second-rounder Ilya Nikulin and his emerging partner at Ak Bars Kazan, Yevgeni Medvedev, are the two to watch on the back end. Russia has pedigree in goal with Ilya Bryzgalov and Semyon Varlamov both answering the call. Varlamov, currently of Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, was sensational last year at the tournament with a .939 save percentage and a 1.77 goals-against average in eight games.
Team Sweden
Although there is a clear youth movement happening with Tre Kronor, there is still plenty of skill, character and international experience. Sweden has not won the world championship since 2006, but they have medaled eight out of the 12 tournaments in the new millennium.
Head coach Par Marts’ squad is led offensively by Olympian and Dallas Stars star Loui Eriksson, who answered his nation’s call for the fourth straight world championship. Gabriel Landeskog and Frolunda captain Joel Lundqvist (Henrik’s twin brother) look to provide leadership while Linkoping-based newcomers Par Arlbrandt and Simon Hjalmarsson are a ready-made, lethal offensive combination. Young Red Wings prospect Calle Jarnkrok is an assistant captain for Brynas at the age of 22 and already has had two productive seasons in the Swedish elite league.
Eleven-year NHL veteran and New Jersey Devil Henrik Tallinder makes his world championship debut and should be a steady, dependable presence on the Swedish back end while Lokomotiv Yaroslavl defender Staffan Kronwall, who has been his nation’s captain in international tournaments so far this season, was quite productive offensively in the KHL with 22 points in 50 games. Flyer Eric Gustafsson will be highly counted on to quarterback the power play.
Buffalo Sabre Jhonas Enroth looks to carry the load in goal (he backed up current Anaheim Duck Viktor Fasth last year) with Florida Panther Jacob Markstrom behind him.