1. Canada
2. Sweden
3. Russia
4. US
5. Finland
6. Czech
7. Slovakia
8. Switzerland.
Canada and Sweden a clear level above everyone else. I am not sure that Lundqvist right now is much, if any, step above Price and if he gets hurt the other two guys are awful.
Russia just ahead of US because their top end forwards are amazing and they are at home. I think Russia could ride those top end guys to the final or go out in 7th like last time. US is good but not great. Okay, forwards and defense with goalies that can steal it. They need outstanding goaltending to be anything better than 4th/5th. Finland much like the US needs to rely on its stellar goaltending. The skaters are very underwhelming.
The benefit all second tier teams have is in a one game elimination you can shortened the bench and rely on the top guys a lot more than in a 7 game series. It neutralizes the much better depth that the Swedes and Canadians have to a certain extent. If this were a 7 game elimination tournament I can't see how it wouldn't be Canada-Sweden in the finals.
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