Rank The 2014 Olympic Hockey Rosters

[jeffman]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

1. Sweden
2. Russia
3. USA
4. Canada
5. Finland
6. Czechs
7. Slovaks
8. Swiss

Two words: Anton Belov

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by macrov

Finland looks awful. Their defense is an embarrassment. i doubt they will medal.

Finland's lineup is no worse than their previous teams that have been placing in medals in best against best tournaments several times in the most recent tournaments. Of course the defense looks weak but is it really that much weaker than on the teams that played in the finals in the Olympics and World Cup?

Obviously an underdog of course. But their lineups have always been underwhelming on paper when everyone's sending their all star teams. I'd say this year the forward group has more potential than previous, as strange as that may sound when you compare them to the big countries.

I'm looking forward to the tournament.

[Mr.Coffee]

I don't think it's going to be as easy for Canada as everyone here thinks. Just because a player is an all-star in the NHL doesn't mean they're an all-star in a slightly different game on that larger ice surface. Vancouver was home ice, NHL sized ice, no drastic time-zone differences, a lot of the things were the same and comfortable... it won't be like that in Russia for the pampered ass people.

They're talented but I think leaving the speed off the team and leaving St.Louis and Seguin / Giroux who's getting hot... those are mistakes. Kevin Lowe should never have been 15 miles within the selection committee. He quite literally should have had a restraining order against him at all times from Yzerman and the crew. His general presence will inevitably bleed suckage throughout the team and it will be up to the hockey greats to battle that darkness.

I suspect a Canadian battle in the bronze medal match. Not sure if they'll win. Sweden will take the gold this year.

And for the love of god Quebec, get your S together. For christ sakes the west makes the D, Ontario pumps out forwards and you get the goalies. That's how this works. Stop dragging your asses... this is how we have down years.

[Drake]

1. Canada
2. Sweden
3. Finland
4. Russia
5. USA
6. Slovakia
7. Switzerland
8. Czech
9. Austria
10. Latvia
11. Norway
12. Slovenia

[CaptainYooh]

US is better than Russia.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

US is better than Russia.

As is Sweden, Finland and arguably Slovakia.

Russia does not scare me at all.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by MattyC

As is Sweden, Finland and arguably Slovakia.

Russia does not scare me at all.

I was just commenting on this ranking:

Originally Posted by Drake

1. Canada
2. Sweden
3. Finland
4. Russia
5. USA
...

[_Q_]

Yeah I don't get the Russia love at all. Sure they have 3 or 4 exceptional forwards. But outside of those guys, the team is woefully bad. We all know what a team with 4 offensive stars and no defence or goaltending looks like (ie. Edmonton Oilers).

In my opinion, Russia won't be anywhere near the medal round and will have a tough time finishing in the top 6. Slovakia and possibly even Czech Republic are better teams. I think the Russians are currently in the same stratosphere as Switzerland honestly.

[CaptainYooh]

Again, you cannot underestimate the power of the home ice for the Russians. They WILL give it all to win in Sochi. They do have 4-5 top forwards that are among the best in the world and can do a lot of damage. They do have a decent goaltender. My guess, they will play all–out offense to compensate for weak defense, so there will be high-scoring games. Also important, more than half of Russian players are accustomed to playing big ice, which will be a huge detrimental factor for both Canada and US.

So, even though I see the Russian roster significantly worse than Canadian, Swedish, US and Finland's, I don't think they the Russians will be easy to play against at all.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Henry Fool

Finland's lineup is no worse than their previous teams that have been placing in medals in best against best tournaments several times in the most recent tournaments. Of course the defense looks weak but is it really that much weaker than on the teams that played in the finals in the Olympics and World Cup?
.

I think the defense is on paper definitely worse. Two rookies with Maatta and Vatanen and two old timers with Lasse "the kock" Kukkonen and Vaananen that play in FEL for crying out loud... Before we at least had two pairings that were solid NHL caliber.

Unless the rookies play out of their mind I could see some really ugly stuff happening against Canada and USA especially.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

I was just commenting on this ranking:

yeah I thought you were responding to puckluck who has Russia as #2, which is ridiculous.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by MattyC

yeah I thought you were responding to puckluck who has Russia as #2, which is ridiculous.

He's just trolling, I think.