2013 World Championships

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

Possible Flame presence at WC:

Canada: Giordano, Brodie, Wideman, Cammalleri,
USA: Butler, Stempniak
Sweden: Backlund
Swiss: Baertschi, Berra
Finland: Ramo, Granlund, Ortio
Czechs: Hudler, Cervenka, Horak

Believe it or not USA has already asked Butler.

The Czechs had 4 or 5 scouts at the Calgary/Phoenix game earlier this month taking a look at both teams for possible players.

Cervenka will get an invite for sure, Hudler will probably get one and not play (I don't believe he's ever played for the Czech Republic team). Not sure if they would take Horak since looking at the teams not making the playoffs, there will be a ton of Czech's to pick from with more experience.

[killer_carlson]

If healthy i would think both Glencross and Tanguay would be considered.

[showtime]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Will be cool to see Berra in a more updated viewing for sure. Hope Sven goes but won't be upset if he doesn't go either. Toss up between starting his bulking up or playing more hockey.

I would imagine, if he doesn't play its not because he's going to immediately begin offseason training. These guys do take a month or so off once the season is done from heavy training.

[trumpethead]

Originally Posted by Drury18

The Czechs had 4 or 5 scouts at the Calgary/Phoenix game earlier this month taking a look at both teams for possible players.

Cervenka will get an invite for sure, Hudler will probably get one and not play (I don't believe he's ever played for the Czech Republic team). Not sure if they would take Horak since looking at the teams not making the playoffs, there will be a ton of Czech's to pick from with more experience.

By my count , there are only 12 Czech born forwards (in the NHL) available for the WC. Assuming that a bunch refuse invites, Horak may get a look.

[AC]

Originally Posted by trumpethead

By my count , there are only 12 Czech born forwards (in the NHL) available for the WC. Assuming that a bunch refuse invites, Horak may get a look.

Yeah as it stands, here are the available Czechs from NHL teams:

FLA: Fleischmann, Kuba
TB: Gudas
CAR: Tlusty
PHI: Voracek
NJ: Elias, Zidlicky
WPG: Pavelec

COL: Hejduk, Vincour, Hejda
EDM: Hemsky, Smid
CGY: Cervenka, Horak, Hudler
PHX: Hanzal, Vrbata, Klesla, Michalek

Though last year, the Czech team used 8 forwards from outside the NHL. It'd be nice to see Horak get the chance, but I don't see it happening.

[Suave]

I don't see Horak making it. Here are the players the czech hockey website is thinking might be on the team:

Brankář:
Ondřej Pavelec (Winnipeg).
Obránci:
Filip Kuba (Florida, NHL), Ladislav Šmíd (Edmonton), Zbyněk Michálek (Phoenix), Jan Hejda (Colorado).
Útočníci:
Jakub Voráček (Philadelphia), Jiří Tlustý (Carolina), Tomáš Fleischmann (Florida), Radim Vrbata, Martin Hanzal (oba Phoenix), Roman Červenka, Jiří Hudler (oba Calgary).
www.hokej.cz

Plus they will probaley keep a couple of roster spots open for guys that get bounced in the first round.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

Possible Flame presence at WC:

Canada: Giordano, Brodie, Wideman, Cammalleri,
USA: Butler, Stempniak
Sweden: Backlund
Swiss: Baertschi, Berra
Finland: Ramo, Granlund, Ortio
Czechs: Hudler, Cervenka, Horak

I hope Brodie gets an invite.
Backlund should get an invite
Bärtschi might already be the best Swiss born forward playing in the NHL. EDIT: there have only been 2 this season
Would love to see Horak go play.

If other players on that list get invited, and go, great. If not, no worries.

With the NHL season going later this season, it doesn't appear that there will be much point for national teams to wait for players who lose in the first round, as the tournament will be nearly over by then.

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by Suave

I don't see Horak making it. Here are the players the czech hockey website is thinking might be on the team:

Brankář:
Ondřej Pavelec (Winnipeg).
Obránci:
Filip Kuba (Florida, NHL), Ladislav Šmíd (Edmonton), Zbyněk Michálek (Phoenix), Jan Hejda (Colorado).
Útočníci:
Jakub Voráček (Philadelphia), Jiří Tlustý (Carolina), Tomáš Fleischmann (Florida), Radim Vrbata, Martin Hanzal (oba Phoenix), Roman Červenka, Jiří Hudler (oba Calgary).
www.hokej.cz

Plus they will probaley keep a couple of roster spots open for guys that get bounced in the first round.

Wow, no Klesla on defence? I'd take him over Michalek. He's one of the few shutdown defence the Czech's have.

By my count , there are only 12 Czech born forwards (in the NHL) available for the WC. Assuming that a bunch refuse invites, Horak may get a look.

I'd love to see Horak make the team as I'm a huge fan of the kid, but he's just that, a kid. The Czech League has some ex-NHL players as well as "unknowns" that will probably make the team before he does, and argueably rightfully so. You've got Petr Cajanek, Martin Straka, Jaroslav Hnlinka, Martin Ruzicka (who freaking killed it with Trinec this year), Radek Bonk, Lukas Pech and Petr Nedved all playing for the Czech League that I think would make the team before Horak. And guys in the KHL too. Horak's numbers just don't look as good against these guys.

[moon]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Bärtschi might already be the best Swiss born forward playing in the NHL. EDIT: there have only been 2 this season

I would think Brunner has been the best Swiss forward but Sven has been good enough to go as well you would think.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by moon

I would think Brunner has been the best Swiss forward but Sven has been good enough to go as well you would think.

Certainly could make a case for either one of Brunner or Bärtschi, as their NHL sample sizes are both pretty small. Brunner more points per game (slightly), but a minus player on a plus team. Bärtschi an even player on a minus team. Also have to look at the direction each player is trending at the moment - Brunner 9 points in his last 23 games & Bärtschi 8 points in his last 6 games.

Brunner is also 6.5 years older - though that doesn't affect who's better right now. Certainly, Bärtschi has the higher ceiling.

Both will certainly be invited to the World Championship team.

[MissTeeks]

Roger Millions‏@RogMillions1m
Of note. TJ Brodie has not yet been asked to play for Canada at World Champs. Mark Giordano will not play due to family issues. #Flames

Roger Millions‏@RogMillions49s
#Flames Defenceman. Chris Butler will play for Team USA at World Championships.

Roger Millions‏@RogMillions22s
#Flames Sven Baertschi. Expects to play at World Champioships for Switzerland. Likely finalized Saturday.

[Ashasx]

Brodie hasn't been asked... dat Kevin Lowe.

[BruceCody]

Roger Millions ‏@RogMillions

Jiri Hudler will play for Czech Republic at Worlds. Leaves Sunday. #Flames. Roman Horak held discussions, unlikely to play. #Flames

[trumpethead]

I was just looking at the potential USA lineup. Oddly, only 4 of the 20 top scoring US born forwards this season are outside of the playoffs right now. Wheeler, Stempniak, Legwand and Stasny. The US is going to be very thin up front.

[J epworth]

Originally Posted by trumpethead

I was just looking at the potential USA lineup. Oddly, only 4 of the 20 top scoring US born forwards this season are outside of the playoffs right now. Wheeler, Stempniak, Legwand and Stasny. The US is going to be very thin up front.

They are going to be very weak. I wonder if Stempniak declined an invitation, they've already given 15 roster spots away:

USA HOCKEY'S CURRENT ROSTER

GOALTENDERS
Ben Bishop
Cal Heeter

DEFENCEMEN
Chris Butler
Matt Carle
Justin Faulk
Matt Hunwick
Jamie McBain
Jeff Petry

FORWARDS
Nick Bjugstad
Bobby Butler
Danny Kristo
Craig Smith
Tim Stapleton
Paul Stastny
Nate Thompson

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=667617

[trumpethead]

Originally Posted by J epworth kendal

They are going to be very weak.

FORWARDS
Nick Bjugstad
Bobby Butler
Danny Kristo
Craig Smith
Tim Stapleton
Paul Stastny
Nate Thompson

Ben Hanowski has scored more goals in the NHL this season than 3 of those players

[looooob]

Originally Posted by J epworth kendal

They are going to be very weak. I wonder if Stempniak declined an invitation, they've already given 15 roster spots away:

USA HOCKEY'S CURRENT ROSTER

GOALTENDERS
Ben Bishop
Cal Heeter

DEFENCEMEN
Chris Butler
Matt Carle
Justin Faulk
Matt Hunwick
Jamie McBain
Jeff Petry

FORWARDS
Nick Bjugstad
Bobby Butler
Danny Kristo
Craig Smith
Tim Stapleton
Paul Stastny
Nate Thompson

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=667617

yikes Gaudreau doesn't seem like that bad an idea anymore for them

[spuzzum]

The Canadian roster is certainly looking great. Need dmen and goaltending. Forward group is star studded thus far. Best in years:
www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=421687

[Mango]

Originally Posted by spuzzum

The Canadian roster is certainly looking great. Need dmen and goaltending. Forward group is star studded thus far. Best in years:
www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=421687

Wow! Some great players: Stamkos and Giroux for starters. The Staals. The kids from up the QE2. You're right. I can't remember the last time a WC team was this stacked in terms of scoring power.

I'm looking forward to see how the rest of the roster shapes up.

[dammage79]

Would be a shame for Brodie to not get a call. His play this year has at least earned an invite.