“I can predict with absolute certainty that within another
generation there will be a [Krusell
Cup Keeper League brouhaha] if the nations of the world do not concert the method by which to prevent it.”
-President Woodrow
Wilson, “14 Points Speech”, 1918
‘Ol Woody was remarkably
prescient. I have sensed that unchecked nationalism is set to tear the KCKL
asunder. Thankfully, our collective bargaining overlords in the NHL and the
NHLPA have undertook valiant efforts to ensure that there is a (mostly)
peaceable outlet for these patriotic blood-lusts: the 2016 World Cup of Hockey!
In World Class Toronto™!
It is our
real life Hunger Games!
“I - intensely - volunteer as tribute!”
As some
of you know, I am a big soccer (née
football) fan. In that gloriously corrupt sport (hi Qatar 2022!), the idea of “internationals” (i.e. players good enough to
play for their national teams) is somewhat of a “thing”.
Club supporters reflexively cite the number of internationals that play for
their team as an emblem of their club’s
supposed superiority. It may not be at all helpful from an actual analytical
standpoint, but I thought I would set out some projected World Cup rosters and “analyze” who has the most projected internationals on his or her
KCKL roster. You never know: you may be able to cite Player X’s projected international
status as another reason why an opposing GM should accept Player X as a
perfectly cromulent trade return.
First,
the projected rosters!
DA! DA! CANADA
Goalies
Carey Price
Brayden Holtby
Jonathan Bernier
Defensemen
Alex Pietrangelo
Shea Weber
Duncan Keith
Drew Doughty
Kris Letang
Mark Giordano
P.K. Subban
T.J. Brodie
Forwards
Sidney Crosby
Jonathan Toews
John Tavares
Tyler Seguin
Jamie Benn
Steven Stamkos
Claude Giroux
Ryan Getzlaf
Corey Perry
Ryan Johansen
Patrice
Bergeron
Rick Nash
Taylor Hall
Logan Couture
USA! USA!
Goalies
Jonathan Quick
Ben Bishop
Craig Anderson
Defensemen
Ryan Suter
Kevin Shattenkirk
Justin Faulk
Dustin Byfulgien
Torey Krug
Keith Yandle
Ryan McDonagh
John Carlson
Forwards
Phil Kessel
Patrick Kane
Max Pacioretty
David Backes
Brandon Saad
Bobby Ryan
Blake Wheeler
Zach Parise
Tyler Johnson
Joe Pavelski
Ryan Kesler
Kyle Okposo
Nick Bjugstad
James van Riemsdyk
TRE KRONOR
Goalies
Henrik Lundqvist
Robin Lehner
Niklas Svedberg
Defensemen
Niklas Kronwall
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Erik Karlsson
Hampus Lindholm
Victor Hedman
Anton Stralman
Jonas Brodin
John Klingberg
Forwards
Henrik Zetterberg
Nicklas Backstrom
Filip Forsberg
Henrik Sedin
Daniel Sedin
Gustav Nyquist
Gabriel Landeskog
Alexander Steen
Mika Zibanejad
Elias Lindholm
Jakob Silfverberg
Andre Burakovsky
Patric Hornqvist
Marcus Johansson
NYET! NYET! SOVIET!
Goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky
Semyon Varlamov
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Defensemen
Andrei Markov
Slava Voynov
Alexei Emelin
Dmitry Kulikov
Fedor Tyutin
Nikita Zadorov
Nikita Nikitin
Anton Volchenkov
Forwards
Evgeni Malkin
Alex Ovechkin
Pavel Datsyuk
Ilya Kovalchuk
Vladimir Tarasenko
Nikita Kucherov
Artem Anisimov
Valeri Nichushkin
Evgeny Kuznetsov
Mikhail Grigorenko
Nikolay Kulemin
Alexander Radulov
Alexander Burmistrov
Nail Yakupov
FUCK SUOMI! *falls into bush*
Goalies
Pekka Rinne
Tuukka Rask
Antti Niemi
Defensemen
Sami Vatanen
Olli Maatta
Rasmus Ristolainen
Ossi Vaananen
Lasse Kukkonen
Sami Lepisto
Petteri Lindbohm
Julius Honka
Forwards
Jori Lehtera
Mikko Koivu
Mikael Granlund
Markus Granlund
Sean Bergenheim
Aleksander Barkov
Valtteri Filppula
Leo Komarov
Lauri Korpikoski
Kasperi Kapanen
Erik Haula
Tuomo Ruutu
Jussi Jokinen
Iiro Pakarinen
Teuvo Teravainen
CZECH YO’ SELF BEFORE YOU WRECK YO’ SELF
Goalies
Ondrej Pavelec
Michal Neuvirth
Petr Mrazek
Defensemen
Marek Zidlicky
Jakub Kindl
Zbynek Michalek
Radko Gudas
Jan Hejda
Roman Polak
Andrej Sustr
Ladislav Smid
Forwards
Jakub Voracek
Radim Vrbata
Jiri Hudler
Tomas Plekanec
David Krejci
Jiri Tlusty
Ondrej Palat
Tomas Hertl
Martin Hanzal
Jiri Sekac
David Pastrnak
Michael Frolik
Jaromir Jagr
Jakub Vrana
TEAM EUROPA (ODE TO JOY (JOY TO THE WORLD) (feat. Nate
Dogg))
(a.k.a. “A
team for Kopitar")
Goalies
Frederik Andersen
Jonas Hiller
Jaroslav Halak
Defensemen
Zdeno Chara
Lubomir Visnovsky
Andrej Sekera
Christian Ehrhoff
Roman Josi
Dennis Seidenberg
Luca Sbisa
Mark Streit
Forwards
Tomas Tatar
Thomas Vanek
Marian Hossa
Marian Gaborik
Anze Kopitar
Nino Niederreiter
Mats Zuccarello
Mikkel Boedker
Mikhail Grabovksi
Zemgus Girgensons
Nikolaj Ehlers
Leon Draisatl
Frans Nielsen
Tomas Jurco
YOUNG GUNSLINGERS EXCITEMENT YOUTH TEAM*
*The rule is that the player must be 23 or younger as of
September 1, 2016. Players of this age will be ineligible for the Canadian and
U.S. teams or, at the very least, cannot be picked until the Youngstars team is
selected.
Goalies
John Gibson
Malcom Subban
Zach Fucale
Defensemen
Ryan Murray
Dougie Hamilton
Aaron Ekblad
Morgan Rielly
Jacob Trouba
Seth Jones
Damon Severson
Noah Hanifin
Forwards
Johnny Gaudreau
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Nathan MacKinnon
Jonathan Drouin
Sean Monahan
Bo Horvat
Alex Galchenyuk
Ryan Strome
Conor McDavid
Jack Eichel
Curtis Lazar
Mark Scheifele
Sam Reinhart
Jonathan Huberdeau
Now to
look at the relative shares of internationals broken down by KCKL team, from
most international to least. I have used the same colour coding as Stefan’s previous blog-post to help
delineate positions and I have also bolded current scoring roster players.
Los Amjawors Kings
|
Country/“Country”
|
Brayden
Holtby
|
Canada
|
Sidney
Crosby
|
Canada
|
Brent
Seabrook
|
Canada
|
Ondrej
Palat
|
Czech
Republic
|
Mikkel
Boedker
|
Europa
|
Tomas
Jurco
|
Europa
|
Christian
Ehrhoff
|
Europa
|
Sami
Vatanen
|
Finland
|
Vladimir
Tarasenko
|
Russia
|
Jonas
Brodin
|
Sweden
|
Ryan
Murray
|
Youngstars
|
John Gibson
|
Youngstars
|
Jonathan
Drouin
|
Youngstars
|
Internationals Count: 13
Comments:
Aside
from having a large number of internationals, the Kings are balanced across a
number of nations and blessed with some incredibly high-end talent that
includes four players with a legitimate chance to lead their teams in scoring
(Crosby, Palat, Tarasenko and Drouin) and the odds-on starting goalie for the
Youngstars in John Gibson. The Kings are, however, less internationally
impressive on the back-end as, were the tournament to start today, Seabrook
would likely be the eighth defensemen for Canada and the odd-man out.
Magnus Faajarvis
|
Country/“Country”
|
Shea
Weber
|
Canada
|
Tomas
Plekanec
|
Czech
Republic
|
Nick
Ehlers
|
Europa
|
Lubomir
Visnovsky
|
Europa
|
Frederik
Andersen
|
Europa
|
Thomas
Vanek
|
Europa
|
Dmitry
Kulikov
|
Russia
|
Nicklas
Backstrom
|
Sweden
|
Joe
Pavelski
|
USA
|
James
van Riemsdyk
|
USA
|
Morgan
Rielly
|
Youngstars
|
Seth
Jones
|
Youngstars
|
Sean
Monahan
|
Youngstars
|
Internationals Count: 13
Comments:
The
Faajarvis have an abundance of international talent including three exciting
players that are virtual locks for the Youngstars team. They also boast the
likely starter for the seriously underrated Europa “leftovers” team
in Frederik Anderson, top two Canadian blue liner Shea Weber and Swedish game
breaker Nicklas Backstrom. Top to bottom, this team is packed with important
international contributors that will likely be counted on to play crucial roles
in a short tournament. The Faajarvis also have the most Europa players - will
that familiarity ease the inevitable awkwardness associated with forcing
national rivals to become sudden allies?
Quebec Rordiques
|
Country/“Country”
|
Jonathan
Toews
|
Canada
|
Zigmus
Girgensons
|
Europa
|
Jori
Lehtera
|
Finland
|
Kasperi
Kapanen
|
Finland
|
Aleksander
Barkov
|
Finland
|
Rasmus
Ristolainen
|
Finland
|
Andrei
Vasilvesky
|
Russia
|
Nikolai
Kulemin
|
Russia
|
Semyon
Varlamov
|
Russia
|
Mikhail
Grigorenko
|
Russia
|
Bobby
Ryan
|
USA
|
Sam
Reinhart
|
Youngstars
|
Jacob
Trouba
|
Youngstars
|
Internationals Count: 13
Comments:
While the
Rordiques are tied for the most projected internationals, this group is short
on marquee players aside from Toews. Varlamov is 50/50 to be the Russian
starter and Barkov and Lehtera will be counted on by the Finns, but it thins
out quickly from there. However, you can see from this group of players that
the Rordiques are chalked full of future potential and, should everything go
according to plan, they may be a KCKL playoff team in 6 or 7 years.
Dicklas Lidstroms
|
Country/“Country”
|
T.J.
Brodie
|
Canada
|
Corey
Perry
|
Canada
|
Drew
Doughty
|
Canada
|
Jiri
Hudler
|
Czech
Republic
|
Marian
Gaborik
|
Europa
|
Alexander
Steen
|
Sweden
|
Henrik
Lundqvist
|
Sweden
|
Daniel
Sedin
|
Sweden
|
David
Backes
|
USA
|
Patrick
Kane
|
USA
|
Curtis
Lazar
|
Youngstars
|
Internationals Count: 11
Comments:
In the
interests of full disclosure, I must disclose that this group of players is
freaking awesome. It would be easier to go over the possible bubble players
than to canvass the superstars: Gaborik and Daniel will be a bit long in the
tooth come September 2016 and Lazar might not make the Youngstars team (and
would only be a 4th liner if he does). However, every other player listed above
is a likely top 6 forward, top 4 d-man or starting ‘tender on his respective national team resulting in a 1A/1B
situation with the Faajarvis when it comes to international-level talent.
Nevertheless, it’s not all
roses on this team: the lack of young superstars in this group does belie a
KCKL area of weakness. Good thing the team is run by a handsome, successful and
available GM (tell your GTA based female friends).
Milan Micahleks
|
Country/“Country”
|
Jamie
Benn
|
Canada
|
Ryan
Getzlaf
|
Canada
|
Martin
Hanzal
|
Czech
Republic
|
Radim
Vrbata
|
Czech
Republic
|
Roman
Josi
|
Europa
|
Zdeno
Chara
|
Europa
|
Tuukka Rask
|
Finland
|
Nikita
Kucherov
|
Russia
|
Marcus
Johansson
|
Sweden
|
John
Carlson
|
USA
|
Dougie
Hamilton
|
Youngstars
|
Internationals Count: 11
Comments:
Like the
GM of the Micahleks, this group is solid. Two likely team captains in Chara and
Hamilton are indicative of the type of leadership that this perennial league
contender looks for in its players. If Team Europa is going to go anywhere in
this tournament, Roman Josi will be counted on to get the power play firing on
all cylinders. Kucherov may be a dark horse to lead the Russians in scoring -
look out if he is on a line with young phenom Tarasenko. Bingo! Bonus points
for being the only team to have at least one projected player from each
tournament entrant.
Vanrooser Canicks
|
Country/“Country”
|
Jonathan
Bernier
|
Canada
|
Jakub
Voracek
|
Czech
Republic
|
Andrej
Sekera
|
Europa
|
Fedor
Tyutin
|
Russia
|
Nail
Yakupov
|
Russia
|
Valeri
Nichushkin
|
Russia
|
Victor
Hedman
|
Sweden
|
Torey
Krug
|
USA
|
Jonathan
Huberdeau
|
Youngstars
|
Alex
Galchenyuk
|
Youngstars
|
Ryan
Strome
|
Youngstars
|
Internationals Count: 11
Comments:
Hedman
(an unforgivable Sochi snub) is likely to be key for Sweden, assuming they
smarten up. Same with Voracek for the Czech Republic, who is the midst of his
long-awaited breakout campaign. However, the rest of the vets are peripheral
international players with Bernier looking at third-string for Canada at best.
The real story for the Canicks is that Strome, Galchenyuk and Huberdeau would
make a formidable top line for the Yank-Canuck Frankenstein’s monster we didn’t know we always wanted.
Schizzarks
|
Country/“Country”
|
Carey Price
|
Canada
|
Henrik
Sedin
|
Canada
|
Rick
Nash
|
Canada
|
Marek
Zidlicky
|
Czech
Republic
|
Mark
Streit
|
Europa
|
Gustav
Nyquist
|
Sweden
|
Zach
Parise
|
USA
|
Ryan
Kesler
|
USA
|
Keith
Yandle
|
USA
|
Aaron
Ekblad
|
Youngstars
|
Internationals Count: 10
Comments:
At first
glance, this group is about Ekblad and Price. Price is a lock as Canada’s #1 and, the way he’s playing in his rookie
campaign, Ekblad would likely be picked for the Canada grown-ups if he were
eligible. While Nash always seems to play his best for Canada and is
experiencing a bit of a renaissance for the NY Rangers, I have him projected as
a fourth liner by the time 2016 rolls around. At the same time, Gustav “Nyquill” Nyqvist is an exciting young player, although Sweden
usually leans on its vets at the international level. Assuming Team Europa
doesn’t immediately
disintegrate or tear itself apart at the seams as a result of in-fighting, Mark
Streit may have a breakout tournament (especially on the power play) given his
extensive international experience playing for a usually under-the-radar Swiss
team. Overall, the Schizzarks boast a formidable group of internationals, but
slot in behind the Fajaarvis and LIdstroms on comparison.
G-Phil’s Flyers
|
Country/“Country”
|
Jiri
Tlusty
|
Czech
Republic
|
Michael
Frolik
|
Czech
Republic
|
Pekka Rinne
|
Finland
|
Alex
Ovechkin
|
Russia
|
Evgeni
Malkin
|
Russia
|
Pavel
Datsyuk
|
Russia
|
Erik
Karlsson
|
Sweden
|
Niklas
Kronwall
|
Sweden
|
Kevin
Shattenkirk
|
USA
|
Bo
Horvat
|
Youngstars
|
Internationals Count: 10
Comments:
The usual
suspects who underwrite the Flyers’
yearly success in the KCKL immediately jump out here; the 3 Russian
forward veterans and the 2 Swedish blue liners are all potential difference
makers. However, at the same time, it must be pointed out that none of
Ovechkin, Malkin and Datsyuk have had overly glorious international careers at
the senior level. Rinne, while a top NHL netminder, cannot count on starting
any games for his native Suomi - a nation that is absurdly deep at the position.
Similar to the Lidstroms, and with due respect to Mr. Horvat, what is
noticeable here is that there aren’t
really any top young North American skaters. Also: why does the GM of the
Flyers hate Canada and when will he end the blatant anti-Canadian discrimination
on his team? Wake up and hold him accountable, sheeple!
Joshfrey Krupuls
|
Country/“Country”
|
Claude
Giroux
|
Canada
|
Ryan
Johansen
|
Canada
|
Anze
Kopitar
|
Europa
|
Nino
Niederreiter
|
Europa
|
Valtteri
Filppula
|
Finland
|
Andrei
Markov
|
Russia
|
Henrik
Zetterberg
|
Sweden
|
Kyle
Okposo
|
USA
|
Ryan
Suter
|
USA
|
Internationals Count: 9
Comments:
An unspectacular but dependable group. As alluded to above, one
of the key motivations in forming team Europa was likely to get Anze Kopitar in
the tournament. Widely considered one of the best overall players in the game
today, Kopitar, as the lone Slovenian and a respected NHL pro, may need to take
a leadership role and set the right tone in order for his group of
international misfits to morph into a cohesive unit. Book it: 2016 is when RyJo
makes his first of many appearances for Canada at the best-on-best level.
Likely Markov’s last twirl
on the big stage.
Moilers
|
Country/“Country”
|
Taylor
Hall
|
Canada
|
David
Krejci
|
Czech
Republic
|
Mats
Zuccarello
|
Europa
|
Jussi
Jokinen
|
Finland
|
Evgeny
Kuznetsov
|
Russia
|
Oliver
Ekman-Larsson
|
Sweden
|
Mika
Zibanejad
|
Sweden
|
Anton
Stralman
|
Sweden
|
Justin
Faulk
|
USA
|
Internationals Count: 9
Comments:
The
Moilers have a diverse dressing room as demonstrated by their group of
projected internationals which includes Mats “The Norwegian Nostradamus” Zuccarello. The GM recently acquired mega-hype prospect
Evgeny Kuznetsov and will be anxious to see if he plays at a high-enough level
over the next year and a half to make a Russian team that is extremely deep at
forward. Zibanejad is a bit of a bold prediction for a perennial international
contender in Sweden, but if his play continues to improve (largely due to
finding chemistry with a healthy Bobby Ryan and late bloomer Mike “Jimmy” Hoffman), he has far more upside than plodding Bruin
veterans Carl Soderberg and Loui Eriksson.
Powder Rangers
|
Country/“Country”
|
Steven
Stamkos
|
Canada
|
Matt
Duchene
|
Canada
|
Alex
Pietrangelo
|
Canada
|
Mikhail
Grabovski
|
Europa
|
Mikko
Koivu
|
Finland
|
Mikael
Granlund
|
Finland
|
Andre
Burakovsky
|
Sweden
|
Patric
Hornqvist
|
Sweden
|
Ryan
McDonaugh
|
USA
|
Internationals Count: 9
Comments:
Stamkos
will finally look to step out into the international spotlight following his
injury-aborted Olympic bid in 2014. The Powder Rangers GM is praying that
Stamkos’ luck changes and
he stays healthy before and during a tournament that will be played before most
players are fully into game shape. Looking down his roster, that same GM needs
to be more than a little concerned about his international-calibre depth. He
should also be concerned that, based on past history, international tournaments
angry up Grabovski’s
blood. Perhaps that will be reason enough for the Rangers to part ways with the
Belligerent Belorussian in the upcoming offseason.
WBS Parkers
|
Country/“Country”
|
Duncan
Keith
|
Canada
|
Tomas
Hertl
|
Czech
Republic
|
Leon
Draisaitl
|
Europa
|
Frans
Nielsen
|
Europa
|
Tomas
Tatar
|
Europa
|
Olli
Maatta
|
Finland
|
Teuvo
Teravainen
|
Finland
|
Hampus
Lindholm
|
Sweden
|
Nathan
MacKinnon
|
Youngstars
|
Internationals Count: 9
Comments:
A very
Euro-centric group is highlighted by the trio of Draisaitl, Nielsen and Tatar,
who should be diversity-motivated locks for Team Europa. I imagine Nathan
MacKinnon will be nonplussed to be ineligible for the big boy Canada team,
which he would be in the running for under normal circumstances. Hopefully,
MacKinnon and the GM of the Parkers embrace the opportunity for Nate to be a “veteran” leader on a young team with nothing to lose and looking to
play spoilers. Will Hertl get healthy over the next year and re-discover the
electricity that made him 2013-2014 rookie of the year frontrunner before he
got hurt? The Czech Republic has had difficulty in recent tournaments putting
anything together and could use a shot in the arm from a new generation led by Hertl
as well as fresh-faced countrymen Pastrnak and Vrana. From a KCKL perspective,
the Parkers organization must be buoyed by seeing the number of young
international-level talents coming through the pipeline.
Patrik Stefans
|
Country/“Country”
|
Tyler
Seguin
|
Canada
|
Logan
Couture
|
Canada
|
Kris
Letang
|
Canada
|
Antti Niemi
|
Finland
|
Filip
Forsberg
|
Sweden
|
Max
Pacioretty
|
USA
|
Brandon
Saad
|
USA
|
Johnny
Gaudreau
|
Youngstars
|
Internationals Count: 8
Comments:
Pound-for-pound,
this team has international quality at the forward position on par with the
Kings and Lidstroms, but is held back by a lack of international blue liners
and goaltenders (Niemi is at best a coin-flip for 3rd string status with Kari
Lehtonen). Forsberg, Gaudreau and Seguin will be looking to make a name for
themselves at the best-on-best level and it’s not hard to imagine one or more of these phenoms “going off” at the ACC.
Mackhawks
|
Country/“Country”
|
Mark
Giordano
|
Canada
|
Jaromir
Jagr
|
Czech
Republic
|
Marian
Hossa
|
Europa
|
Jakob
Silfverberg
|
Sweden
|
Elias
Lindholm
|
Sweden
|
Phil
Kessel
|
USA
|
Jonathan
Quick
|
USA
|
Internationals Count: 7
Comments:
Mark
Giordano might be the greatest defender of all-time. Jagr is apparently
immortal. Team USA will be motivated to be back on top of the international
hockey world for the first time since the inaugural World Cup in 1996, which
may bode well for possible starter Quick. However, aside from those positives,
there isn’t too much to
like here. Kessel always disappears in big games, the two Swedes will be fringe
players and for as consistent as Hossa has been in the NHL, his international
career has always left something to be desired.
Winter Claasics
|
Country/“Country”
|
P.K.
Subban
|
Canada
|
Jaroslav
Halak
|
Europa
|
Sergei
Bobrovsky
|
Russia
|
Gabriel
Landeskog
|
Sweden
|
Blake
Wheeler
|
USA
|
Ryan
Nugent-Hopkins
|
Youngstars
|
Mark
Scheifele
|
Youngstars
|
Internationals Count: 7
Comments:
Quantity
is a problem for the Claasics, but quality is not. They’ve got two possible starting goaltenders and the most electrifying
defenseman in the game today (with apologies to Erik Karlsson - love ya bud).
First-time all-star RNH and Mr. Scheifele are locks for the Youngstars team and
will play big roles in that rag-tag band of rugrats. The Classics can only hope
that a solid tourney for those two will help further their development at the
pro-level.
Teeyotes
|
Country/“Country”
|
John
Tavares
|
Canada
|
Patrice
Bergeron
|
Canada
|
Nick
Bjugstad
|
USA
|
Ben Bishop
|
USA
|
Dustin
Byfuglien
|
USA
|
Tyler
Johnson
|
USA
|
Internationals Count: 6
Comments:
I like
all the players here, but there just aren’t enough of ‘em.
There’s also a lack of
variety here and, amongst the North Americans the Teeyotes have, none are
age-appropriate for the Youngstars. On the plus side of the ledger, I think
Bishop might steal the starter’s
job for the Yanks. Byfuglien might also be extremely effective in a tournament
played on NHL ice, reffed by NHL officials according to NHL rules. By 2016,
Tavares might be able to lay claim to the mantle of best Canadian player in the
game.
