MRKL on Ice: January Part 1 (The Nationing)

“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.