Yle Sporten’s big World Cup ranking: The Lions are gold favorites again – Three Kronor and Canada’s biggest threats to a new Finnish gold medal

Is it starting to feel annoying? A new WC tournament is just around the corner and Finland is the big advance favorite again. This time also as a distinct candidate for victory.

Here is Yle Sporten’s ranking of the 16 WC teams:

The favorites – only gold in sight

1. Finland – the victory machine has another WC title in its sights

The lion is riding an unprecedented wave of success. The last three WC tournaments have resulted in two gold and one silver. And don’t forget that Finland also won Olympic gold last year.

Jukka Jalonen trusts his concept. Finland’s squad is, as usual, full of players who have been involved in winning major titles and tactically the home team will not offer any surprises.

The safe surroundings and the familiar way of playing provide security as the tournament culminates. Jalonen also matches his squad fraternally – this means that the players are not overloaded even though there will be ten matches in 17 days for the top four teams.

If you want to look for weaknesses, an offensive bandleader is missing in the back crew. Miro Heiskanen’s importance when Finland won last year should not be underestimated. Now a big responsibility falls on Mikko Lehtonen’s shoulders in numerical superiority.

Jussi Olkinuora’s form after a weak season is also something of a question mark. Will Emil Larmi take over as first goalkeeper?

2. Canada – finalist again

The balance from the last world championships is no joke: Canada has won three golds and two silvers in the last seven world championships.

Lönnlöven has a cornucopia of NHL players. This means that every year Canada is one of the hottest champion candidates.

This year’s Canadian World Cup squad lacks big NHL names, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. For example, Canada took World Cup gold in 2021 with a relatively anonymous team that coalesced at the end of the tournament.

Team captain Tyler Toffoli scored 34 goals in the past NHL season. All eyes are on him as Canada’s games weigh in.

3. Sweden – at it again

The failed experiment with Johan Garpenlöv as national team captain is over. Tre Kronor is now piloted by Sam Hallam, who was something of an alchemist during his long stay in Växjö. Hallam guided the club to no less than three SHL titles.

Tre Kronor has played well under Hallam’s leadership in the Euro Hockey Tour this year and even if the team lacks superstars, the team structure looks solid.

An exciting name in the squad is 18-year-old forward Leo Carlsson, who is likely to be reserved among the first during the NHL draft this summer.

4. Czech Republic – will Kari Jalonen’s men strike?

Kari Jalonen took over as national team captain just over a year ago. Under the Finn’s leadership, the Czech Republic won its first World Cup medal in ten years when the team won the bronze medal match.

The back line looks mediocre, but under Jalonen’s leadership, the Czech Republic plays more nihilistically than before, which can go a long way.

National team veterans Roman Cervenka and Dominik Kubalik are the big weapons in the offensive zone.

The Czech Republic has got the shape of its junior activities again. In this year’s JVM, the Czech Republic took silver and the year before it was a semi-final. Both good for the future.

5. Switzerland – time for the perfect match?

Switzerland is now one of the big nations at World Cup level. Two final places in the 2010s speak of potential.

In Russia’s continued and well-deserved absence, Switzerland also has an easier path to the medal matches than before.

Most of this year’s WC players are in the domestic league, but NHL players JJ Moser and Nino Niederreiter contribute with excellence.

Switzerland has a lot at stake already in the group stage. If you place yourself among the top two, you will likely avoid meeting Finland or Sweden in the quarter-finals. A win over either Canada or the Czech Republic in the regular season is a must.

The challengers – have the quarter-finals in sight

6. Slovakia – not there yet

Slovakia has not won a World Cup medal since 2012. After that, it was a long desert trek before Slovakia struck and took bronze in the 2022 Olympics.

The Olympic medal was a sign that the Slovak hockey people have taken the spoon in good hands. Talent development was lacking for many years and corruption was a major problem at the federal level.

Now more positive winds are blowing and Slovakia has again managed to assert itself in junior tournaments. In the U18 WC in April, Slovakia beat Finland in the quarter-finals and came very close to beating Canada in the bronze medal match.

But at senior level, Slovakia overcomes the disadvantage. Quarter-finals are realism – more than that would be a hoot.

Slovak ice hockey’s great talent, former TPS winger Juraj Slafkovsky, was a key player as Slovakia took Olympic bronze. He is recovering from an injury and will not participate in the WC.

7. Germany – under new command

Toni Söderholm’s era as Germany’s national team captain is over. German-Canadian Harold Kreis took over after the former HIFK captain left his post for the job of Bern head coach.

Germany’s efforts under Krei’s leadership were initially doughy but the trend has been positive. Just before the World Cup, the Germans won twice over Slovakia away from home.

The development curve for German ice hockey has been positive in recent years. The 2018 Olympic silver was a high-water mark, and Germany has also produced some NHL players lately. Of the big-name players, only Detroit quarterback Moritz Seider is lining up this time.

Quarter-finals are realism for Germany. The decisive matches are the clashes against the USA and Denmark.

8. USA – mediocre team building

The WC is not particularly highly regarded among the American NHL players. Just take a look at this year’s WC squad. It looks blunt.

The USA only has three of its 87 best scorers from this year’s NHL on the team. Alex Tuch is the big star with 79 NHL points this past season. Presumptive freshman center Nick Bonino chipped in with 19 points.

But the USA has done reasonably well in recent tournaments. The Americans have played in the bronze medal match in the last two championships.

If the relatively anonymous team catches fire, the USA can play for medals again this year. But if the players are more interested in the nightlife in Tampere, it will be a passport already in the group stage.

9. Denmark – NHL star in focus

The Danish squad contains many acquaintances for friends of World Cup ice hockey. It is an experienced guard that defends the red and white colors.

But a profile is missing as Frans Nielsen ended his long and successful career after the WC last year. This means that NHL pro Nikolaj Ehlers is the undoubted leader of the offensive line.

Denmark’s forward holds up as Ehlers is flanked by players such as Mikkel Bødker and Jokerit acquaintance Nicklas Jensen. Unfortunately, there is a lack of width, which is the biggest obstacle on the way to a first Danish quarter-final place since 2016.

The middle mats – beats out of disadvantage

10. Latvia – how far does the home field advantage go?

Latvia has reached the quarter-finals only once in the last ten attempts. This time the team has the help of the fanatical home fans.

Much will be decided already on Saturday when Latvia takes on Slovakia. If there is victory, the way into the top eight is open.

Goalkeeper Kristers Gudlevskis, who shone when the legendary Modo secured promotion to the SHL, carries the expectations of an entire nation on his shoulders.

11. Norway – same situation again

The Norwegian national ice hockey team has stagnated. The national team is not good enough to secure a place in the quarter-finals, but at the same time good enough to keep the presumed bottom teams Kazakhstan and Slovenia behind them.

In the ten practice matches before the World Cup, they managed to scrape together two victories – both over France.

League players Christian Kåsastul (HIFK), Philip Granath (Tappara) and Mathias Trettenes (HPK) are among the most important cogs in the Norwegian machine.

12. France – attack is the best defense?

Alexandre Texier has played over 100 NHL games and is the team’s big poster name. Even otherwise, it looks decent among the forwards. Players like Charles Bertrand, Sacha Treille and the Bozon brothers hold a good class.

The defenders and goalkeepers are another five. Most stay in the French league, which, to be honest, is not particularly high class.

France will once again have to look down the table rather than up.

The punching bags – trying to avoid relegation

13. Kazakhstan – strong KHL character

Kazakhstan bounced back and forth between the A and B divisions of the World Cup hierarchy in the 2010s. Now, for the first time, Kazakhstan is making a third tournament in the WC fine room in a row.

The squad once again consists of players representing the Kazakh contribution to the KHL, Barys Astana. Nikita Mikhailis is the big star. He was one of the KHL’s top 40 scorers last season.

On the whole, it’s still an anonymous national team that has to push hard to get into the top four in the group.

14. Austria – saved by Hungary?

Austria slipped into the A-WC last year when the IIHF ported Russia and Belarus from the tournament. The team seized the opportunity and placed ahead of Norway and Great Britain and retained their place in the top division.

The vast majority of players play in the ICEHL, which in addition to Austrian teams also has clubs from Italy, Slovenia and Hungary. That says the most about Austria’s striking power.

Austria’s narrow luck is that Hungary, who have an even weaker team on paper, are in the same group.

15. Slovenia – thank you and hello!

Slovenia is back in the A World Cup after a break of six years. Not bad for a nation that only has seven ice rinks and about a thousand registered players.

The question is whether Slovenia, even with the nation’s superstar Anze Kopitar in the team, would manage to keep their place in the A division. Now the team is forced to manage without its big NHL star, which makes the decision. It will be a passport.

16. Hungary – hello and thank you!

Hungary gets to try their luck in the A World Cup for the third time in the 2000s. The two previous attempts resulted in one win and twelve losses.

Most everything points to the fact that there will be another French visit.