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fgh · 12-11-2016, 02:09 PM

<div align="center"> [Image: 900006634_medium.jpg]

Team USA celebrates their gold medal in the IIHF this past season

IIHF vs. SHL: Top Skaters</div>
There are no differences in rules on the ice between the SHL and the IIHF, and it usually stands that the best players from each country are regularly chart-toppers in the SHL every season. So, here to set the record straight, we tally the point totals and extrapolate the IIHF results to see whether the best player on every IIHF team was playing better than, at par with, or worse than their SHL playing level. This article does not include the medal rounds to keep the sample size of 10 games consistent for every top player, and the same goes for 50 games in the S31 SHL regular season. All IIHF stats listed are those extrapolated to 50 games linearly, no curves, just fun

<div align="center"> Usa

Team USA: Geoffrey Allen, Renegades

<a href='index.php?showuser=1770' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-13'>Allen</a> Usa

IIHF Stats: 35G, 30A, 65P, 0H, 0SB
SHL Stats: 20G, 25A, 45P, 30H, 12SB</div>
Allen seems to be a much better player when he's among compatriots. The American sense of duty seems to be calling, as the distributor in Texas becomes the scorer in national play. Suffering a bit, however, is his defensive play, not contributing a single hit or blocked shot. If we saw him play all 50 games in the IIHF, there'd surely be some defense, but for the sake of keeping this article non-judgemental, we'll keep it at zeroes for now. Team USA needs playmakers like these to keep up their dominance in the international play, and it seems the Renegades need to stoke a fire under Allen to get his production up for his real job.
<div align="center">ADVANTAGE: Usa

on offense, Renegades

on defense

Germany

Team Germany: VLAD McZehrl, Rage

<a href='index.php?showuser=184' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-13'>Chris-McZehrl</a> Germany

IIHF Stats: 20G, 35A, 55P, 140H, 0SB
SHL Stats: 33G, 30A, 63P, 136H, 19SB</div>
Coming in 2nd for the scoring title in the SHL, McZehrl was poised to help his German brethren with a solid IIHF performance and he did so. A solid two-way presence, McZ was able to help with the physical game and stymie Group A all the way to the top of the round robin. His play kept his team up through the medal round as well, giving them silver, and there had to be some people in the Big Apple wondering why better production in the SHL turned into a worse result on the scoreboard. If VLAD can keep outpacing his dominant IIHF play, maybe the Rage will catch up with the rest of the Eastern Conference sooner.
<div align="center">ADVANTAGE: Rage

but not in the SHL standings

Norway

Team Norway: Adam Fälk, Platoon

<a href='index.php?showuser=1700' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-34'>NJBadApple</a> Norway

IIHF Stats: 25G, 25A, 50P, 25H, 25SB
SHL Stats: 21G, 18A, 39P, 57H, 7SB</div>
Feeling invigorated after being released from the doldrums of the North Stars playoff woes, Adam Fälk was ready to win with a team, and win he did! Playing what I can only describe as the most balanced stat line I've ever seen, Norway was taken under his wing (and Lukas Johnson's, though Johnson didn't score at the same clip as Adam, with a 0.91 P/20 compared to Fälk's 1.00 P/20) and were able to make it out of Group B with a solid record and place in a respectable Bronze Medal. If this is any indication of the way Adam's production is trending, the Platoon will be ready for a Cup appearance this season!
<div align="center">ADVANTAGE: Norway

but maybe next year, Platoon

Team Sweden: Sven Karlsson, Panthers

<a href='index.php?showuser=1959' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>dankoa</a> Sweden

IIHF Stats: 20G, 15A, 35P, 5H, 5SB
SHL Stats: 11G, 21A, 32P, 42H, 15SB</div>
Karlsson spent this tournament probably waiting for next season in a way, since Sean Leonidas was skating his last tournament. In his last season playing 3rd line center, Sven was able to get past the best goaltenders in the world close to once every other game, and was producing at a team high 0.84 P/20. The Panthers, meanwhile, got the better defensive play out of Karlsson and still wound up with the negative +/- stat. Like Allen and the Renegades, Karlsson needs to step up his offensive production to match his defensive ability at the pro level to truly become what every center dreams of: the opening faceoff center.
<div align="center">ADVANTAGE: Panthers

because of better defensive play with similar offense

Team Czechoslovakia: Pierre-Luc Laflamme, Dragons

<a href='index.php?showuser=1453' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>Dmoushey_31</a> Czechoslovakia

IIHF Stats: 30G, 25A, 55P, 180H, 10SB
SHL Stats: 20G, 16A, 36P, 55H, 12SB</div>
While the Czechs didn't make it past the eventual champs, they did get past the rest of their group, and that couldn't have happened without one Laflamme on the top line. Pierre-Luc got in touch with his physical side, playing solid defense and keeping the Czechs in some tough games. Laflamme did stick to what he knows, however, playing sniper amongst the rest of his team, and maybe he picked up a few tips on checking from Slappy McDoodle, the Turd Ferguson bridesmaid. Calgary could definitely use the IIHF Laflamme to beat the 'roided up Western Conference this season on both ends of the ice.
<div align="center">ADVANTAGE: Czechoslovakia

no question

Team United Kingdom: Jack Durden, Renegades

<a href='index.php?showuser=1730' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-52'>Durden</a>

IIHF Stats: 15G, 25A, 40P, 20H, 25SB
SHL Stats: 14G, 31A, 45P, 37H, 11SB</div>
This top scorer isn't really doing it out of loyalty to the crown, but more as a big middle finger to the powers that be in the IIHF HO. Durden made his way to the top of the UK leaderboards and made a name for himself as the same guy that plays for the Renegades in the SHL. Similar style of play was emulated across borders, and the only true difference between the pro game and the international was Durden's level of enthusiasm. Thank god he's a lifelong Renegade, or else there'd be something to worry about if Durden started taking off shifts and not playing to the level they know and love. Expect Durden to continue playing consistently.
<div align="center">ADVANTAGE: Renegades

based on slight increase in every category

Finland

Team Finland: Mainio Makinen, Wolfpack

<a href='index.php?showuser=1917' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-13'>lil</a> Finland

IIHF Stats: 40G, 10A, 50P, 0H, 0SB
SHL Stats: 19G, 21A, 40P, 19H, 13SB</div>
Talk about a true dangler! Makinen has a great way around the puck, not relying on strength for goals but rather fleet foot and positioning. Luckily, Makinen has great strength players around in Finland, and Mainio being the go-to scorer helped establish game flow in the IIHF. Even if Finland lost to the eventual bronze medalist, Makinen made a name out there as a dominant scorer, something that has not happened in New England. Rainbow Dash better get on this dangler to place more pucks in net for the paying job, because it's obvious that with the right linemates, Makinen can win the scoring title consistently.
<div align="center">ADVANTAGE: Finland

for goal production, Wolfpack

for unselfish play

Canada

Team Canada: Dean Colt, Riot

<a href='index.php?showuser=14' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>RoMac Reigns</a> Canada

IIHF Stats: 0G, 50A, 50P, 130H, 25SB
SHL Stats: 8G, 25A, 33P, 191H, 7SB</div>
Our first player to make his game purely from passing, Colt plays what we in the biz call "old man hockey." Since Colt has tons of fresh blood to pass to in Canada, all he needs to do is skate to the offensive zone and dish the puck to someone else. His glory days as the leading scorer are over, but he still makes a hell of an impact as a faceoff god and the dime dropper, keeping Canada in the medal rounds but not doing enough to advance them. Seattle has plenty of these pass-first players in their pipeline, so maybe Colt picking up the pace in international play shows Seattle gets one more good distributing season from Colt.
<div align="center">ADVANTAGE: Canada

for assists, Riot

for everything else

Russia

Team Russia: Chernika Banananov, Chiefs

<a href='index.php?showuser=1407' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>PeanutButter</a> Russia

IIHF Stats: 35G, 25A, 60P, 50H, 20SB
SHL Stats: 33G, 27A, 60P, 72H, 18SB</div>
To take from college basketball, the first of the four out was Russia, and that sort of performance is undeserving for a prolific scorer like Banananov. Playing a 1st line center capacity for some of the tournament, Chernika got the feel for being a top line producer in international waters, connecting well with others on the powerplay and being a general offensive dynamo. This sort of production is expected given similar performance in the SHL with the Chiefs, and it seems that Banananov is at peak playing ability not only for the job but for country. Minnesota needs Chernika's defense to improve from the IIHF to contend.
<div align="center">ADVANTAGE: Chiefs

because Banananov is needed at both ends of the ice and as a distributor

Latvia

Team Latvia: Kian Hamilton, Chiefs

<a href='index.php?showuser=1492' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-3'>linsangeles</a> Latvia

IIHF Stats: 30G, 20A, 50P, 100H, 25SB
SHL Stats: 21G, 37A, 58P, 25H, 20SB</div>
Another Chief makes the list, as Kian Hamilton comes out as Latvia's best finisher. A distributor for the SHL, Hamilton took on the role of energizer, scoring when needed to burst the team. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be enough in a weak pool to get them into the medal rounds, and Hamilton's stellar display of control and dangling ability were not given true ability to shine. Minnesota has given Hamilton more opportunity to score points, but Latvia has given him a home to shine in his traditional scorer role. The Chiefs need to find him a role as a defender, since he has shown he can do it for Latvia.
<div align="center">ADVANTAGE: Chiefs

but they could do better with him as a primary scorer

Austria

Team Austria: Lord Vader, Renegades

<a href='index.php?showuser=1974' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-59'>hockeyis66</a> Austria

IIHF Stats: 10G, 40A, 50P, 135H, 85SB
SHL Stats: 5G, 19A, 24P, 158H, 70SB</div>
The second Renegade to make the list comes in as the top defensive option for struggling Austria, a nation with a need for good hockey player influx. Vader has led Austria to become a better defensive power with younger players, still registering the lowest goal differential in the tournament but that will improve with time. Vader's ability to score dramatically increased with Austria relying on the blue line for offense rather than the Renegades plethora of weapons up front. Austria needs to milk this bellcow more to keep getting better every tournament, and the Renegades need the puck on Vader's stick.
<div align="center">ADVANTAGE: Austria

because Vader is an all-around player on a team that need him to be that role.

Ireland

Team Ireland: Jaime Hill, Dragons

<a href='index.php?showuser=1348' rel='nofollow' alt='profile link' class='user-tagged mgroup-54'>Caillean</a> Ireland

IIHF Stats: 25G, 20A, 45P, 40H, 5SB
SHL Stats: 7G, 9A, 16P, 41H, 6SB</div>
This has to be the most drastic change of all the top players, and undoubtedly this can be attributed to the extra 5 minutes a game on 1st line duty versus 3rd line duty on the Dragons. Not as invested as before in the sport, Ireland is the one place where Hill produces at a top level, playing alongside fellow Dragon Tommy Creller. Taken the same draft, Hill plays more like the 1st overall pick than Creller, but it's a tight race amongst friends. Ireland needs to find faces that will live up to and eventually replace the Jaime Hills' of the world, but until they get a better management position on recruiting, Hill is a good workhorse option.
<div align="center">ADVANTAGE: Ireland

due to more quality usage time</div>