Ice hockey World Cup: Fatal dampers before the Olympics: Young NHL stars without World Cup impulse

Worse than the ÖIS hockey dwarf Austria and no decisive impulse from the NHL from the supposed stars: Nine months before the Olympics, the national team sent a devastating signal with the early World Cup. In particular, after Leon Draisaitl, the best German NHL striker was destroyed after missing the minimum goal. “I have a large part in it,” said attacker Tim Stützle, who is part of the world class in the strongest league in the world.

There was nothing to be seen in Denmark. The pitiful yield of the 23-year-old from the Ottawa Senator: five World Cup games, zero. When the supported support in the NHL playoffs succeeded after two wins to the preliminary round start to the World Cup, the selection of the German Ice Hockey Association only won one game. In the crucial penalty shootout on Tuesday against co-host Denmark also failed in the decisive penalty shootout.

“I have to make things in,” was annoyed by the hapless striker, who should raise the team to another level. In the NHL, he had contributed 24 goals and 55 templates for the first playoff catchment of the Canadians for Ottawa for several years. Despite numerous occasions, there were only two assists in Herning, despite numerous occasions. Too little for a player in his class.

At the winter games in Milan, hope is primarily on the NHL stars, which for the first time in twelve years will be there again. While goalkeeper routiner Philipp Grubauer (Seattle) convinced in Herning, the younger supporters and Moritz Seider (Detroit), who was the youngest German World Cup captain since Alois Schloder in 1971, also fell off.

Stützle’s self -criticism is remarkable, but also made the problem of the German team clear. The load was mainly on the young North America professionals. They wanted to prove themselves, they wanted to offer something.

“You rely too much on the one who has the disc that he makes something special, left two men,” said routinner Marcel Noebels since 2018. In the final accounts, the vice world champion of 2023 even made it behind Austria for the first time in 31 years.

There was no leadership players

The team chemistry on the ice was not right either. There was no link between the NHL stars and the rest. “At the moment we have the problem that one or two work on the ice and watch three,” recognized Noebels. The lack of veterans Moritz Müller (Cologne Haie) or Nico Sturm (Florida Panthers) have perfectly managed this balancing act between stars and workers in recent years.

National coach Harold Kreis had recognized the problem with his NHL stars early in the tournament. “You can’t win the game alone,” he said, emphasizing: “It is enough if everyone fulfills their own task and does not want to do that from the next man.” The 66-year-old had to admit: “We sell too badly. We are a better team.”

Also Sider with unusual mistakes

Star defender Seider also presented his skills late. “I first had a little shit on my racket,” said the defender. “Then I found better in the tournament.” Seider could not answer whether the mistakes that were unusual for him have led something with the appointment as captain. “I don’t know,” said the 24-year-old. “If so, I put too much pressure. I have high expectations of myself and the team.”

At that time, Leon Draisaitl had had similar experiences from the Edmonton Oilers. The then 22-year-old also experienced his national team setback in Herning 2018. After Olympic silver in Pyeongchang in South Korean, the team of the then national coach Marco Sturm also came to Denmark with the top striker with the top striker. The result was similar to this year: the focus was on it, but after the preliminary round it went home.

Perhaps the current failure for the highlight Olympics 2026 is even instructive. Contrary to Seider or Stützle, Draisaitl can handle the pressure of expectation seven years later. Due to his experience from numerous playoff battles in the NHL, the Cologne team can lead a complete team and continue to carry. “It is important that we play German ice hockey again, what we imagine and what makes us strong. They are things that nobody has to reinvent,” said Noebels.