Germany before the World Cup: missing their biggest stars, tough group games will tell their fate

Germany has reached at least the quarter-finals at the last championships, and that is the goal of our neighbours this time as well. In the NHL, Edmonton is still in the game, so unfortunately management can’t count on the star Leon Draisaitl (yet). From overseas, the Germans are counting on 5 players who should be key.

The biggest stars have refused

Moritz Seider scored an impressive 42 points in a Detroit jersey, the same gain he made last season. However, he declined an invitation to the national team. Harold Kreis lost a key defender who had led Germany to the World Cup final last year.

The German coaches went the same way with Tim Stützel in Ottawa. The German forward struggled with a shoulder injury at the end of the regular season and declined to represent his country. He played 75 games for the Senators and scored a very respectable 72 points, and was one of the team’s leaders.

5 players will be coming from overseas

One of the first ever reinforcements was Philipp Grubauer from Seattle. He played only 36 games in the season, dropped into the role of number two and his success rate dropped below 90%. The German goalie has probably had his best years, but he is still considered untouchable in the national team.

Nico Sturm is a German stalwart in the NHL, although this year has not been a good one from a personal point of view. Only 13 points in the entire season speaks for San Jose. John-Jason Peterka is one of Buffalo’s biggest stars and will be looking to defend his position at the World Championships. He scored a great 50 points overseas and was one of the mainstays of his team.

Maksymilian Szuber is just getting a taste of overseas competition and has spent this year primarily on the farm. However, the 21-year-old defenseman has his whole career ahead of him.

At the last minute, Germany will also add Lucas Reichel, who settled his contract in Chicago and will not miss the championship in Prague.

Will Germany at least be enough for the quarter-finals?

The biggest stars had to refuse, or they are still playing in the NHL playoffs. Germany certainly doesn’t have the same team as in last year’s silver championship. However, the team hasn’t changed much, most of the players remember at least one of the 4 quarterfinal contests at the last championships, of which the Germans slipped into medal contention twice.

This year, however, Germany will have a tough job right in the group stage. Slovakia, Sweden and USA will certainly not give their points for free and every point will count. The Germans will also face Latvia and the unpredictable France and Kazakhstan in Group B. The clashes with the tough teams will give a hint if the Germans are able to advance at least to the quarter-finals.

Germany’s nominations for the 2024 World Cup

Goalkeepers
Philipp Grubauer (Seattle)
Tobias Ancicka (Cologne)
Mathias Niederberger (Munich)

Defenders
Lukas Kälble (Fischtown)
Moritz Müller (Cologne)
Jonas Müller (Eisbären Berlin)
Fabio Wagner (Ingolstadt)
Tobias Fohrler (Ambri-Piotta)
Maksymilian Szuber (Tucson, AHL)
Kai Wissmann (Eisbären Berlin)
Colin Ugbekile (Iserlohn)

Forwards

John-Jason Peterka (Buffalo)
Nico Sturm (San Jose)
Dominik Kahun (Bern)
Leo Pföderl (Eisbären Berlin)
Frederik Tiffels (Eisbären Berlin)
Marc Michaelis (Zug)
Yasin Ehliz (Munich)
Tobias Eder (Eisbären Berlin)
Alexander Ehl (Düsseldorf)
Josh Samanski (Straubing)
Daniel Fischbuch (Adler Mannheim)
Maximilian Kastner (Munich)
Parker Tuomie (Straubing)
Lucas Reichel (Chicago)

Source: World Cup of Hockey 2024