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Imagining Beijing 2022: Germany—June 22, 2020 - VOL. 73, Issue. 08 

GERMANY’S TIME IS coming as a top-tier hockey nation. Its surprising run to the gold-medal game at the 2018 Olympics hinted at that, though it wasn’t a best-on-best tournament. Since then, we’ve seen Leon Draisaitl emerge as, give or take, a top-three player on the planet. We’ve seen Moritz Seider drafted sixth overall, and we’re about to see at least three German prospects go in the first two rounds of the 2020 draft – most notably projected top-five pick Tim Stutzle. As a ripple effect, the 2022 imaginary Olympic squad could be Germany’s best ever.

> T. Stutzle (20), L. Draisaitl (26), D. Kahun (26)

Stutzle has played center most of his life but got a look on the wing in the German League this season. His speed will complement Draisaitl’s powerful puck-protection game.

> T. Rieder (29), B. Macek (29), D. Bokk (22)

The plan is to have at least one established NHL player on every line, a versatile piece who knows what it’s like to face elite competition. That is Rieder’s job here. Macek is a good playmaker, and the prospect Bokk will ideally have crossed over to play in North America by 2022.

> T. Kuhnhackl (30), L. Reichel (19), J. Peterka (20)

Reichel and Peterka join Stutzle in the new wave of 2020 draftees who could be crucial cogs in the German national program in best-on-best action. The veteran NHL checker Kuhnhackl can keep the line grounded defensively.

> M. Noebels (29), N. Sturm (26), P. Hager (33)

Noebels and new NHLer Sturm bring great size, while the aggressive Hager plays big.

> M. Plachta (30), L. Bergmann (23)

Plachta was part of the 2018 silver-medal squad. He makes more sense if the team needs a two-way checker. Bergmann, who made his NHL debut this season, can provide an offensive boost.

> L. Pfoderl, M. Eisenschmid, M. Wiederer, D. Pietta, F. Mauer, D. Fischbuch

> Y. Alanov (21), M. Seider (20)

Since the Germans don’t have great veteran defensive depth after Christian Ehrhoff’s retirement, it’s OK to project out some upside for the top pair two years from now. Alanov’s puck-moving game has helped him rise to the KHL as a teenager, while the big, well-rounded Seider should be a horse, the most important piece other than Draisaitl.

> J. Muller (26), K. Holzer (33)

You won’t get much offense from this duo, but it can fill a secondary shutdown role. Holzer is by far the most experienced D-man of the group against top NHL competition.

> B. Krupp (30), L. Gawanke (22)

Big Krupp plays a similar stay-at-home game to that of his dad, Uwe. Gawanke might seem like a stretch here because he hasn’t competed for Germany at the worlds or Olympics, but someone has to move the puck for this defense corps on the bottom two pairs. It can’t all be defensive defensemen. He’s proven he can put up points in major junior and the AHL.

> M. Muller (35), F. Hordler (37)

Both won silver in 2018. Both will be a little old for the 2022 Games. Best to use them as experienced backups. Hordler is the pick over Muller if you need a bit more mobility and offense.

> K. Wissmann, D. Boyle

> Philipp Grubauer (30)

Grubauer has repped Germany numerous times at the worlds, and he’s in his prime playing for a Stanley Cup contender. Pretty easy choice.

> T. Greiss (36), M. Niederberger (29)

Greiss has always done his best work as a luxury backup who can flourish if the No. 1 falters. Niederberger didn’t play for the 2018 Olympic squad but excelled at the 2019 worlds.

> D. aus den Birken, N. Treutle, T. Pielmeier