The national ice hockey team has to travel to the World Championships without Roman Josi – but it still has a lot of class

Will he come or not? The question of whether Roman Jos i will join the national team for the World Championship is always on the minds of Swiss ice hockey fans in the run-up to the tournament. The now 35-year-old Bernese defenseman is something of a medal guarantee for the Swiss. If he's there, his teammates will also grow by a head.

Josi is considered one of the world's best defenders. For years, he has been the captain and anchor of the Nashville Predators. But he's still waiting in vain for a Stanley Cup ring, and that won't change this spring. Nashville missed the playoffs, but Josi will still be unavailable for the national team. He's suffering from a concussion once again, the sixth of the brilliant defender's career. He hasn't played a game since January 21st.

In 14 years and 962 games for Nashville, Roman Josi has scored 190 goals and was awarded the Norris Trophy for Best Defender in 2020. With him on the blue line, the national team won World Cup silver in 2013, 2018, and last spring. Next winter, he'll make another attempt to complete his list.

But Josi will have to sit out the World Cup, which begins for the Swiss team and its coach Patrick Fischer in a week's time in Herning, Denmark, with a rematch against the Czech Republic. Like Pius Suter and Philipp Kurashev, he will be missing from the team. Nico Hischier, another key player from last year's silver medal-winning team, is also likely to miss the World Cup.

At the start of World Cup preparations, sporting director Lars Weibel told the NZZ newspaper: "Whenever we put on the national team uniform, we want to achieve the best possible results. At the same time, we must also keep an eye on the future. 2026 will be a year with two highlights: the Olympic tournament in Milan and the World Cup at home in Zurich."

Confirmation of Josi's absence by national coach Patrick Fischer came as no surprise. At a press conference in Kloten, the national coach said: "He has to concentrate on getting back to 100 percent fitness." And Pius Suter is expected to sign a lucrative, long-term NHL contract for the first time this summer; he doesn't want to risk injury. Philipp Kurashev has been suffering from a wrist injury for some time and had to undergo surgery five days ago.

Fischer and sporting director Lars Weibel were in regular contact with the other Swiss NHL players throughout the season. Forwards Nico Hischier and Timo Meier, as well as defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler, would certainly be available after their departure from the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night. At least for Meier, and despite his recent injury, for Siegenthaler as well, the signs are good for a World Cup appearance. First, however, the club must wait for the usual end-of-season procedure with players.

Hischier belongs to the category of players Fischer is likely to give a break ahead of the highlight-packed 2026. The 2017 first-round pick from Valais has always jumped at the chance to play. On Wednesday, the coach said: "He always wants to play, but perhaps a break would be better for him this time."

New Jersey was eliminated from the Stanley Cup last night. A final decision regarding Hischier is expected in the coming days. It's also possible that Kevin Fiala, the MVP of the last World Championship , will join the team. The Eastern Swiss native and his Los Angeles Kings are trailing the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 in the series.

Even without Josi and Hischier, Fischer's team still has plenty of quality to offer. Sven Andrighetto and Denis Malgin, among others, have joined the team from champions ZSC. The two demonstrated in recent playoffs that you don't necessarily have to play in the NHL to exemplify top-class talent.

And then there's the indestructible Andres Ambühl . The Davos whirlwind will likely play his last match on Swiss ice in the friendly against Sweden in Kloten (on Thursday, starting at 7:45 p.m.). Ambühl may be 41 years old now, but he certainly still has the strength in his legs for one last wild ride.