2013-14 WJC Discussion

[26CornerBlitz]

Fantastic Finns strike gold!

Rasmus Ristolainen scored at 9:42 of overtime to lift Finland to an unforgettable 3-2 win over host Sweden in the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship on Sunday.

Captain Teuvo Teräväinen put the puck around the boards to Ristolainen, who powered down the right side, beating Swedish defenceman Robert Hägg as he cut to the net and put a backhand deke underneath sprawling netminder Oscar Dansk.

In regulation time, Saku Mäenalanen had a goal and an assist for Finland and Esa Lindell had a single. Teräväinen, who won the scoring title with 15 points, totalled three assists.

Lucas Wallmark and Christian Djoos tallied a goal and an assist apiece for Sweden.

The Cinderella Finns were hoping for a storybook ending, and they got it in spades. It is Finland’s third World Junior gold medal of all time. The previous ones came in 1987 and 1998.

The gold is Finland’s first medal since 2006’s bronze in Vancouver. That was also the last year a team other than Canada, Russia, Sweden, or the United States medalled.

 

[CrazyPsycho]

This guy is good. Scarrrrrrrrrrrrrry good.

 

[B U F F A L O]

What a superb individual effort from Risto. Earlier in the OT, he had the puck in the corner, Sweden gave him all the space in the world and I was screaming in my head at him to take it to the net. Glad he got another opportunity.

Risto and Zads best defensemen! I was one of the few people at the arena draft party who cheered for those picks.

 

[Jacob582]

Grigs is the concern. I'm not sure that guy is coach able. His offensive talent is undeniable but he is unwilling to play all 200 feet and he floats way too often. The guy seems to play when he wants to and now we have to decide what to do. He has stated he doesn't want to go back to juniors. Loaning him to someone in Europe might be the only option, as Nolan is not going to play this kid.

Could have had Teuvo.

 

[stokes84]

In the games that mattered the most, Risto was the best player in the tournament. Not only is he an elite talent, but it Looks like he has that "it" factor. We are very lucky.

 

[joshjull]

I loved Risto beating his chest after the winner. If Darcy were still in Buffalo, Risto would more than likely still be in Western NY and beating his head against a wall.

Great for the kid's development.

Yep. Thank god that idiot was fired.


This is what these kids should be doing at these ages. Making a difference against their peers and also playing in situations they aren't know for. Like Grigs out for the final moments of the Bronze medal game to help close out the win for Russia. Thats something he would never get a chance to do in the AHL/NHL right now. Stuff like the WJC can help build a players confidence.

 

[tsujimoto74]

3 in 2 years is pretty impressive.

And 2 of them wore letters for Gold-winning teams. Pretty ****ing sweet.

 

[Selanne00008]

In the games that mattered the most, Risto was the best player in the tournament. Not only is he an elite talent, but it Looks like he has that "it" factor. We are very lucky.

This. He wants the puck on his stick in OT. Confidence and drive!!

 

[Deevo]

Could have had Teuvo.

 

[joshjull]

We are MANY years away from shedding tears over a Teuvo -vs- Grigs pick.

 

[Paxon]

That'd be cool to see him there. I figured it might be a stretch.

I think he's done about as much as he can to make his case so far. He played well in the NHL and it's not really his fault he got sent down, but the fact he's in the AHL really hurts his chances. He's played really well in the AHL and then had a great tournament. He has a chance because I don't see Finland having a lot of depth on defense, but not playing in either the NHL or SM-Liiga makes him more of a longshot than he should be, imo.

 

[Sabre Dance]

Could have had Teuvo.

They loved him also. I think they new that 2nd 1st would be a gritty forward, they had a hard time passing on Teuvo at 12 but wanted more size.

 

[Sabre Dance]

We are MANY years away from shedding tears over a Teuvo -vs- Grigs pick.

I cant wait to see Grigs have a full year in the AHL.

 

[Moskau]

Would have loved to have a chance at somehow drafting Lazar last year. I've always been really high on him and he would be perfect to have in the system with Girgensons and Larsson. I hope Ottawa wasn't the team that had a 1st on the table for Steve Ott.

 

[ZeroPT*]

Grigs is the concern. I'm not sure that guy is coach able. His offensive talent is undeniable but he is unwilling to play all 200 feet and he floats way too often. The guy seems to play when he wants to and now we have to decide what to do. He has stated he doesn't want to go back to juniors. Loaning him to someone in Europe might be the only option, as Nolan is not going to play this kid.

How can you speak with such certainty? The kid is 19.. 19!!! give him some time holy crap. He doesn't light up the league after 40 odd games in the NHL, when in reality he is nowhere near being NHL ready and now he's being called uncoachable and one dimensional? Buffalo sports fans

 

[tsujimoto74]

They loved him also. I think they new that 2nd 1st would be a gritty forward, they had a hard time passing on Teuvo at 12 but wanted more size.

Yeah, it seemed like their draft board when they were picking was Grigorenko-Teravainen-Girgensons. Didn't have Teuvo rated quite as high as Grigs (probably at least partly just because of the size difference), then after getting Grigs wanted a different type of player to complement the first pick. Too bad we couldn't have had picks 12, 13, and 14.

 

[SackTastic]

Grigs is the concern. I'm not sure that guy is coach able. His offensive talent is undeniable but he is unwilling to play all 200 feet and he floats way too often. The guy seems to play when he wants to and now we have to decide what to do. He has stated he doesn't want to go back to juniors. Loaning him to someone in Europe might be the only option, as Nolan is not going to play this kid.

Except pretty much every game in this tournament where I cant say I saw him float once.

But hey, keep taking your cues from people who aren't watching play.

 

[ZeroPT*]

On another note, Saros was drafted with our pick, in the 4th round. Wtch him become the next big thing

 

[ZeroPT*]

Teuvo looks nicer right now, but I think Grigorenko's ceiling is way higher, he wasn't nearly as dominant as he could be in this tournament and he was very close to Teuvo

 

[Moskau]

On another note, Saros was drafted with our pick, in the 4th round. Wtch him become the next big thing

There are so many goaltending prospects who could be the next big thing that it wouldn't even bother me. Such a crap shoot. It's why I laugh at the Montreal fans throwing Fucale into every proposal for a big return now. Sabres should throw in Ullmark with Moulson or Ott at the deadline to land top 5 players apparently.

 

[Sabre Dance]

Didnt Armia have a good WJC last year? 1st or 2nd in scoring?

 

[Moskau]

Didnt Armia have a good WJC last year? 1st or 2nd in scoring?

He beat up on poor teams. I think he scored all but 2 of his points in 2 blowout games.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Didnt Armia have a good WJC last year? 1st or 2nd in scoring?

Lot of points, didn't play his best hockey for much of the tournament IMO. Also, playing relegation teams is a good way to pad the stats.

 

[Paxon]

On another note, Saros was drafted with our pick, in the 4th round. Wtch him become the next big thing

Fine by me. I'm a big fan of his and would like to see him have a great career.

 

[NotABadPeriod]

On another note, Saros was drafted with our pick, in the 4th round. Wtch him become the next big thing

True, but without that 4th we don't get the 1st that we trade up to get Girgensons with. So possibly a win/win scenario.