WJC: 2015 — Finland Roster Talk
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There is no way Rantanen won't make this team. Way too talented to be left off the roster. Also brings size to the lineup.
Periwinkle
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- Apr 3, 2014
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^Having Jere Lehtinen as our GM can't hurt the situation.
Lehkonen was made the captain. Seems like a good choice personality-wise. I do wonder about his production, though - he was almost PPG at the very start of the season but lately it's been very slow. Altogether 28GP 4G 7A. Anyone follow SHL/Frölunda?
Lehkonen was made the captain. Seems like a good choice personality-wise. I do wonder about his production, though - he was almost PPG at the very start of the season but lately it's been very slow. Altogether 28GP 4G 7A. Anyone follow SHL/Frölunda?
behemolari
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- Dec 1, 2011
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Aho/Hintz/Ikonen/Ojamäki have outplayed Rantanen with the U20 team so far. He really needs to step up his game if he wants to be on the roster from the start.
Jean Luc Discard
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In what aspects of the game have these players outplayed Rantanen in? In what way should Rantanen step up his game, is there a particular area of the game you're not happy with? I know he's not scoring many goals right now, but is there something else? Are you sure Jortikka shares your view? Don't you think Rantanen has some qualities in his game that are quite unique and valuable for this Finnish line-up, especially in a NHL sized rink?
EveryDay
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Mitch Brown @MitchLBrown · 36 min il y a 36 minutes
#Habs prospect Artturi Lehkonen has been named captain of Finland's WJC U-20 team - http://www.iltasanomat.fi/jaakiekko/art-1418021194902.html …
#Habs prospect Artturi Lehkonen has been named captain of Finland's WJC U-20 team - http://www.iltasanomat.fi/jaakiekko/art-1418021194902.html …
RandallRitchey
Formerly the Bergy Gif guy on Twitter
I know having Saros there, the time Ville Husso gets in net will be very limited. Is there any chance Husso can supplant Saros in net?
I'm guessing both will get a pre-tournament game. Then you'll just have to play the hot hand, the name in the back doesn't matter. The margin between them in Liiga play is basically nonexistent but so far Saros has been more convincing with the national team. If Husso shows that's changed, I don't see why he shouldn't be in net.
Past Considerations
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He isn't the U20 GM. Not sure if such connection would make any difference anyway... business as usual.
http://leijonat.fi/uutiset/tuoreimm...koituvat-maailmanmestaruuden-puolustajat.html
Edit: apparently Lehtinen's roles might be overlapping after all, mentioned here: http://www.mtv.fi/sport/jaakiekko/l...lmasta-tapaus-barkov-loppuunkasitelty/4593364
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Past Considerations
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Funny comment by the coach (known for some colorful talk) in that link about unnamed current NHL players who might have been captains years ago. Not even sure how to translate that.
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RaskY
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- Dec 26, 2011
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I guess there's always a chance and I haven't seen either play for their respective teams in Finland this season, but last year despite their stats in Liiga being very similar, in their WJC games Saros played well and Husso didn't look all that comfortable maybe And again I don't know if that might have changed since then but I'd definitely say Saros is the starter going into the tournament, Husso will have to prove himself if he wants to play. Both should get a game or two in though and from then on it could be whoever is the hot hand.
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Well, Jortsu coached the U20s in 86-87, 96-97 and 09-10. At least with the earliest 2 stints, I wouldn't be so sure he was referring to any current NHL players. Possibly retired ones.
Out of simple curiosity, I've been trying to find out how many Finns have been named captain in a major tournament in the U18s, U20s and then finally on the men's team. So far I've found one player, but I suspect there are more, the information is simply missing from EP.
My comment was about U20 tournament in Czech Republic where Aho, Ikonen, Hintz and Ojamäki all produced points, skated well and played fairly solid two way game. I think that it raised the stocks of those guys, while Rantanen didn't really do anything there(3 games 0+0 -3).
I agree that Rantanen is much better suited for smaller rink than someone like Aho or Saarela. Jortikka haven't really shown any signs that he wants to break up the Kärpät-line or use Hintz as center which would open a scoring line spot for Rantanen.
SoupyFIN
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- Nov 7, 2011
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I don't think he's actually referring to former captains, since he's just talking about why Lehkonen was such an easy pick personality wise and then continues with that comment. Meaning that's why the current "millionaires" didn't get the captaincy.
Looks like Jortsu refers to the routine of putting the C onto the guy who is the biggest star of the team, but may not have the best leadership qualities. It's especially prominent on the U20 level. He's obviously not a fan of said habit.
While I generally agree with him, I'll have to say in all fairness that it does not end in a disaster every time. For example, just last year Kivi slapped the letter on Teräväinen and basically dared him to be the Alpha Lion, on and off the ice. We all know how that ended. Guess a lot depends on the coach as well. It can be either a lazy or a brilliant method, depending on who's manning the helm.
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And as far as the whole Rantanen debate goes, have to agree with those who say he's not gonna be left outside the lineup. He's far too prominent a name for that. Could be that line-building would go just fine without him, but coaches also have to cover their backsides in case things go hay. If a name who could potentially have been a difference maker is not in the lineup, it's far too easy a source for criticism. No matter whether it would have actually changed anything or not.
Prominent coaches in prominent positions (like Erkka or J.Jalonen) can of course do whatever the heck they want, but I doubt Jortikka has that kind of prominence.
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Periwinkle
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Re:Rantanen you also have to take into account that he's TPS's top rookie. Jortikka has his roots in Turku, a lot of history with TPS (although I don't know the current state of his relationship with the organisation), he just named a Turku-born player (who spent time in TPS's system as well) as the captain... I'm not suggesting any favouritism, I have no way way of knowing about that, but leaving out TPS's top rookie, who also happens to be projected to go first from Finns in the next draft, seems like quite a reach.
I don't see Rantanen getting cut (or being the 13th F) over some nobody. If I'm being honest, I'd even rather leave out a midget like Ikonen who I suspect is going to have trouble in the small rink.
That 96-97 team had OJ, AkiBöö and TampereenPoika to name a few, that might've been an interesting mix of personalities. The comment; "I've seen all kinds of screwups through the years" might find some of its provenance from there.
The team had very little time to prepare for the tournament in Czech Republic and Rantanen was certainly one of the players in a disadvantage as it was his first event with the U20 and he played with unfamiliar linemates. That said, I don't think Rantanen played badly, at least if the Russia game that's on YouTube is any indication. Stats are only stats, especially when the sample size is only 3 games.
For me guys like Aho, Ikonen and Ojamäki are a dime a dozen when thinking of this particular line-up. Rantanen on the other hand is more difficult to replace. He's pretty much the only forward we have who can truly force his way to the net, stay there and cause proper disarray against big defenseman. There are situations in a game when a player like that is an asset. Personally I have not doubt that Jortikka wants Rantanen to be on the team.
Regardless of what happens at the WJC's, Hintz won't be a 1st round pick.I assume that after this tournament Hintz will find himself somewhere in the top-200 Europeans draft list.
Watch him completely outplay Rantanen there and end up as a 1st round pick.
Ville231
Registered User
Just don't have any trust in Jortsu. In an interview he said that he's never seen Honka play. That just doesn't sound right if you're the head coach of the u20 national team...
Oh, c'mon. Turn on the lights.
Let's not forget that Jortikka was a) pulled haphazardly to run the team in summer when Kivi jumped to the KHL and b) Honka was originally picked to the Lake Placid tournament, but had to decline.
The only way for Jortsu to see Honka play in that scenario would have been to travel across the ocean and go watch some AHL games. While that kind of dedication would have been laudable, let's keep in mind that it's not exactly a tradition for U20 coaches to make scouting trips to North America. Kivi didn't do so either, and neither have any of his predecessors in the lasting memory. Put any coach in place of Jortikka and they'd have to admit too that their only intel of him come from scouting reports and taped material.
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