WC: 2015 — Team Finland

[rduck1]

OK, I got Lehtonen and Niemi. But Rask because of not feeling motivated? It is the national team! In the country he knows well...very disappointing for me.

I don't know, I would be feeling pretty down after missing the playoffs like that, especially in an environment where the expectation is to contend for the cup. We have a lot of very good goaltenders in Europe, so we don't really need an NHL guy if they're not totally motivated.

 

[FiLe]

In the European game Hartikainen is more of a power-forward than a grinder, and Pihlström is also one of those high-scoring grinder types, so the first line can still be expected to produce.

Yeah, I'm aware of their nature as such, and it's not like they're an unusual sight in the top-six, it's just that by setting Salminen in his usual place next to Immonen would give us two lines with that traditional "grinder-playmaker-sniper" dynamic. Of course, that usually leads to a situation where the talent bros keep hogging the puck and the third wheel is reduced into a mere balancing act. Perhaps Jalonen wants to use this setup to make Hartikainen and/or Pihlström a bit more proactive in their game in order to bring out that extra finish in them.

Rask - Very rough ending for the season. Probably not feeling very motivated right now.

When they announced his declination, it was actually reported that Rask was playing late into the season with some kind of injury. So no need to go inside his head. The Bruins' defense was hardly up to task either, but it would certainly explain why he seemed to let in some easy ones in the decisive games.

Also, it could be that due to having such a high amount of elite goalies, it actually makes it easier for one to refuse. The pressure to come and strengthen the team is far lower than with most countries, as we Finns always seem to be able to dig up some high-end netminding no matter the amount of names getting sidelined.

 

[roto]

GM Lehtinen said that Rask had played the end of the season with some injuries and Rask had otherwise been interested in joining the team. That's what we know, and it makes little sense to speculate if Rask wasn't just motivated or something. That kind of speculation is worthless.

It's good that no one has to join the team and play even if they are injured, tired or not motivated. It's good for the tournament. Selänne participated 2010 Olympics even though he had just been fed through a straw and had lost 8 kg of weight (jaw injury). He was quite useless in that tournament.

We have enough good goalies in Europe. Those last three games are the most important. All our goalies in NHL have shown that they're mortals like other goalies, so bad games happen. Winning the gold requires playing well in last three games. Koskinen can do it too. His advantage is familiarity with big ice and how hockey is here played here. Good self-confidence doesn't hurt either.

Edit. FiLe was quicker and wrote basically the same what I wrote about Rask...

 

[FiLe]

Tuomo Ruutu joins the team. Also, Jalonen said on Maikkari that we'll have our full NHL complement (including Ruutu, Barkov and Jokinen) on Saturday's game already. Zat was quick.

 

[QnebO]

Tuomo Ruutu joins the team. Also, Jalonen said on Maikkari that we'll have our full NHL complement (including Ruutu, Barkov and Jokinen) on Saturday's game already. Zat was quick.

Great thing that they get bring them on saturday already. For the team wise and for hockey fans who want to see them play I'm very excited about Barkov being in the team.

 

[Auzzie19]

Is Jesse Puljujarvi injured?? Why no talk of him? Or is a Finnish lineup of bottom 6 guys good enough to fill the entire team with exception to the 1st line?

 

[FiLe]

Is Jesse Puljujarvi injured?? Why no talk of him?

I don't know whether to think that as a major compliment to Puljujärvi or a small insult towards Team Finland.

For a 16-year-old to break an elite country's senior lineup, he'd have to be truly something special. Puljujärvi is a top prospect, yes... but would Crosby have made Team Canada at that age?

 

[Eye of Ra]

Why is Hovinen on the team? He was playing in SHL-2 (Allsvenskan) and was only decent.

He got a tryout with a SHL-team (Luleå) but he was so bad that Luleå let him walk after only 1 game.

I tought Finland was the land of goalies AND grinders?

 

[FiLe]

Why is Hovinen on the team? He was playing in SHL-2 (Allsvenskan) and was only decent.

Most likely he's a placeholder for Mikko Koskinen, who's still in the Gagarin Cup finals (or possible NHL dropout, or Juha Metsola from Liiga finals). In other words, an easily dispensable warm body.

 

[Auzzie19]

I don't know whether to think that as a major compliment to Puljujärvi or a small insult towards Team Finland.

For a 16-year-old to break an elite country's senior lineup, he'd have to be truly something special. Puljujärvi is a top prospect, yes... but would Crosby have made Team Canada at that age?

Thing is Crosby wasn't physically there, I think he was what (5'11 170lb), Puljujarvi is like 6'3/6'4 200lb right now + has a significant advantage on larger ice surface (speed kills). Plus would just love to personally see him in action .


And no way you can compare the Crosby reference to Puljujarvi. The Canadian depth is vastly greater than the Finnish depth, at least at the NHL level. But I don't mean any offense, but I doubt this Finnish team can get past a quarter final.

Good Luck

 

[master4071]

Puljujärvi will play against Czech Republic in U18 WC later today

btw. what about Komarov?

 

[FiLe]

And no way you can compare the Crosby reference to Puljujarvi. The Canadian depth is vastly greater than the Finnish depth, at least at the NHL level. But I don't mean any offense, but I doubt this Finnish team can get to a quarter final.

Okay, that kind of arrogance definitely is insulting.

Puljujärvi will be something special one day, but right now we have a ton of career KHLers we can haul in before we have to consider a 16-year-old who has barely 20 games in the Finnish Elite League.

You're obviously not familiar with the way our team is built. The squad playing tonight is actually far from ready, we still have players coming in. We have a plenty of 2nd tier players warming the benches in the early weeks who'll eventually have to step aside when more established names join. By the looks of things, the final iteration will be better than last year's - one that made it all the way to the final.

Though I'd like to know which eight teams you'd have making the QF even before the current iteration. Could use a laugh.

 

[Eye of Ra]

I want to see:

Salminen-Immonen-Aaltonen
Jokinen-Barkov-Komarov
Palola-Kemppainen-Donskoi
Ruutu-Lajunen-Hartikainen

 

[FiLe]

Salminen-Immonen-Aaltonen
Jokinen-Barkov-Komarov
Palola-Kemppainen-Donskoi
Ruutu-Lajunen-Hartikainen

Lajunen (and I presume you mean Jani, not Ville) will likely not even feature (not that I'd mind if he did) - otherwise that's one of the better lineups I've seen.

 

[QnebO]

Suomi physicality is good. Konna and Aaltonen with 1 good chance. Huhtala playing well.

 

[Urbanskog]

Thing is Crosby wasn't physically there, I think he was what (5'11 170lb), Puljujarvi is like 6'3/6'4 200lb right now + has a significant advantage on larger ice surface (speed kills). Plus would just love to personally see him in action .


And no way you can compare the Crosby reference to Puljujarvi. The Canadian depth is vastly greater than the Finnish depth, at least at the NHL level. But I don't mean any offense, but I doubt this Finnish team can get past a quarter final.

Good Luck

Laughable. Puljujärvi, a guy who could not be a Liiga regular should be in the men's WHC? The last time Finland did not make the top 8 was in 1955, by the way.

 

[QnebO]

Looks like Konna makes the cut unleses we got many more NHL centers based on bit over 1 peroids ;p

 

[QnebO]

Ristolainen has very good leg power / acceleration, better than I thought in big ice. He also plays like a boss, very physical. I didin't really think he would be cut from the team but now its strange if he wouldn't make it.

 

[illone84]

Ristolainen has very good leg power / acceleration, better than I thought in big ice. He also plays like a boss, very physical. I didin't really think he would be cut from the team but now its strange if he wouldn't make it.

What? Cut from the team?

Are you confusing this tournament for sochi 2014?

 

[QnebO]

What? Cut from the team?

Are you confusing this tournament for sochi 2014?

No but you never know about our coaches, specially with young players To me he was lock but who knows. He's still even better than I expected, more visible too in a good way.

 

[roto]

Is Jesse Puljujarvi injured?? Why no talk of him? Or is a Finnish lineup of bottom 6 guys good enough to fill the entire team with exception to the 1st line?

NA sports culture hypes prospects so much that it might make one to think those kids could make it in WHC. The "problem" in NA is that the juniors play in junior leagues with other kids, and it tells nothing about how they can fare with professionals.

In Europe the best prospects play with seniors in pro leagues, so we know were they really stand at the moment. As stated by other posters, Puljujärvi is not yet good enough to play regularly in Liiga. It means that he's nowhere near WHC discussions.

 

[illone84]

No but you never know about our coaches, specially with young players To me he was lock but who knows. He's still even better than I expected, more visible too in a good way.

He's a full time NHLer who logs top minutes, and plays in all situations (PP + PK).

If he doesn't make the team, it will be more laughable than Malkin breaking Haula's jaw with no call on the play.

You can't seriously think that Ristolainen was sent over for a try out.

 

[QnebO]

He's a full time NHLer who logs top minutes, and plays in all situations (PP + PK).

If he doesn't make the team, it will be more laughable than Malkin breaking Haula's jaw with no call on the play.

You can't seriously think that Ristolainen was sent over for a try out.

As I said, to me he's a lock, whats your problem.

 

[illone84]

As I said, to me he's a lock, whats your problem.

No problem. But I don't think neither one of us has anything to worry about, because he will make the team.

 

[FiLe]

My verdict:

Ristolainen looked a bit hasty and eager to play in the first. However, he seemingly shook it off in the first intermission since during 2nd and 3rd he was like a boss. Played very smart and did little right things all the time. You could really tell who out there was the career NHL d-man. Too bad we didn't see him on PP yet.

I can however understand QnebO's reservations... coaches don't always think the way we do. It'd be weird though if they didn't after this.


Jokipakka was quite anonymous. Barely noticed him, save for that penalty. Which I guess can be considered a compliment given the kind of player he is. Still, it's hard to say yet if he'll make the cut or not. He should, given we don't have surefire booked slots for defensive specialists. Having someone like Mäntylä for example adapt to the role is asking for trouble in the long run - while he wasn't bad either.


Kontiola... let's say he certainly didn't do anything that would have sunk his chances of making the final team.


That being said, it was a very solid game from the team overall. A bit nondescript arguably, but it's really hard to point anyone who looked out of place. It certainly didn't make it any easier for the Nose to decide who to cut. Whoever he elects to keep for a while longer can certainly be justified.

However, the team is a bit in need of more offensive flair. Kontiola's unit was the only one that was constantly setting up chances - the rest played very strong along the boards, but getting the puck off the corners and towards the net was a bit too erratic. Oh well, getting the NHLers into the mix should fix that.