Toggle sidebar

WC: 2015 — Team Finland

  • Xenforo Cloud has upgraded us to version 2.3.6. Please report any issues you experience.
Status
Not open for further replies.
FiLe said:
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...
Click to expand...

You are right. It's hard to find a person that was bad that game, so have to go into small details. Wirtanen can't afford to take penalties like that in his current situation. In my papers he has no chance to be one of the 4 centers, but a backup maybe.

If we won't get anymore centers from the NHL:
Jokinen-Barkov-Ruutu
Aaltonen-Kontiola-Komarov
Donskoi-Kemppainen-Hartikainen
Osala-Immonen-Pihlström

Kemppainen outside the lineup if we get one of: Lehterä, Granlund, Koivu
Jokinen-Barkov-Ruutu
Donskoi-Granlund/Koivu-Hartikainen (Kontiola joins as winger for PP and replaces Hartikainen)
Aaltonen-Kontiola-Komarov
Osala-Immonen-Pihlström

Kontiola to wing, worked decently in the Olympics I think:
Jokinen-Barkov-Ruutu
Kontiola-Lehterä-Aaltonen
Donskoi-Kemppainen-Komarov
Hartikainen-Immonen-Pihlström/Osala

Reserves: Salminen, Palola, Hytönen
 
Last edited:
Mestaruus said:
You are right. It's hard to find a person that was bad that game, so have to go into small details. Wirtanen can't afford to take penalties like that in his current situation. In my papers he has no chance to be one of the 4 centers, but a backup maybe.

If we won't get anymore centers from the NHL:
Jokinen-Barkov-Ruutu
Aaltonen-Kontiola-Komarov
Donskoi-Kemppainen-Hartikainen
Osala-Immonen-Pihlström

Kemppainen outside the lineup if we get one of: Lehterä, Granlund, Koivu
Jokinen-Barkov-Ruutu
Donskoi-Granlund/Koivu-Hartikainen (Kontiola joins as winger for PP and replaces Hartikainen)
Aaltonen-Kontiola-Komarov
Osala-Immonen-Pihlström

Kontiola to wing, worked decently in the Olympics I think:
Jokinen-Barkov-Ruutu
Kontiola-Lehterä-Aaltonen
Donskoi-Kemppainen-Komarov
Hartikainen-Immonen-Pihlström/Osala

Reserves: Salminen, Palola, Hytönen
Click to expand...


Looking pretty good boys!!!!!
 
Mestaruus said:
You are right. It's hard to find a person that was bad that game, so have to go into small details. Wirtanen can't afford to take penalties like that in his current situation. In my papers he has no chance to be one of the 4 centers, but a backup maybe.
Click to expand...
The problem with going into details is deciding which details to look at. It easily boils down to giving bad marks to some player based on a single mistake yet overlooking some minor mishap on another, because you happen to like him. Of course, in such an even situation it is perfectly acceptable to make choices based on who you personally like.

The issue however is that the Nose may like different players than we do. It's a purely philosophical point, but regardless, it keeps me from posting lineups. Not that there is any shame reserved to those who do. Ones choices just should not be argued based on on-ice things. (How bizarre I feel having just said that.)

Mestaruus said:
Kontiola to wing, worked decently in the Olympics I think
Click to expand...
Then you need to think again. Kontiola didn't play a single game on wing in Sochi. Actually, all attempts to try and play him on wing have ended rather poorly. So that's one option off the table for anyone wishing to maintain credibility. Perhaps you're mixing him up with Lehterä, who played a plenty as a winger both in Sochi and Minsk? Which means to say that in a line like that, the change is easy to make.

---

In other news, the potential additions to the current squad (from Europe, at least) are now down to five. No surprising names, but I guess we can stop speculating with any wild cards. I guess the biggest news to read between the lines is that we probably won't see Kukkonen in these games, which does not come us a surprise. Even if he gets healthy enough to play in the finals, hitting the WHC running right afterwards would probably be unwise.
 
Last edited:
So Minnesota beat and robbed St. Louis' home game advantage in the first game. Tampa lost to Detroit and Detroit stole home advantage as well. Winnipeg - Anaheim at 2-2 now in the 3rd period. Things are starting to shape up.

FiLe said:
The issue however is that the Nose may like different players than we do. It's a purely philosophical point, but regardless, it keeps me from posting lineups. Not that there is any shame reserved to those who do. Ones choices just should not be argued based on on-ice things. (How bizarre I feel having just said that.).
Click to expand...

It's a coinflip between Hytönen and Wirtanen for me, but yeah Jalonen prob likes Wirtanen more. I'm still afraid we'll see Petrell in the team for that same reason and he will knock out someone like Pihlström or Hartikainen out of the roster.

FiLe said:
Then you need to think again. Kontiola didn't play a single game on wing in Sochi. Actually, all attempts to try and play him on wing have ended rather poorly. So that's one option off the table for anyone wishing to maintain credibility. Perhaps you're mixing him up with Lehterä, who played a plenty as a winger both in Sochi and Minsk? Which means to say that in a line like that, the change is easy to make..
Click to expand...

Yeah I guess I had reversed their roles in my mind. Swap their places then. As long as we have some of our main center(s) being able to play wing and do a decent job at it is good enough for me, so we can add more offensive talent to the top-6. Of course them playing on positions they don't usually play on takes a little bit away, but I think their offensive talent makes up for that.
 
Mestaruus said:
It's a coinflip between Hytönen and Wirtanen for me, but yeah Jalonen prob likes Wirtanen more. I'm still afraid we'll see Petrell in the team for that same reason and he will knock out someone like Pihlström or Hartikainen out of the roster.
Click to expand...
Given how Petrell has been in a far less prominent role than those two, I'd say the chances for that are slim.

However, Jalonen has said multiple times that he likes those big and physical players. So my biggest concern at the moment is that we'll have a repeat of last year where the complements of grind and skill and grossly lopsided in the favor of the former (although we at least seem to have slightly more skilled grinders this year, as it was pointed out).

My current vibe is that if there's going to be a left-field pick to the team (if you can call anyone that at this stage), it's going to be Huhtala. And not only because he just scored.


While I'm going to keep from building any lineups, I'm starting to get this feeling that certain players are more or less booked at this point. Currently I've got two goalies, five d-men and nine forwards I could say with 99% certainty that they will feature in the final team.

Koskinen, Engren

Lepistö, Hietanen, Ristolainen, Ohtamaa, Jaakola

Barkov, Jokinen, Komarov, Ruutu, Kontiola, Aaltonen, Immonen, Salminen, Pihlström

I of course have my preferences to fill the squad, but at least at this stage it's more or less a crapshoot.
 
I doubt any player has been explicitly told they're locks yet. I don't claim to be certain, but I'd be rather surprised if the players I listed aren't technical locks already.
 
Joensuu has been cut from the squad due to an injury.

Also, looks like our top-six for tomorrow night will be

Jokinen - Barkov - Hartikainen
Ruutu - Kontiola - Aaltonen

Those PP units reported in that story look a bit bizarre, until you figure that Lepistö and Hietanen are not playing tomorrow. So those two and Lindell-Ristolainen look like probable pairs to man the blueline in the final squad.
 
FiLe said:
Joensuu has been cut from the squad due to an injury.

Also, looks like our top-six for tomorrow night will be

Jokinen - Barkov - Hartikainen
Ruutu - Kontiola - Aaltonen

Those PP units reported in that story look a bit bizarre, until you figure that Lepistö and Hietanen are not playing tomorrow. So those two and Lindell-Ristolainen look like probable pairs to man the blueline in the final squad.
Click to expand...
Hartikainen should fit well with Barkov, just get JJ off that line pls.
 
Jussi said:
Why? They need a skill guy with some level of finishing and playmaking skills. Hartikainen is not known for either.
Click to expand...
If you read the thread back a little, you'll learn that the Cats fans do not have good memories of JJ and Sasha being on a line together earlier in the season.

Which is not to say it won't work here given it's a different environment and a different game plan. And if it looks like a disaster, at least it's still a preliminary game.
 
Jussi said:
Why? They need a skill guy with some level of finishing and playmaking skills. Hartikainen is not known for either.
Click to expand...
Barkov has played well with a guy that can create him space, either through physical play (Nieminen, Bergenheim, Upshall) or skill that demands attention from the opposing players (Jagr, Huberdeau). JJ doesn't fit either of those categories.

If you meant that why take JJ off that line, he just isn't that good. The amount of quality scoring chances he's managed to screw up this season (and throughout his career for that matter) is off the roof. Trying to put him in a role where he's expected to produce is just setting everyone up for a massive disappointment.

Anyone remember 2012? Yeah JJ almost went PPG in that tournament, but do you recall how many ****ing wide open nets and tap-ins he missed? It was ridiculous. Now compare Barkov to whoever he played with in 2012 (Kontiola? Immonen? I can't remember anymore). It's not going to get easier for him, quite the contrary.
 
Last edited:
IMO, and apparently KJ's as well, Barkov and Hartikainen should be lined up together. Then I'd add there one of Donskoi, Palola or Pesonen. It has to be a guy, who's always on the move and doesn't miss most of the scoring chances Barkov creates. My favorite for that position is Donskoi, because he can also find Barkov's or Hartikainen's stick from in front of the net.

There's no reason why JJ should be there and it won't work. Right now I'd put Salminen in his place, so there'd be more time to find a spot for JJ.
 
Also in that MTV3 news it was said Pihlström-Immonen-Komarov practised as a line and all 3 will rest tomorrow's game. Guess that is Jalonen's 4th line plan for the tournament at least for now. It also almost confirms that they are locked to be in the team.
 
SoupyFIN said:
Anyone remember 2012? Yeah JJ almost went PPG in that tournament, but do you recall how many ****ing wide open nets and tap-ins he missed? It was ridiculous. Now compare Barkov to whoever he played with in 2012 (Kontiola? Immonen? I can't remember anymore). It's not going to get easier for him, quite the contrary.
Click to expand...
Jokinen's linemates in the 2012 tournament were Mikko Koivu and Valtteri Filppula. I'm not entirely sure what your point is (not to mention I initially misread it as Barkov participating in 2012), but I'd say those two compare quite well to Barkov.

While I figure those Jokinen and Barkov not looking good together is a valid concern, I've yet to see the answer to the follow-up question... if not Jokinen, then who? Does the team even have a better option for the slot, at least out of the current camp roster? Salminen is the only offensive winger who currently appears to be loose. Would he be a better fit?

Mestaruus said:
Also in that MTV3 news it was said Pihlström-Immonen-Komarov practised as a line and all 3 will rest tomorrow's game. Guess that is Jalonen's 4th line plan for the tournament at least for now. It also almost confirms that they are locked to be in the team.
Click to expand...
Ah... could it be that they simply practiced as a line because they all will be sitting? You know, lump the three loose forwards together.

Hmm. But let's figure they actually are to form a line in the final squad. Immonen is far better suited for 3rd line than 4th, especially if you compare him to Hytönen and/or Wirtanen. And while further NHL help is possible, it's far from certain. But if that really is Jalonen's plan, could it be he's clearing room for the Kärpät duo...

Jokinen - Barkov - Hartikainen (at least for now)
Ruutu - Kontiola - Aaltonen
Salminen - Kemppainen - Donskoi
Komarov - Immonen - Pihlström
 
Last edited:
Pesonen, really KJ wants to wait for him? I thought he is the past of this national team. I don't see any place for him in this year team. Kemppainen and Palola should be 13th and 14th forward and be activated if there will be no more NHL reinforcements during tournament. Donskoi is good enough to play somwhere in this lineup, maybe even with Barkov and Hartikainen.
 
master4071 said:
Pesonen, really KJ wants to wait for him? I thought he is the past of this national team. I don't see any place for him in this year team.
Click to expand...
Nice scoring bout in the SHL playoffs (3+6 this far) might have something to do with that. Also, he was quite good on EHT earlier, found the net even. Plus there could be a very natural place for him given how he's formed an effective line with Kontiola and JMA in the past.

Granted, he would not feature in my personal lineup, but it shows gross ignorance to dismiss him like that. Besides, concerning all of these players still in contention, the Nose said that they're watching them, not that any of 'em will make it for sure.
 
Didn't Pesonen play in the HIFK squad that won SM-Liiga under KJ?

FiLe said:
Hmm. But let's figure they actually are to form a line in the final squad. Immonen is far better suited for 3rd line than 4th, especially if you compare him to Hytönen and/or Wirtanen. And while further NHL help is possible, it's far from certain. But if that really is Jalonen's plan, could it be he's clearing room for the Kärpät duo...

Jokinen - Barkov - Hartikainen (at least for now)
Ruutu - Kontiola - Aaltonen
Salminen - Kemppainen - Donskoi
Komarov - Immonen - Pihlström
Click to expand...

Yep that's what I've been thinking and hoping that he clears room. Donskoi joins for sure, but is it Kemppainen also, that is the question.

Chicago-Nashville: wins 1-1
Calgary-Vancouver: wins 1-1

Weber injured in that game. Can't be good for Nashville in the future games if he can't play anymore. Give Rinne.
 
Donskoi should be in the tournament, but in the 1st line with Barkov? No thanks. I think something like Salminen-Barkov-Hartikainen would be nice, that way we can get most out of Salminen and it's constructed quite similiar what Barkov played with in Florida (Although Hartikainen is no Jagr)
 
JJTT said:
No. He played with Kärpät's cup winning teams in 04/05, 06/07 and 07/08 when KJ was coaching though.
Click to expand...

All right. I guess Jalonen selects him then.

MMANumminen said:
Ehh...are Jokinen and Ruutu still national team level? I would pick Kemppainen, Donskoi, Hartikainen without a blink.
Click to expand...

I hope we get all of them. Ruutu with Florida guys or bottom grinder role, both work for me.

teddy83 said:
(Although Hartikainen is no Jagr)
Click to expand...

In the corners with puck Hartikainen is as annoying as Jagr :P. I mean try to take the puck away from both of these guys guys or beat them 1on1.
 
Lineup vs Russia, starts 14.00

http://onhockey.tv/index.php?place=silkbet&channel=3

32 Juuse Saros
35 Atte Engren

15 Tuomo Ruutu - 27 Petri Kontiola - 50 Juhamatti Aaltonen
6 Tuukka Mäntylä - 7 Esa Lindell

36 Jussi Jokinen - 16 Aleksander Barkov - 70 Teemu Hartikainen
63 Topi Jaakola - 5 Rasmus Ristolainen

61 Tommi Huhtala - 51 Juha-Pekka Hytönen - 37 Ossi Louhivaara
28 Anssi Salmela - 47 Ville Lajunen

42 Lennart Petrell - 13 Petteri Wirtanen - 58 Harri Pesonen
55 Atte Ohtamaa - 2 Jyrki Jokipakka
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom