WC: 2015 — Team Finland

[FiLe]

Pondering about our goalie situation... namely, what Niemi might do if the Sharks miss out.

He's an UFA and it looks like he's headed into the market, but on the other hand he's never had the chance to go to a major tournament in starter capacity and goalies of his stature always find an employer - plus he's coming off of a contract that has already granted him a nice payday.

Definitely one of those "maybe he will, maybe he won't" scenarios.

 

[teddy83]

In other news, goaltending is shaping up to be a bit of a conundrum. Niemi and Lehtonen look to be out of the playoffs, but have been sort of inconsistent over the season. On the other hand we also really good Euro options in Koskinen, Engren, etc. I don't know if the difference between the NHLers and the KHLers is so big that the former could just march in and get the start over the guys who go through the whole selection process through the EHT and camp, etc.

I disagree, i rather have Niemi(btw, he's been playing lights out lately) or Lehtonen then Engren or Koskinen, we need a goalie who can steal a game for us, i have never seen Koskinen or Engren rob games for us, frankly, i dont trust either one of them in a big game, but that is just my personal opinion, i actually trust Saros more then those two

 

[FiLe]

I disagree, i rather have Niemi(btw, he's been playing lights out lately) or Lehtonen then Engren or Koskinen, we need a goalie who can steal a game for us, i have never seen Koskinen or Engren rob games for us, frankly, i dont trust either one of them in a big game, but that is just my personal opinion, i actually trust Saros more then those two

While I take an established name over Koskinen or Engren in a heartbeat, I still have to point out how unfair and uneducated one sounds when he places mistrust on those two by stating he has never seen 'em "steal a big game" - because the former has played in a grand total of one WHC games, and the latter in zero.

 

[teddy83]

While I take an established name over Koskinen or Engren in a heartbeat, I still have to point out how unfair and uneducated one sounds when he places mistrust on those two by stating he has never seen 'em "steal a big game" - because the former has played in a grand total of one WHC games, and the latter in zero.

but they have played in national team games before, no?

 

[Gaps]

I don't think the difference between NHL goalies like Lehtonen and Niemi and a top Euro goalie like Koskinen is big enough to warrant a serious discussion (as long as we're talking about a WHC) unless the material of the skaters ends up being worse than hoped for. Of course it'd be great to have an NHL goalie, but not having one isn't a disaster unless the skaters are bad.

Let's think about 2011. You could certainly say that both Vehanen and Lassila let in some 'oopsie's, but at the end of the day it didn't matter because the material, as well as the strategy and discipline of the skaters was enough. The goaltending that team got wasn't bad, but was it amazing either? No (most of the time anyway), but it was adequate. We're lucky to have quite a few goalies who can provide adequate goaltending, assuming the rest of the team can make up for it.

Of course it's a different story if we end up with a similar team to last year's. I'm not sure if they would've reached the QF without Rinne.

 

[FiLe]

but they have played in national team games before, no?

They have, but then I don't get why you complain about Koskinen, who has been nothing but consistent on EHT. Far from stellar, but still has given serviceable enough showings to warrant the starter job if no one comes from overseas. Like Gaps said, if the team in front of him can get their act together, he should be more than enough to win even against other elite countries.

I admit I have reservations about Engren though, who has been a bit more hot'n'cold.

 

[teddy83]

They have, but then I don't get why you complain about Koskinen, who has been nothing but consistent on EHT. Far from stellar, but still has given serviceable enough showings to warrant the starter job if no one comes from overseas. Like Gaps said, if the team in front of him can get their act together, he should be more than enough to win even against other elite countries.

I admit I have reservations about Engren though, who has been a bit more hot'n'cold.

well maybe i'm too harsh on Koskinen, but consistent isn't enough when we play against the big countries in a do or die game, we need all world performance probably to win. Don't see Koskinen or Engren giving it to us. But like i said, it is only my gut feeling.

 

[FiLe]

well maybe i'm too harsh on Koskinen, but consistent isn't enough when we play against the big countries in a do or die game, we need all world performance probably to win. Don't see Koskinen or Engren giving it to us. But like i said, it is only my gut feeling.

Like Gaps alluded, if Petri Vehanen can deliver such a performance with zero NHL experience, there's no reason to assume any other goalie on his level can't - at least until we actually witness 'em to drop the ball.

Though again, there is no reason to pass on an NHL goalie if one is available and willing to come - save for Bäckström, that is.

 

[Raimo Sillanpää]

Like Gaps alluded, if Petri Vehanen can deliver such a performance with zero NHL experience, there's no reason to assume any other goalie on his level can't - at least until we actually witness 'em to drop the ball.

Though again, there is no reason to pass on an NHL goalie if one is available and willing to come - save for Bäckström, that is.

Exactly, this will be hard. Does the team get a psychological boost from stature of NHL goalie? Or does KHl goalie want it more as they want out of KHL and into NHL?

I cant choose between Lehtonen and Koskinen now, it's a shame Kari is not what he was at 18..

 

[afrobomber11]

Exactly, this will be hard. Does the team get a psychological boost from stature of NHL goalie? Or does KHl goalie want it more as they want out of KHL and into NHL?

I cant choose between Lehtonen and Koskinen now, it's a shame Kari is not what he was at 18..

And I can't believe Kari is 4th in active wins, he could still put together some consistent play

 

[illone84]

What do you guys think the likelyhood of Barkov participating in this year's tournament if Florida doesn't make the playoffs?

Will Dale Tallon let him go?

 

[Needles]

XXX - Barkov - XXX
XXX - XXX - XXX
XXX - XXX - Donskoi
XXX - XXX - XXX
Rantanen

XXX - XXX
XXX - Ristolainen
Lindell - XXX
Jokipakka - XXX

Rask
XXX

 

[FiLe]

What do you guys think the likelyhood of Barkov participating in this year's tournament if Florida doesn't make the playoffs?

Will Dale Tallon let him go?

We talked about this earlier in the thread.

Generally, if a player is healthy, has been healthy for a while and is willing to go, it'd seem a bit unorthodox and overzealous for the GM to bubble wrap and tuck him away 'til the next season. Certainly not the best way to make said player happy with the organization. Doubly so, if Jokinen is willing to go and Tallon has no issues with that. Huberdeau potentially getting an invite to Team Canada might create extra pressure.

But eh, what do we know. What we may find unreasonable might seem perfectly reasonable from the POV of Sasha's paymasters.

 

[JJTT]

Really hope Kukkonen and Väänänen don't have automatic spots on the team. Kukkonen has lost a step and Väänänen's defensive game has regressed a lot since last year.

Kivistö, Jaakola, Ohtamaa and Jokipakka should be ahead of both them for DD spots. Hell even Mikko Vainonen has been better than Kukkonen in this playoff series so far.

 

[FiLe]

Really hope Kukkonen and Väänänen don't have automatic spots on the team. Kukkonen has lost a step and Väänänen's defensive game has regressed a lot since last year.

Based on the games I've seen, I'm inclined to agree. I'd say out of the eight D slots, Lepistö and Hietanen warrant automatic tickets if they wish to come, and one should be reserved for RR55. The other five slots should be decided on the camp.

Overall, I still can't emphasize my satisfaction on how strong this position looks for us for once. For said five slots, I'm counting at least a dozen names who all have a realistic chance to feature. Repeating myself, but it's just such a great spot to be in. Given said situation, it would actually feel slightly mental to lock down more than half of them this early.

 

[Zippy316]

What ever happened to Anssi Salmella?

How is he doing? I actually liked him as a Devils fan -- his OT goal during that crazy run during the 2011-12 season was probably the best goal of that year.

 

[Gaps]

I agree that Kukkonen and Väänänen should be forced to earn their spots in camp instead of getting automatic spots. Same with Kontiola who says he will have to join the camp roster right from the start this year (although Jatkoaika's Lehtinen believes his spot on the final team is pretty much a given).


http://www.jatkoaika.com/Haastattel...¤Ã¤n-mm-joukkueessa-â€menen-leirilleâ€/166094

What ever happened to Anssi Salmella?

How is he doing? I actually liked him as a Devils fan -- his OT goal during that crazy run during the 2011-12 season was probably the best goal of that year.

I would say Salmela's among the possible candidates for the D in this WHC, but he's not a clear front runner. He was kept off the team for a while due to personal problems but returned last season.

 

[JJTT]

First camp roster:

G

32 Juuse Saros, HPK Hämeenlinna
35 Atte Engren, Atlant Mytištši, KHL

D

5 Tommi Kivistö, Ilves Tampere
6 Tuukka Mäntylä, Amur Habarovsk, KHL
7 Esa Lindell, Ässät Pori
18 Sami Lepistö, Avtomobilist Jekaterinburg, KHL
21 Ilari Melart, Jugra Hanty-Mansijsk, KHL
22 Teemu Eronen, Neftehimik Nižnekamsk, KHL
28 Anssi Salmela, Färjestad BK, SHL
38 Juuso Hietanen, Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod, KHL
47 Ville Lajunen, Jokerit Helsinki, KHL

F

13 Mika Niemi, Ässät Pori
15 Juha-Pekka Hytönen, Lausanne HC, NLA
19 Veli-Matti Savinainen, Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod, KHL
23 Sakari Salminen, Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod, KHL
24 Max Wärn, HK Sochi, KHL
25 Mikko Rantanen, TPS Turku
26 Jarkko Immonen, Torpedo Nizhni Novgorod, KHL
27 Petri Kontiola, Lokomotiv Jaroslavl, KHL
36 Ossi Louhivaara, Lausanne HC, NLA
41 Antti Pihlström, Salavat Julajev Ufa, KHL
58 Harri Pesonen, Lausanne HC, NLA
61 Tommi Huhtala, Jokerit Helsinki, KHL
70 Teemu Hartikainen, Salavat Julajev Ufa, KHL

Looks good. Aaltonen, Jaakola, Osala and Väänänen are the biggest names missing.

 

[rduck1]

25 Mikko Rantanen, TPS Turku

Well that was unexpected.

 

[FiLe]

That's really nice for a first roster. Essentially all of those guys have a chance to break the final squad, which is pretty rare with these early groups. Some may have less of a chance than others, but still. I wonder if that's an indicator of KJ being a coach who does things more diligently or simply the amount of quality players already available to him?

Well that was unexpected.

How come? Given it's the first roster, not really IMO. He's been in speculations, after all. Not that he's a prime candidate or anything, but it's certainly not the first time these top notch kids are given an early taste to men's NT hockey. MiG for example made his entry at the same age in 2010 (a year before he was selected to the final squad) - and Barkov would likely have been involved with the 2013 group without an injury.

 

[rduck1]

How come? Given it's the first roster, not really IMO. He's been in speculations, after all. Not that he's a prime candidate or anything, but it's certainly not the first time these top notch kids are given an early taste to men's NT hockey. MiG for example made his entry at the same age in 2010 (a year before he was selected to the final squad) - and Barkov would likely have been involved with the 2013 group without an injury.

I don't know, I just never thought of him at the same level as a MiG or a Barkov. Not that I'm upset with it or anything, he's been real good after the WJC and did great in the junior playoffs. Just didn't expect it, that's all.

 

[illone84]

Well that was unexpected.

This definitely came as a positive surprise!

I would love to see this kid crack the final roster!

It would be amazing if this kid got some solid experience from the WHC, and then takes that experience to elevate his play in the upcoming WJC in Finland

 

[FiLe]

I don't know, I just never thought of him at the same level as a MiG or a Barkov. Not that I'm upset with it or anything, he's been real good after the WJC and did great in the junior playoffs. Just didn't expect it, that's all.

Given how he's been predicted to go in top ten all season, I don't see how someone could not figure him as a prospect on the level of MiG. Doubly so given the way he elevated his game during and after the WJC. The conditions in TPS were of course what they were, but he was very clearly their MVP over the spring stretch.

He still has long ways to go to break the final squad, of course - but making this initial group is well deserved. Kudos to Jalonen for giving him the nod.

 

[teddy83]

I hope Melart plays himself on to the final roster, we need his kinda of player. Somebody who is ready to defend his teammates

 

[FiLe]

http://yle.fi/urheilu/iso_osa_jalos...aa_viela__aaltonen_on_siina_katraassa/7892685

Jalonen reveals some names who are likely to join later. Osala, Petrell, Jaakola, Ohtamaa, Väänänen ja Wirtanen, at least. That pretty much covers all the top euro names in speculation, save for perhaps Näkyvä whose season is also over. But I'm fairly sure he'll feature too, if he feels like it. With Lepistö, Lindell and Salmela already in, it's not like we're badly in need for a player of his type, though.