WC: 2015 — Team Finland

[FiLe]

Putting forward on blue line depends on which kind of material we have in D and Offense. If there is good PP D (not Hietanen for example, but some one who actually makes results) then there is no need to that.

Something tells me the management disagrees with your assessment about Hietanen.

Still, the general point remains. They've got a long line of possible ones available: Lepistö, Hietanen, Ristolainen, Salmela, Lindell, Mäntylä, Kivistö, Lajunen... that pretty much spells no need to go with four forwards.

 

[FiLe]

Lineup for the second game vs. Germany:

Saros (Engren)

Lepistö - Hietanen
Salmela - Jaakola
Ohtamaa - Lindell
Kivistö - Lajunen

Salminen - Immonen - Hartikainen
Osala - Kontiola - Aaltonen
Huhtala - Hytönen - Joensuu
Petrell - Wirtanen - Pesonen

Rantanen as 13th forward.


A bit more balanced than yesterday, at least now there are clearly discernible top- and bottom-sixes. Looks like Hartikainen has replaced Osala as the Immonen-Salminen duo's balancing act. Quite deservingly so, I might say. There's one line that might just stick all the way through.

 

[JJTT]

6-1 win over Germany

http://www.katsomo.fi/#!/jakso/33002054/jaakiekon-a-maaottelu/461940/suomi-saksa-ottelun-maalikooste

 

[FiLe]

Interesting comments concerning Rantanen. Sounds like the kid has thrown a spanner in the works.

Between the lines, it also hints towards the fact that despite the talk of everyone being on the same line, in reality the coaches' player management is more or less from the Animal Farm: All are equal, some are just more equal than others.

Guess that explains why we've had coaches act iffy towards taking the kids at times: They're supposed to be filler, but they end up being better than expected and force the coach to cut a player they didn't plan on cutting... at least yet.

In this case I have to wonder though: If Rantanen is being better than usual, why not just cut a guy from the grinder department? They're still rather ubiquitous, and it's not like all of 'em are going to make it anyway. Though per the coach himself, at least one the lesser ones, Louhivaara, seems to be safe for the time being.

Still, mad props for Jalonen for giving the kid yet another shot, especially if it came as spur-of-the-moment as he claims. I guess some other coach in such a situation would have kept him sternly glued to the seat so that they don't mess with their circles any further.

 

[Mestaruus]

According to MTV3 Pihlström is a lock in the final team:

"Pihlström on pomminvarmasti MM-joukkueessa, kun taas 18-vuotiaan Rantasen jatko MM-leirillä on kysymysmerkki. Sen sijaan Jalonen paljasti, että tehot 1+1 torstaina kerännyt Louhivaara jatkaa MM-leirillä ensi viikon Venäjä-otteluihin."

Philström might just end up being there but I don't think that media guy of MTV3 has done any research on the situation.

http://www.mtv.fi/sport/mm2015/uuti...ettu-tehohyokkaaja-jatkaa-mm-leirilla/4984748

 

[FiLe]

Philström might just end up being there but I don't think that media guy of MTV3 has done any research on the situation.

Yeah. While I've no doubt that Pillu's chances are rather good, I bet only Jalonen and his cohorts know at this stage how close he actually is. Could be he makes it, could be he's among the last cuts. Either way is fine on a year like this.

 

[Mestaruus]

Yup. I am pretty sure there will be a huge **** storm when Jalonen announces the selections in 2 weeks. Kind of hard to avoid that this year, but what's interesting is if he'll have balls to keep his favorites Petrell and Wirtanen in, Wirtanen is a decent choice, but I still wouldn't take him myself. Even Erkka had his sauna buddy selections last year (favoring Jokerit players).

 

[FiLe]

Given the amount and quality of grinders available to us, Petrell being near the top of that list would seem odd. Not that him making it would ruin the team in any manner, unless he's part of a blatantly oversized grinder complement in the vein of last year.

4C is similarly a quite cosmetic choice. If Wirtanen makes it, then he makes it. Though I have to say, I think Hytönen has actually outplayed him this far. Not by a great margin, but still. Unlike with wingers however, I'm not worried that the Nose will replace grind with skill. Barkov, Immonen, Kontiola (if he finds his form) will be picked before 'em, and I think Jalonen's also got bit of a hard-on for Kemppainen for guys not on the camp yet.

 

[JJTT]

Team for next week.

G

Atte Engren
Niko Hovinen
Juuse Saros

D

Juuso Hietanen
Topi Jaakola
Ville Lajunen
Sami Lepistö
Esa Lindell
Tuukka Mäntylä
Atte Ohtamaa
Anssi Salmela

F

Juhamatti Aaltonen
Teemu Hartikainen
Tommi Huhtala
Juha-Pekka Hytönen
Jarkko Immonen
Jesse Joensuu
Petri Kontiola
Ossi Louhivaara
Oskar Osala
Harri Pesonen
Lennart Petrell
Antti Pihlström
Sakari Salminen
Petteri Wirtanen

Rantanen and Kivistö cut.

 

[JJTT]

Lots of options, depending how many "skill wingers" they take:

Option 1, all skill players, no grinders:

Salminen-Barkov-Kiiskinen/Palola
Pesonen-Kontiola-Aaltonen
Jokinen-Kemppainen-Donskoi
Komarov-Immonen-Ruutu
+ Palola/Kiiskinen, Koskiranta

Option 2, all grinders:

Jokinen-Barkov-Ruutu
Komarov-Kontiola-Aaltonen
Salminen-Immonen-Hartikainen
Pihlström-Wirtanen-Osala
+Louhivaara, Hytönen

In reality, it's probably something in between these two.

 

[mattihp]

The expected cuts pretty much. We have a good squad to work with; neither Rantanen nor Kivistö would've looked out of place in the final squad.

 

[FiLe]

No additions apart from Hovinen. That's a bit odd, concerning the Sibir duo of Koskiranta and Enlund were available. Guess we can stop figurin' whether they'll feature or not. They won't.

One explanation for this could be that Jalonen has his eyes set on another offensive duo - the Kärppä unit of Kemppainen and Donskoi. Between them and the addition of the Sibir boys, the team would arguably have got a bit crowded - especially when there are signs of Konna and JMA finding their wheels. And then there're of course all the NHLers that might start showing up soon...

The expected cuts pretty much. We have a good squad to work with; neither Rantanen nor Kivistö would've looked out of place in the final squad.

Yeah, it's a strange year. Difficult to feel disappointed no matter what they do.

 

[FiLe]

From the Panthers beat writer:

 

[mattihp]

Harri Pesonen is the only cut there that I'd see as close to being positive. And to be honest. I want Donskoi, Palola AND Aaltonen there.

 

[JJTT]

Harri Pesonen is the only cut there that I'd see as close to being positive. And to be honest. I want Donskoi, Palola AND Aaltonen there.

Well if KJ put any stock into the previous EHT games, Donskoi will be there.

http://www.mtv.fi/sport/jaakiekko/leijonat/artikkeli/tamin-tuomio-kolme-kympin-leijonaa/4631276

 

[FiLe]

Well if KJ put any stock into the previous EHT games, Donskoi will be there.

One successful EHT showing alone does not clinch anybody's ticket.

Luckily for Donskoi, it's not all he's got on his name, not by a long shot. Also, as it was stated a few posts back, Jalonen has pretty much stated out loud that Donskoi and Kemppainen are sternly on his radar.

Dunno about Palola though. The team is pretty crowded even without him, and he's been pretty anonymous in the series vs. Lukko. Not that I mind it if he's gonna make it, but between Jokinen, Salminen, Aaltonen, Donskoi and who else we are pretty well covered in the flair department as well. There's even no guarantee that all of them are going to fit in the lineup at the same time, especially if Jalonen wants to add a piece of muscle into every line as a balancing act.

 

[QnebO]

I think Palola sohuld be absolutely taken. He's playerprofile is pure sniper and it's hard to win gold medals without any snipers. 2011, immonen was good enough for that role but not any more.

He hasn't been scoring in the Lukko series but I bet he is having 1-2 jackets on him all the time. They play him out.

 

[QnebO]

Opinion: Reason for small amount of Gold medal for us regardless of quality teams is lack of sniper production. Not enough snipers to have one good in every team we have in international tournaments. Not even close.

 

[SoupyFIN]

From the Panthers beat writer:

Harvey has a history of being very hit and miss, so I'd take that with a grain of salt.

Until GR or Coop confirms it, I'd treat it as a rumour.

 

[rduck1]

Donskoi and Kemppainen should be there, even if it's just as reserves. Very versatile players and in excellent form. Normally I'd say Palola is a good candidate too, but this year there are just too many options. I would rather have Janne Pesonen for example, who brings the scoring touch along with a more complete skillset.

It's an interesting situation though... Such a wealth of options, and none of them are making it easy to cut them from the lineup, while half a dozen candidates are still busy with playoffs... and then there are the NHLers as well. Some hard choices ahead.

Will also be interesting to see if Rask is willing to join the team after such a disappointing finish to the season, assuming Boston doesn't make it to the playoffs.

 

[mattihp]

Palola has that jack in the box ability which we seldom see in finnish players. Pesonen is more accomplished and a better two-way player but Palola can pull some really funky rabbits out of his hat.

 

[rduck1]

Palola has that jack in the box ability which we seldom see in finnish players. Pesonen is more accomplished and a better two-way player but Palola can pull some really funky rabbits out of his hat.

It's a matter of opinion of course, but I'm okay with some pretty crappy rabbits as long as there are enough of them . Like I said, on most other years I would include Palola in my plans, but right now we already have Salminen, Aaltonen and possibly Donskoi and Jokinen for high-offense wingers(and even our grinders look quite capable this year) as well as a very offensively gifted group of centers. I feel that another one would put too much demand for offensive zone starts and power-play time, but that's just my view of it.

 

[SoupyFIN]

It's a matter of opinion of course, but I'm okay with some pretty crappy rabbits as long as there are enough of them . Like I said, on most other years I would include Palola in my plans, but right now we already have Salminen, Aaltonen and possibly Donskoi and Jokinen for high-offense wingers(and even our grinders look quite capable this year) as well as a very offensively gifted group of centers. I feel that another one would put too much demand for offensive zone starts and power-play time, but that's just my view of it.

JJ and high-offense winger should never be used in the same sentence.

 

[rduck1]

JJ and high-offense winger should never be used in the same sentence.

'09-'10 and '13-'14 NHL seasons, WHCs in '06 and '12. Also the highest scoring NHL winger we have for this season. In the scale of Finnish wingers, he's about as high-offense as they come, unfortunately.

 

[FiLe]

Harvey has a history of being very hit and miss, so I'd take that with a grain of salt.

If the guy himself calls it "unofficial", I take that's a reason enough for anyone who can read. Didn't think there's a need to underline it.

---

re: Palola. Like I said, if they find room for him, I wouldn't be miffed in the least. However, in every projection I can come up with, Jalonen would have to oust a far more established guy to make room for him (or possibly Donskoi). Doubly so if we get every possible name available from overseas.

It's just how things are this year. The fact that he seemingly already passed on a pair of very good and rather warm KHL forwards, the guys coming from outside the team have to either be very established, or be playing lights out ATM. Palola just scored tonight (as usual, when you bring up his lackluster effort) but I still can't see that wowzer effect in his game that'd make me think he's one of the top picks in the management's papers. Not that I have seen said papers, so it's just my gut feeling.