WJC: 2016 — Finland Roster Talk

[Gaps]

I can see the Finns have a very strong offence this tournament, but I don't know anything about their goalies. Is there a clear starter? Is this a potential soft spot for Finland, or am I just another North American who doesn't know anything about European prospects?

Kähkönen is a Minnesota goalie prospect and has played well in Liiga this season, as has Vehviläinen (undrafted), but of course this a totally different environment. Right now we don't know who will get the starter job, but it could be either one. I think both of these guys will end up having successful careers in men's leagues, but their performance in this tournament depends on the abilities of the D as well. Jalonen has shown that he's very capable of making mediocre defenders look better than they are, so there's hope that the goalies will get some assistance from the D.

 

[FiLe]

Kähkönen is a Minnesota goalie prospect and has played well in Liiga this season, as has Vehviläinen (undrafted), but of course this a totally different environment. Right now we don't know who will get the starter job, but it could be either one. I think both of these guys will end up having successful careers in men's leagues, but their performance in this tournament depends on the abilities of the D as well. Jalonen has shown that he's very capable of making mediocre defenders look better than they are, so there's hope that the goalies will get some assistance from the D.

For reasons no one can comprehend.

It's difficult to see a goalie winning it all with no help, but I also should add that both are highly capable of stealing a single game all by themselves.

Finland's goalies are fine. Only one with more merit at this point is the Russian Samsonov.

 

[fr9dd9]

exhibition games

When will the first exhibition games take place?

 

[saintflannel]

When will the first exhibition games take place?

Monday versus the Swiss in Hämeenlinna.

 

[The Kingslayer]

As an Avs fan im looking forward to watching Rantanen dominate this tournament. Has Finland named a captain yet?

 

[rduck1]

Finland's goalies are fine. Only one with more merit at this point is the Russian Samsonov.

Agreed. They're not quite Saros/Husso, but basically the next best thing. Russia has clearly the best duo of the tournament, but we're right up there too, at least in terms of expectations.

Has Finland named a captain yet?

I think Roope Hintz was the captain in the last pre-tournament games. Not sure how it will play out once Rantanen and Kapanen join up.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

I posed this question on Puljujärvi's thread. The Finns are stacked on right wing with Puljujärvi, Laine, Kapanen, and the man Rantanen.

Who is the odd man out?

And if no one is out, can Rantanen move to Center? Or is he best position on the right wing.

 

[X66]

I posed this question on Puljujärvi's thread. The Finns are stacked on right wing with Puljujärvi, Laine, Kapanen, and the man Rantanen.

Who is the odd man out?

And if no one is out, can Rantanen move to Center? Or is he best position on the right wing.

Kapanen can play both wings, so there is one solved.

Laine can also play on the left, and has most of this season I think. Another one solved.

No need for an odd man out...

*EDIT, beat to it, good post Finnish Tank Support

 

[SpinninRodIntoArmpit]

I posed this question on Puljujärvi's thread. The Finns are stacked on right wing with Puljujärvi, Laine, Kapanen, and the man Rantanen.

Who is the odd man out?

And if no one is out, can Rantanen move to Center?

Umm... Have you seen these guys play? Just asking, because at least Laine has played left wing in practically every game this season. And even if all of them usually played right wing, that'd still be a non-issue. I don't even see what's the point calling someone RW or LW, because it's mostly about whether you receive passes to backhand or forehand and can you take one-time-slappers.

 

[93LEAFS]

Umm... Have you seen these guys play? Just asking, because at least Laine has played left wing in practically every game this season. And even if all of them usually played right wing, that'd still be a non-issue. I don't even see what's the point calling someone RW or LW, because it's mostly about whether you receive passes to backhand or forehand and can you take one-time-slappers.

Was about to say Laine seems to excel on his off-wing, they will find a spot for all 4 in the top 6.

 

[SpinninRodIntoArmpit]

Was about to say Laine seems to excel on his off-wing, they will find a spot for all 4 in the top 6.

They don't really have to, because there are also Repo and Aho/Saarela who all have been more productive than JP this year, and arguably better as a whole (although you can't even argue about Aho since he's a top 5-forward in the league right now).

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Umm... Have you seen these guys play? Just asking, because at least Laine has played left wing in practically every game this season. And even if all of them usually played right wing, that'd still be a non-issue. I don't even see what's the point calling someone RW or LW, because it's mostly about whether you receive passes to backhand or forehand and can you take one-time-slappers.

Thomast, whom I know is a big Finnish hockey fan and supporter replied that Kapanen is the odd man out.

My question is more on the lines of all 4 play Right wing. Obviously I do not follow Finnish hockey FEL as closely as Finn fans, thus my question.

Since you have 4 strong right wingers, what do you do?

 

[rduck1]

I think Rantanen can also play LW, or at least he was listed in that position for some of his matches with the Avs IIRC(would be helpful if someone who watches them more closely could confirm/deny this). RW is definitely crowded though -- in addition to those previously mentioned, Repo and Hintz(though he's almost certainly going to play center) have been playing on the right for most of the season. It'll probably be Laine plus one of Kapanen and Rantanen playing LW IMO. The remaining one of Kapanen/Rantanen, Repo and Puljujärvi are who I expect to be the RWs for the top-9.

 

[93LEAFS]

Thomast, whom I know is a big Finnish hockey fan and supporter replied that Kapanen is the odd man out.

My question is more on the lines of all 4 play Right wing. Obviously I do not follow Finnish hockey FEL as closely as Finn fans, thus my question.

Since you have 4 strong right wingers, what do you do?

Except anyone whose watched Laine knows he primarily plays on the left, so there is no odd man out. Nice bait though trying to stir up a controversy, even more surprising it involves a Leafs prospect......

 

[FinPanda]

Rantanen-Hintz-Kapanen
Laine-Aho-Puljujärvi
Repo-Nättinen-Saarela
Lammikko-Siikonen-Björkqvist
13th forward Tammela

My forward lines. If Aho is playing winger, Saarela moves to 3rd C and Puljujärvi takes his spot and 2nd center is Nättinen.

So:

Rantanen-Hintz-Kapanen
Laine-Nättinen-Aho
Repo-Saarela-Puljujärvi
Lammikko-Siikonen-Björkqvist
13th forward Tammela

Or you can move Puljujärvi to the first line rw and drop Kapanen to the 3rd line. So many options, its great.

 

[X66]

Except anyone whose watched Laine knows he primarily plays on the left

Yup, this is exactly it. This is why I believe it is important to actually watch prospects as opposed to just stat watching and taking where websites list their positions as fact.

Laine and Kapanen are viable on either side, valuable players IMO.

Finns are just going to be nasty to watch in this tournament, can't wait.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Except anyone whose watched Laine knows he primarily plays on the left, so there is no odd man out. Nice bait though trying to stir up a controversy, even more surprising it involves a Leafs prospect......

Kapanen had a bad tourney last year. It's not always about Leafs prospects. I would hope you will not turn a Finnish roster thread into something off topic. The question was a legitimate topic. We know Rantanen is the marquee Right winger. How the rest are deployed is fair discussion.

 

[Ivan13]

Rantanen is ripping the AHL apart playing LW, he can play both wings equally well.

 

[93LEAFS]

Kapanen had a bad tourney last year. It's not always about Leafs prospects. I would hope you will not turn a Finnish roster thread into something off topic. The question was a legitimate topic. We know Rantanen is the marquee Right winger. How the rest are deployed is fair discussion.

Except you are trying to make a controversy where there isn't one, and anyone who watches knows Laine primarily plays on the left and Kapanen can play either side. So its not 4 rw's for 4 rw spots which you are trying to phrase it as. With you it always seems you pop up to create arguments particularly involving leafs prospects. So next time you want to create an argument, atleast know which position a player like Laine plays. Can't wait for this tourny to start, Finland's top 9 looks amazing.

 

[X66]

Rantanen is ripping the AHL apart playing LW, he can play both wings equally well.

Another reason showing why it's important to watch prospects, rather than just assume they're locked to a position.

Finland is versatile as heck.

 

[X66]

So next time you want to create an argument, atleast know which position a player like Laine plays. Can't wait for this tourny to start, Finland's top 9 looks amazing.

Or Kapanen, or Rantanen, it was a trivial question no doubt, but I'm sure the poster is informed now.
___________

ONLY thing I don't like about the tournament is that Finland and Sweden don't meet up until the elimination games.

 

[rduck1]

Let's calm down now. It's a perfectly valid thing to wonder about, considering that from the outside it might look like the team has six top-6 RWs. If that were the case, it would be a big talking point around this team, so it's perfectly sensible to bring it up. However with the responses we now have, I think the concern has now been alleviated to the point that I feel confident in declaring that this is in reality a non-issue. Rantanen and Laine have proven themselves on the left, Hintz will play center, and everything will be hunky-dory.

 

[Loffer]

Let's calm down now. It's a perfectly valid thing to wonder about, considering that from the outside it might look like the team has six top-6 RWs. If that were the case, it would be a big talking point around this team, so it's perfectly sensible to bring it up. However with the responses we now have, I think the concern has now been alleviated to the point that I feel confident in declaring that this is in reality a non-issue. Rantanen and Laine have proven themselves on the left, Hintz will play center, and everything will be hunky-dory.

Well put, sir. Diplomacy and conciliation are ypur bread and butter- :thumb:

 

[Erikfromfin]

The lines and players can be mixed and matches no worries there. If any disturbance in harmony occurs it might come from powerplay as there are too many cooks. I think Laine/Puljujärvi/Kapanen ideal position is in Ovechkin territory. Laine is propably the main guy to go in 1st unit as he was in U18 last spring and Lake Placid this year. Puljujärvi was already agitated and had few words with head coach Jalonen when he didnt get icetime 6vs5 empty net situation vs Sweden in Placid. So there is potential for odd man out and agitation for lack of pp ice time among forwards.

 

[cgf]

Rantanen is ripping the AHL apart playing LW, he can play both wings equally well.

He's played both and is just unreal right now. Though he did look more comfortable on the right early in the year.