WC: 2016 Team Finland Pt. II

[Mestaruus]

Thanks for the info on Rantanen, I'm trying to keep up myself but it's frustrating. I completely understand you all want what's best for the team and to win the gold. I just wish it was handled differently. If they weren't going to use him then don't name him to the team. All the Avs fans and even media that covers the team think he's on the team and don't understand why he's not playing, it's a bit of an embarassment to him isn't it? After everything he's accomplished this season he doesn't need this. He's been away from home all year and now he's just sitting in Russia for a month doing nothing. But I guess we'll see how it works out.

I saw some video interview of him in Finnish language I think it was yesterday and he was on good spirits about the situation. I was happy to see that he wasn't down.

If San Jose advances I got a feeling he will play vs France this Saturday and might even happen if San Jose is eliminated if Donskoi declines the invitation. Pulkkinen who kind of stole Rantanen's spot with the prep game goals hasn't played well lately, so I'm guessing the coach already wants to replace Pulkkinen with Rantanen. That's my feeling about it.

 

[JJTT]

Rantanen should be playing probably, Aho should play in barkov line RW and Lainw LW, Jokinen should play with Komarov. IMO

This. Too bad KJ is never going to break up Jokinen and Barkov. I'd be happy with Laine-Koskiranta-Aho line too, with Rantanen playing with Barkov and Jokinen.

 

[Gaps]

It's not just this game. Next up is France, then Slovakia, and even if we win those (presumably we will, Slovakia has been disappointing) even with mediocre/bad play, then it's Canada. If that turns out to be a disaster, the next game is already a do-or-die game. I'd rather start making adjustments now.

This is a concern for me as well, but it's less about the offensive lines than the goaltending. I guess it's because with this personnel, we'll be able to scrunch up at least two scoring lines with such good, reliable players no matter how we place these guys. This is more than we've had in several WHC tournaments. No, it may never be optimal, but they will most likely get something done. But the goaltending... Koskinen's self-confidence could be in shambles after that game against Canada, but there's no way KJ would bench him for Saros (unless Koskinen himself decided to fake an injury or something) even after that, because he's the designed starter.

 

[Mestaruus]

Rantanen should be playing probably, Aho should play in barkov line RW and Lainw LW, Jokinen should play with Komarov. IMO

I think KJ will never do this big changes unless both Donskoi & Lehterä come. Even then it's smarter to keep Donskoi & Lehterä together and keep 3 units together and form one new line.

Laine-Barkov-Jokinen
MiG-Koivu-Komarov
Donskoi-Lehterä-Aho
Pihlström-Koskiranta-Pyörälä

If we'd get them both, this way it would affect other lines very little.

In that scenario there wouldn't be enough tournament passes for Rantanen . Else I'd put him instead of Pyörälä probably.

 

[LOFIN]

Thanks for the info on Rantanen, I'm trying to keep up myself but it's frustrating. I completely understand you all want what's best for the team and to win the gold. I just wish it was handled differently. If they weren't going to use him then don't name him to the team. All the Avs fans and even media that covers the team think he's on the team and don't understand why he's not playing, it's a bit of an embarassment to him isn't it? After everything he's accomplished this season he doesn't need this. He's been away from home all year and now he's just sitting in Russia for a month doing nothing. But I guess we'll see how it works out.

Trust me, it's not just the Avs fans who are frustrated, it's most of Finnish fans aswell. I hope that if they infact get some NHL players in after this round and Rantanen is discarded, he flyes straight to Turku and train with Rautala and TPS, who with many Finns train in the offseason. And then gives a big middle finger when they try to get him to the next WHC.

 

[Bruce Granville]

Trust me, it's not just the Avs fans who are frustrated, it's most of Finnish fans aswell. I hope that if they infact get some NHL players in after this round and Rantanen is discarded, he flyes straight to Turku and train with Rautala and TPS, who with many Finns train in the offseason. And then gives a big middle finger when they try to get him to the next WHC.

It will be another coach...a better one.

 

[FiLe]

I don't think there's any sense in getting apocalyptic based on this game. The opponent was of a low quality, which the team knew beforehand. It's not easy to gear up for a game like this after a much tougher one. They got things done, and that's what matters. Finland's played games like this one nearly every year ever since I started watching hockey. Of course there are things they clearly need to work on (and who knows, maybe we'll be out in the QF anyway), but this game itself doesn't really worry me. But I agree with you that Pulu should probably go to the pressbox. He seems very frustrated, which is understandable but we can't afford to have him on the 4th line taking stupid penalties.

It's not just this game. Next up is France, then Slovakia, and even if we win those (presumably we will, Slovakia has been disappointing) even with mediocre/bad play, then it's Canada. If that turns out to be a disaster, the next game is already a do-or-die game. I'd rather start making adjustments now.

Like I said in the GDT thread, let's just be happy we got the W and the points, and a wake-up call (second in a row, actually). The need for adjustments is obvious, but if the team keeps racking up goals with mediocre showings vs. the little guys, our coaching would be so much less willing to put in the fixes that are required to beat the tougher competition.

There's little reason to panic or be all pessimistic right now. Let's wait at least 'til we learn that Jalonen intends to ride this same starting lineup in the next game as well. But the man's got to have some Mixu Paatelainen rate pride and stubborness issues if that's really the case.

 

[kunekune]

Trust me, it's not just the Avs fans who are frustrated, it's most of Finnish fans aswell. I hope that if they infact get some NHL players in after this round and Rantanen is discarded, he flyes straight to Turku and train with Rautala and TPS, who with many Finns train in the offseason. And then gives a big middle finger when they try to get him to the next WHC.

Rautalas offseason camp is in August.

 

[LOFIN]

Rautalas offseason camp is in August.

Nah, from what I've hear several Finnish players are already there training.

 

[FiLe]

Koskinen's self-confidence could be in shambles after that game against Canada, but there's no way KJ would bench him for Saros (unless Koskinen himself decided to fake an injury or something) even after that, because he's the designed starter.

This is probably a typo, but it's hilariously fitting. Jalonen has, indeed, done his darnest to force Koskinen into starter mode by playing him in every occasion. I think KJ knows it too that Koskinen looks shaky, but he obviously believes that he can shake that shakiness by playing as much as he can. So he has, quite literally, designed a starter for himself. (Or at least tried to.)

 

[BB88]

Does anyone know, if Dallas loses is there a chance they'll call Honka?
His puck moving ability could be gold for that blueline and he has played 2 seasons in the AHL against men.

 

[Bruce Granville]

Does anyone know, if Dallas loses is there a chance they'll call Honka?
His puck moving ability could be gold for that blueline and he has played 2 seasons in the AHL against men.

We already got Lindell, so why not?

 

[BB88]

We already got Lindell, so why not?

Lindell played last year, I'm afaid they'll overlook him.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Laine is a complete mess
- when he gets the puck, 9/10 he goes for that stupid deke

Pulkkinen has 0 confidence

Aho is MIA

Wo-ist-Rantanen?!? (where-is-Rantanen?!?)

Thanx KJ messing it all up

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Go with these lines against France&Slovakia
and we might have a fighting chance vs Canada

Granlund-Koivu-Pulkkinen
Jokinen-Barkov-Rantanen
Laine-Aho-Pihlström
Komarov-Koskiranta-Pyörälä

Kukkonen-Ohtamaa
Lindell-Pokka
Jaakola-Hietanen
Salmela

Saros

If we continue with current line up,expect same troubles
(or more so) against France,false easy victory over mess called
Slovakia and in the final game vs Canada 5-6 goal marging
defeat.

 

[Mahonkinen]

Laine is a complete mess
- when he gets the puck, 9/10 he goes for that stupid deke

Pulkkinen has 0 confidence

Aho is MIA

Wo-ist-Rantanen?!? (where-is-Rantanen?!?)

Thanx KJ messing it all up

Laine doesnt go 9/10 for stupid deke. It just may seem so cause it stands out. Especially when Mertsi is shouting it like a babboon.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Laine doesnt go 9/10 for stupid deke. It just may seem so cause it stands out. Especially when Mertsi is shouting it like a babboon.

Yeah i know,i was kinda pressing the issue.
im just so sick of that deke.

 

[Jolli]

Yeah i know,i was kinda pressing the issue.
im just so sick of that deke.

In my opinion, Laine must simplify his game. Outside power plays, his game has been very subpar - his passes are off, he doesn't know what to do in the corners and he tries to skate through defending players by doing the stupid deke which doesn't work most of the times. If he keeps playing like this, he shouldn't even be in the lineups for the Canada game.

And how many times on the PP has he tried to execute a MiG-esque cross-ice pass? Too many times for me to remember. It's as if he thinks he's a Ovechkin-MiG hybrid sometimes

 

[gwh]

If he keeps playing like this, he shouldn't even be in the lineups for the Canada game.

Pulkkinen is the 1st guy going out of the roster, not the tournament leading scorer. Laine just needs to deke less, this is not the juniors anymore.

Also his passing has been a pleasant surprise. Unlike Pulcannon's passing.

 

[FiLe]

Granlund-Koivu-Pulkkinen
Jokinen-Barkov-Rantanen
Laine-Aho-Pihlström
Komarov-Koskiranta-Pyörälä

Aho is not fit to play centre at this level, his physicality and two-way game are not yet mature enough. I thought the benching at the end of the USA game would have made it clear to everyone, but looks like some still live in the U20 Gold Fever La-La Land.

 

[FiLe]

What comes to potential player additions, the Blues advancing means we can't get Lehterä. Which IMO makes it a done deal that KJ will add either Rantanen or Lajunen for the next game. He's still got two passes left, and even after adding a player from the current crop it's still possible to spare the last one for Donskoi.

Donskoi's arrival, btw, would make the lineup quite interesting. I'd say there is only one position for him here, especially being such a late addition. And that's the same spot he was in last year. Donskoi-Barkov-Jokinen. Which would, of course, mean that Laine needs to find a new home.

Two options:

Granlund - Koivu - Komarov
Donskoi - Barkov - Jokinen
Laine - Koskiranta - Aho
Pihlström - Sallinen - Pyörälä

or

Laine - Koivu - Granlund
Donskoi - Barkov - Jokinen
Komarov - Koskiranta - Aho
Pihlström - Sallinen - Pyörälä

Either would be extremely interesting. And could be even more, if KJ has the stones to bench Pyörälä in favor of Rantanen.

But let's wait and see what happens tonight before we get ahead of ourselves.

 

[skillhockey]

In my opinion, Laine must simplify his game. Outside power plays, his game has been very subpar - his passes are off, he doesn't know what to do in the corners and he tries to skate through defending players by doing the stupid deke which doesn't work most of the times. If he keeps playing like this, he shouldn't even be in the lineups for the Canada game.

And how many times on the PP has he tried to execute a MiG-esque cross-ice pass? Too many times for me to remember. It's as if he thinks he's a Ovechkin-MiG hybrid sometimes

It's not his game to play simple but that cross-ice pass gotta be done better, that i agree . Whole team was off yesterday most of the game, can't take it on laine to be the leader yet. Passing was subpar all over the team.

 

[Lempo]

Am I right in that the situation is forming to be such that the Group B 1st will be determined by the CAN-FIN game, and the winner will go against Switzerland/Norway in the quarters while the loser will face Sweden/Russia?

 

[skillhockey]

Am I right in that the situation is forming to be such that the Group B 1st will be determined by the CAN-FIN game, and the winner will go against Switzerland/Norway in the quarters while the loser will face Sweden/Russia?

FIN or CAN will win theirs, the other group looks to be crapshoot.

 

[skillhockey]

So Dallas lost, so why not call up Honka?

I think they got 8 d already, they gonna take forwards unless there's real injuries.