WC: 2016 Team Finland Pt. II

[HockeyHistorian]

This team was absolutely great on paper until K. Jalonen's brain started flatulating. I was happily wrong about the chemistry of Laine-Aho-Puljujärvi pre-WJC, but this time it's the wrong Jalonen making line combinations that don't make any apparent sense.

I'm not happy about these things either, but apparently both our NHL combos had their say in how these lines panned out so it's not all on KJ. Jokinen apparently wanted to play on the left side and Koivu - Granlund apparently chose Aho over Pulkkinen. One thing I don't (want to) understand is Pihlström over Rantanen, as much as I actually like Pihlström as a great PK and energy player. In my opinion they are thinking about the roles too much, even if that has been a winning formula with Finnish teams in the past. However, Team Finland has hardly ever had this much offensive talent at their disposal and I think they could have gone with two clearly offensive lines and two two-way lines. Then again, KJ and his team are all professional coaches, I guess they know what they are doing even if it doesn't look like it.

However, I still would have done it like this:

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

 

[FiLe]

Ok. And why is Esa Lindell on the team? Didn't the Stars want to keep him in case of injuries to their defense? Usually, during the playoffs the teams have all their AHLers as scratches.

Jere Lehtinen called them and asked nicely. And the Stars did not find it in themselves to say no to Jere Lehtinen.

They were missing their top players, and again just go look at Canadas forward roster.

Our current PKers have shown that they can compete against Europe's best, and that has earnt them a date with the world's best. Some have actually been on one already, in Sochi. And had no trouble with it.

And may I point out that some of our supposed "best" offensive players, like Aho and Laine, have never scored against the world's best players either, yet you have no trouble claiming they'll fare just fine against them. But when our best defensive players have never stopped the world's best, you claim they'll be inadequate.

That's called a double standard. And it's one of the biggest sins in the great book of intellectual dishonesty.

I hope this vet love goes away and fast.

What farkin' vet love? In case you didn't notice, our two top lines feature forwards that were born in 1997 and 1998. Jalonen is simply employing the forwards he thinks are the best for a given role. He may be wrong about it, or not, but it has nothing to do with preferring vets over kids.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Third line is absolutely powerless as it is. It needs Rantanen. We'll see how Aho-Koivu-MiG plays out but it may not be ideal first line.

 

[snipes]

Lots of chatter about the forwards. How do you guys feel about your D? You guys as uneasy about yours as we are about ours?

 

[FiLe]

Lots of chatter about the forwards. How do you guys feel about your D? You guys as uneasy about yours as we are about ours?

Not after we got Lindell. He's the top talent we needed. The rest we know are at least serviceable, they've shown it.

We do feel a bit more fickle about are our goalies. No guaranteed showstopper in that trio.

 

[snipes]

Not after we got Lindell. He's the top talent we needed. The rest we know are at least serviceable, they've shown it.

We do feel a bit more fickle about are our goalies. No guaranteed showstopper in that trio.

That's good for the D. Regarding goaltending, that's odd because usually you guys have great goaltending.

TSN is broadcasting every single game, I'll definitely be watching you guys when I can.

 

[Booster*]

Don't you dare screw this up Nokka...

Granlund - Koivu - Pulkkinen
Laine - Barkov - Aho

The rest can be whatever, perhaps like this:

Jokinen - Koskiranta - Pyörälä
Rantanen - Sallinen - Komarov

That is dynamite, how come the NT coach is never as clever as the average fan? Just plz realize now KJ that these should be the top lines.

 

[Lempo]

That's good for the D. Regarding goaltending, that's odd because usually you guys have great goaltending.

All the best ones are keeping their teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs. ()

 

[snipes]

All the best ones are keeping their teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs. ()

You're a top hockey power. It's part of the struggle . Our best are battling for Lord Stanley.

There's still lots of excellent players at the WHC. Let's enjoy it, Finland looks strong. Probably the favourite in our group. The last game will likely determine the group.

Good luck, feel free to cheer us on when we're not playing .

 

[jalperi]

I seriously feel Pulkkinen and Rantanen are getting the short end of the stick with this lineup, but it seems that Koivu and Granlund wanted to play with Aho.

Actually KJ said to this case that he was thinking Aho to that line and he had to talk about that with Koivu and MG and I think that they just agreed KJ's idea.

Edit: And first line goal scorer is Aho, he is also good goal scorer.

And here is the quote:

− Olin Sebastiania siihen miettinyt, mutta halusin vielä keskustella Granlundin ja Koivunkin kanssa, miten he asian näkevät, Jalonen taustoittaa.

http://www.jatkoaika.com/Haastattelu/kari-jalonen-avaa-ketjuja-haimme-pelaavuutta/178578 (Finnish)

 

[schmiedi]

Is the roster full?
We can`t add new players?

 

[jalperi]

Is the roster full?
We can`t add new players?

We could change three players (Rantanen, Lajunen and Kivistö) for another cause their passport are not stamped.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Lajunen could be changed to Donskoi/Salomäki/Rinne

 

[Gaps]

Lajunen could be changed to Donskoi/Salomäki/Rinne

They already registered 3 goalies. Not waiting for Rinne.

 

[teddy83]

Um, these forward lines are a mess, Pulkkinen on the 4th line doesn't make any sense, Koivu's line is a Raipe special, 3 playmakers, Laine playing in the wrong side, although Jokinen is a LW, but he is so versatile it would be better if he went to RW. Rantanen out of the line-up is a joke, he has looked good with Komarov, and having Ohtamaa in the line-up over Kivisto is a joke, as a Jokerit fan i can honestly say he has sucked ever since Jagr made him his ***** in last years tournament. I hope i'm wrong about everything, and Go Finland!!!

 

[snipes]

Um, these forward lines are a mess, Pulkkinen on the 4th line doesn't make any sense, Koivu's line is a Raipe special, 3 playmakers, Laine playing in the wrong side, although Jokinen is a LW, but he is so versatile it would be better if he went to RW. Rantanen out of the line-up is a joke, he has looked good with Komarov, and having Ohtamaa in the line-up over Kivisto is a joke, as a Jokerit fan i can honestly say he has sucked ever since Jagr made him his ***** in last years tournament. I hope i'm wrong about everything, and Go Finland!!!

Relax, the lines will sort themselves out. You guys have lots of fire power up front, they'll figure it out.

 

[Dahlman1221]

Who do you think will be the starting goalie?

 

[Teukka]

However, I still would have done it like this:

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

Those combinations just ooze logic Someone tell this to Nokka as well.

 

[Gaps]

Who do you think will be the starting goalie?

Koskinen for now, but I wouldn't be surprised if that changed during the tournament.

 

[teddy83]

Who do you think will be the starting goalie?

I think both Koskinen and Saros gets a chance to prove they deserve the no. 1 spot, if they play somewhat even Koskinen is the go-to guy

 

[Dahlman1221]

Finland has a great forward core!

 

[schmiedi]

I think Koskinen will start the tournament and Saros will finish it with gold

 

[Raimo Sillanpää]

I would have lines like this:
Komarov-Koivu-Jokinen
Laine-Barkov-Aho
Rantanen-Granlund-Pulkkinen
Pihlström-Sallinen-Pyörälä

Koivu & Jokinen are linemates going back to u-14's or something, why not try them? Komarov was our 2nd best goalscorer, deserves a higher line
Barkov line is worth a shot, could be future first line, might as well try it
Granlund as center instead of Koskiranta, adds Rantanen into lineup and matches Granlund with old linemate in Pulkkinen
one fourth line, none of them think too much of themselves

 

[kelsier]

Meh, Rantanen deserved to be in the roster. He looked great in the exhibition game against USA and from the clips I saw about the previous games, not too shabby there either. Why break the chemistry with Komarov? Well, there are odd choises in every single WHC so lets not break the tradition.

Otherwise looks to be the best team as far as I can remember.

 

[Gabranth]

I call Aho-Koivu-Granlund the "we don't know how to score, so I'll just pass" -line

I cannot see a thing that would NOT be wrong with this lineup. Way to waste every resource, Kari Jalonen

1.) Laine on the wrong side.
2.) Forcing Jokinen and Barkov together even though they aren't linemates.
3.) Pulkkinen, a.k.a. the best scorer so far, on a non-scoring line.
4.) No goalscorers in the top line; Granlund and Aho are the same player with slightly different highlights.
5.) No Rantanen in the lineup.
6.) Just... what the ****. Is that guy really this senile? How is it possible that he can make EVERY wrong decision there is to make? The players can't be okay with this ********. Were they asked even simple questions like "are you a RW or a LW"?

This team was absolutely great on paper until K. Jalonen's brain started flatulating. I was happily wrong about the chemistry of Laine-Aho-Puljujärvi pre-WJC, but this time it's the wrong Jalonen making line combinations that don't make any apparent sense.

Laine has stated that he doesn't care which wing he plays. He is ok with both.

Source for Finns: http://www.leijonat.fi/maajoukkueet/a-maajoukkue/201516/mm2016/item/16696-ykkoskenttaan-nostettu-laine-paljastaa-ketjukaverinsa-neuvot.html