World Cup: 2016 World Cup — Team Finland

[Conspiracy Theorist]

There use to be only Lehtinen-Koivu-Selänne but now there are four lines. Hopefully goalies can do what the 4th defensive pair cannot.

 

[BB88]

Ristolainen needs to be the #1D and Vats the #2D, those are the guys that need to logg the big minutes.
That LD trio should get played quite equally.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

Ristolainen needs to be the #1D and Vats the #2D, those are the guys that need to logg the big minutes.
That LD trio should get played quite equally.

And that will most likely be the case. Both of these guys will play big minutes ES and also in every situation as far as special teams go (especially Risto). I think Maatta having a healthy summer for a change will be huge as well.

I had RR on the 2nd pairing because i see him having better chemistry with Lindell, but after thinking about this might actually work better:

Maatta - Vatanen
Jokipakka - Ristolainen
Lindell - Pokka

#1 pairing: Both guys can move the puck, but Olli will take a bit of a defensively role and cover for Vats whenever he feels like rushing up the ice. And the most important thing: LH & RH. Always so much easier to keep the puck under control.

#2 pairing: RR needs to carry Jokipakka a bit, but then again Jokipakka has played the most NHL minutes outside of that big 3. After being traded to Calgary and having the summer to work out, he should be really motivated and we might see Jyrki stepping up big time for us. Good size, both guys can move the puck and again, LH & RH. Anyway, i just feel a lot more comfortable having RR play with Jokipakka (or Lindell if it ends up being him ont he #2 pairing) than Vatanen. I don't want our 2nd pairing the be pushed around.

#3 pairing: Experience from playing together this WHC. Actually i think they've had a plan to play these guys together to build that chemistry for the WC. Pretty much the perfect spot for these guys. They aren't NHLers yet, so doing the best they can with limited minutes will work out just fine. And once again.. LH & RH.

A lot of depend on how much our guys can improve this summer. If Lindell & Pokka can't take the next step forward, Maatta can't bounce back as he's struggled in the NHL after all the injuries he's had and Jokipakka turns out a pylon, we will get roasted.

But there's also the flipside. If everything goes as planned our D could potentially be very good with solid chemistry. I mean, we could basically have 6 NHL defensemen in our lineup as if Lindell and Pokka impress in this tournament they will get to play for their NHL teams. Zero reasons to send you down to the A if you can hold your own against the best players in the world.

 

[jukkaeemeli]

HI all. Laine in/on WC is hard to believe.
1. line Komarov - Barkov - Donskoi. Our finnish names

 

[HockeyHistorian]

HI all. Laine in/on WC is hard to believe.
1. line Komarov - Barkov - Donskoi. Our finnish names

Too bad the Kiprusoff bros have retired.

 

[BusQuets]

Think they punched Maatta's ticket too early? Right now he's being benched for Schultz who wouldn't even make Finnish WHC team, let alone World cup team.

 

[JTD]

Think they punched Maatta's ticket too early? Right now he's being benched for Schultz who wouldn't even make Finnish WHC team, let alone World cup team.

Maatta has had his fair share of injuries this season and in prior years. Once he gets a couple months off to rest and heal up he should be ready to go in September and he'll play well.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

Maatta has had his fair share of injuries this season and in prior years. Once he gets a couple months off to rest and heal up he should be ready to go in September and he'll play well.

Yup. His injury-list is so long for a young player, not to mention he's probably not 100% after the Orpik hit.

I think he will still play in these playoffs and play better than he did in the game that got him benched. Maatta is one of the most competitive guys i've seen and truly a hard worker.

 

[BB88]

Think they punched Maatta's ticket too early? Right now he's being benched for Schultz who wouldn't even make Finnish WHC team, let alone World cup team.

He needs to be healthy when the offseason starts, and work on his weaknesses and find his confidence back.
He can improve his game a lot during this offseason, but right now his game is sad to watch.

 

[Maackeen]

I think the 3 forward we should pick 1 june is Haula off course and Laine. i´m fifty-fifty with Salomäki or Rantanen.

The 3 defenseman we should pick is Jokipakka, Pokka and Lepistö. If not Lepistö so Lindbohm.

Here´s how I would put team Finlands lines together:

Laine-Barkov-Jokinen

Filppula-Koivu-Granlund

Donskoi-Lehterä-Teräväinen

Korpikoski-Haula-Komarov

Rantanen/Salomäki


Määttä-Vatanen

Ristolainen-Lindell

Jokipokka-Pokka

Lepistö/Lindbohm

1Powerplay: Teräväinen-Barkov-Komarov-Laine-Vatanen.
I think we will se Jokinen instead of Teräväinen. But i would rather have Teräväinen.

2Powerplay: Granlund-Koivu-Filppula-Donskoi-Ristolainen.

 

[BusQuets]

Lepisto is better than Lindell,Jokipakka,Maatta and Pokka. And right now it isn't even that close really.

Ristolainen - Lepisto should be 1st pairing.

 

[FiLe]

After Haula getting one spot for sure, it is starting look like Laine will make it. There is more than two or three options for that last spot however. More like 4-5. Salomäki, Pakarinen, Armia and Aho are the primary four in contention. Will be curious to see who lands it.

On defense, Jokipakka and Lepistö are no-brainers. Leppä is not a fringe choice - he'll make it and be part of the regular pairings. That 7th spot is similarly interesting. Pokka or Lindbohm are the NA options, but Kukkonen and Jaakola could get it too.

 

[BusQuets]

If Lepisto signs with a KHL team, will the team let him participate though?

 

[FiLe]

If Lepisto signs with a KHL team, will the team let him participate though?

KHL has stated that there won't be a leaguewide restriction that would prevent players from participating. Hard to say what's the case with individual clubs and individual players though.

That being said, Lepistö will get picked next week. Whether he'll have to bow out though is something we're only going to see closer to the tournament.

 

[QnebO]

Haula - Koivu - Granlund (wild chermistry. Koivu - Granlund already working really well on WHC)
Laine - Barkov - Filppula (It just looks deadly. Doesn't even need argument)
Donskoi - Lehterä - Teräväinen (It just looks deadly for Finland 3rd line. Doesn't even eed argument)
Komarov - Koskiranta - Jokinen (Has some strenght (Leo), size(kossu) and solid world cup level skill(JJ+Leo axel) and can do the role of being very defensive line)

+13th Puljujärvi (hell ****ing yes, he was playing the post season injured and still did so well he almost got into WHC. This kid is a beast. Big like Lindross, fast like Selanne, turns as well as Laine. Definitely I'm 100% sure about him delivering if selected to play a game there. I would for cerntain let him get a spot in starting roster for a test, too, and keep it if he succeeds.).

Vatanen - Määttä
Ristolainen - Jokipakka
Kukkonen - Pokka
+Lindell

Rinne - Korpisalo- Rask

To me this team would be just awesome. No bs players at all. Finnhockey has gone so much forward.

I hope from bottom of my heart we avoid player like Hietanen but I fear that my hope doens't fullfill. Also Probably some good forward is going to be rejected for some one like Pillu or Pyörälä, as usual.

 

[Raimo Sillanpää]

Filppula-Koivu-Jokinen (played most with each other)
Laine-Barkov-Komarov (This is an awesome line, full stop.)
Granlund-Haula-x
Donskoi-Lehterä-Rantanen

X is up for grabs, I'd prefer an Osala/Hartikainen/Petrell type, probably Osala. We need someone to spark the team with physical play. Think Ruutu of 5 years ago.
Teräväinen I don't see a top-6 spot and no use on bottom lines. Rantanen has show'n he can do that. Komarov is too good for bottom lines.
Every line is a threat, and defensive at same time.

Aho, Teräväinen, Armia compete for extra attacker.

 

[teddy83]

Filppula-Koivu-Jokinen (played most with each other)
Laine-Barkov-Komarov (This is an awesome line, full stop.)
Granlund-Haula-x
Donskoi-Lehterä-Rantanen

X is up for grabs, I'd prefer an Osala/Hartikainen/Petrell type, probably Osala. We need someone to spark the team with physical play. Think Ruutu of 5 years ago.
Teräväinen I don't see a top-6 spot and no use on bottom lines. Rantanen has show'n he can do that. Komarov is too good for bottom lines.
Every line is a threat, and defensive at same time.

Aho, Teräväinen, Armia compete for extra attacker.

My guess is you haven't seen Teravainen play in a while? He was basically jack of all trades in Chicago this season, he was relied on PP, PK, he was defending leads in the last minutes of games, he played 3rd line center, 1st line winger and everything between, i think everybody was little disapointted about his points but his overall level of play was excellent, and i'm sorry but Rantanen isn't in the same level as TT.

 

[jfc64]

Intellectual excercise: Team Fennoscandia, population 15.3 million, excluding Zuccarello and other lusekoftor. Canada = 36 million people


Laine - Barkov - Landeskog
Steen - Bäckström - Puljujärvi
Granlund - Koivu - Jokinen
Sedin - Sedin - Zetterberg (gubbilainen)
Komarov

Ekman Larsson - Karlsson
Hedman - Ristolainen
Vatanen - Määttä
Ekholm

Rask - Lundqvist - Rinne

Coach: Finn Finnish

Taxi squad: Teuvo Teräväinen, Filip Forsberg, Hampus Lindholm, Mikko Koskinen

 

[Lapa]

Granlund-Koivu-Filppula
Laine-Barkov-Jokinen
Donskoi-Lehterä-Teräväinen
Rantanen-Haula-Komarov
Aho

Vatanen-Ristolainen
Määttä-Jokipakka
Pokka-Jaakola/Ohtamaa

Rask
Rinne
Koskinen

 

[BruinLVGA]

By God you Finns have a bright future ahead. Laine (whom I would take 1st OA in the draft, if I was Toronto), Puljujahrvi (sp?), Barkov, Aho, etc etc... All stars for many years to come...

 

[illone84]

Granlund-Koivu-Filppula
Laine-Barkov-Jokinen
Donskoi-Lehterä-Teräväinen
Rantanen-Haula-Komarov
Aho

Vatanen-Ristolainen
Määttä-Jokipakka
Pokka-Jaakola/Ohtamaa

Rask
Rinne
Koskinen

So if Team Finland already picked Korpikoski in the preline up 16 players roster which was announced earlier this year, can they still make changes and drop that player? e.g If they added Korpikoski, can they drop him from the final roster which is to be announced June 1?

 

[Lapa]

So if Team Finland already picked Korpikoski in the preline up 16 players roster which was announced earlier this year, can they still make changes and drop that player? e.g If they added Korpikoski, can they drop him from the final roster which is to be announced June 1?

In that case, drop Teräväinen, add Korpi.

Not sure how it works.

 

[Canuckistani]

After his WHC performance, Laine makes the World Cup team for sure.

Should he pretty amazing for him to get a preview of hockey in North America, sort of like Ovechkin in 2004.

 

[FiLe]

In that case, drop Teräväinen, add Korpi.

Try again. Teräväinen was picked among those 16 as well.

The sad fact is that there are three forward spots left, and since one is going to Haula with 100% certainty, you can't have all three of Laine, Aho and Rantanen on this team.

 

[Periwinkle]

The trouble with selecting Laine is that he is still a potential liability 5v5, he's not used to playing on small ice (consistently), he's not yet shown he can score against the big countries. When all the teams are very good, his learning curve would have to be very steep to ensure he brings more positives than negatives to the team. Even at Worlds level he's been one of the "worst" players on the team...outside of the offensive flashes, which however can be game-changing. The trouble with assessing that is then of course that a huge summer training-wise can make him a monster by the beginning of fall, but he has had not time to showcase where he is at when World Cup selections are made...