World Cup: 2016 World Cup — Team Finland

[Don Corleone]

I think silver is a fairly plausible outcome but gold would be a small miracle.

I would love that. However, when I look at this roster and compare it to almost any team in the tournament it does not look good at all. Still anything can happen but right now not expecting Finland to make it out of their group.

 

[FiLe]

It's good news that results matter very little what comes to this tournament.

Still, regardless of what I think of this joke of an event and its organizers, I wouldn't shun it if this group achieved a good result. These guys are the core of our future, so for them to get positive experiences here and now is only going to make us better going forward. Success breeds success.

 

[BB88]

I think silver is a fairly plausible outcome but gold would be a small miracle.

Can/USA/Swe/Rus are clear favourites over Finland right now, atleast to me, with U23y team having the potential to be better.

Medal would be huge, this tourney is too early for our team, the golden age prospects are too young to make a difference most likely.
My main goal for this is to try to enjoy the young players we have in this tourney and think about the future.

 

[illone84]

I would love that. However, when I look at this roster and compare it to almost any team in the tournament it does not look good at all. Still anything can happen but right now not expecting Finland to make it out of their group.

Heard this too many times. I like this roster a lot more than past best on best tournaments.
I think this roster for example is much better than that of 2014. Salo and Timonen were on their last legs. Salminen, Aaltonen, Kontiola, and old Olli Jokinen lol.
Replace them with Ristolainen, a healthy Barkov, Laine, Aho, Mikko Koivu, Filppula, and much more experienced Olli Määttä and Sami Vatanen.
Not to mention that our biggest strength is the centre position: Mikko Koivu, Barkov, Lehterä, Haula. Plus Granny, Filppula.
Either way, 2nd place, 1rst place or last place. This tournament will bring in much needed experience for the new generation which will lead the way in the future.

Side note: I would have taken Rantanen over Korpikoski but I have faith Korpedo will do a good job on the PK and grinding role.

 

[Gaps]

I don't care about the result of this tournament, and at the end of the day, the result of one individual tournament (whether it's an Olympic tournament or a cash grab like this one) is irrelevant in the big picture. We've got so many young players who will just keep on getting better. This tournament is another chance for them to learn from the veterans and to learn to play as a team in the big arenas.

Even KJ commented on how great the locker room was at this spring's WHC. That's something to build on.

 

[illone84]

I don't care about the result of this tournament, and at the end of the day, the result of one individual tournament (whether it's an Olympic tournament or a cash grab like this one) is irrelevant in the big picture. We've got so many young players who will just keep on getting better. This tournament is another chance for them to learn from the veterans and to learn to play as a team in the big arenas.

Even KJ commented on how great the locker room was at this spring's WHC. That's something to build on.

Absolutely. Couldn't agree more! In regards to the big picture, this tournament will help our future core in so many ways. For instance, Aho, Laine (future stars for Finland) will get some solid experience before their road to the NHL. Our Future D-core will learn the system in a best on best tournament, and hopefully will give rise to Lindell, Pokka, and Jokipakka, not only as Team Finland players but NHL players too.

Koivu, Komarov, Jokinen, Lepistö will help out the new kids on the block. Määttä and Vatanen will build on from their 2014 Sochi experience.

ps. really looking forward to watching Haula and especially Donskoi play in this tournament. I have a feeling they will come up big.

 

[sooni]

So in the big picture our lineup should look like this.

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

i´m just not sure if they want to break Jokinen-Barkov... aye i hate it too that we are having Laine at wrong side... still i think Marjamaki want to keep them together. Filppula is beast as center and they want to give Lehterä some offensive boost and best way for that is playing wing. Marjamaki likes Aho.s defensive play also so i think he will be playing more deff. minutes than pp. So i can see Teräväinen to take hes pp slot. Finnish team will have a lot of magical hands first time maybe ever.

Määttä-Ristolainen hands
Lepistö-Vatanen Vats have played a lot with left back even that he is left too.
Lindell-Pokka well... this is what we have left...

pp1. Donskoi-Koivu-Granlund
Määttä-Ristolainen

pp2. Teräväinen-Barkov-Jokinen
Laine-Vatanen

now we have deff pairs for their power play for sure. Aho/Filppula and Haula/Komarov

Actually i think Rinne will start our first game and Rask second one. Then they will decide who will play last one after their first performances. After Olympic performance i will bet for Rask tho.

 

[FiLe]

Lepistö-Vatanen Vats have played a lot with left back even that he is left too.

Vatanen is a righty. And like most d-men who play with right hook, he has spent overwhelmingly more time on the right than left, both in Finland and in the NHL.

 

[Gaps]

So in the big picture our lineup should look like this.

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

i´m just not sure if they want to break Jokinen-Barkov... aye i hate it too that we are having Laine at wrong side... still i think Marjamaki want to keep them together. Filppula is beast as center and they want to give Lehterä some offensive boost and best way for that is playing wing. Marjamaki likes Aho.s defensive play also so i think he will be playing more deff. minutes than pp. So i can see Teräväinen to take hes pp slot. Finnish team will have a lot of magical hands first time maybe ever.

Määttä-Ristolainen hands
Lepistö-Vatanen Vats have played a lot with left back even that he is left too.
Lindell-Pokka well... this is what we have left...

pp1. Donskoi-Koivu-Granlund
Määttä-Ristolainen

pp2. Teräväinen-Barkov-Jokinen
Laine-Vatanen

now we have deff pairs for their power play for sure. Aho/Filppula and Haula/Komarov

Actually i think Rinne will start our first game and Rask second one. Then they will decide who will play last one after their first performances. After Olympic performance i will bet for Rask tho.

Hold your horses. Aho hasn't played a single NHL game. There is no way he will be trusted to have a big role defensively, much less on the PK. I wouldn't even be surprised if he ended up as the extra forward, unless Marjamäki thinks he's a good fit for the 4th line. TT is no 4th line player, with all due respect to Haula's skills.

There are still plenty of moving pieces, here's the way I see it:

Granlund-Koivu-Donskoi/Filppula/Komarov (this position is really anybody's guess at this stage)
Jokinen-Barkov-Laine/Donskoi
Filppula-Lehterä-TT/Donskoi
Komarov/Korpikoski-Haula-Aho/Korpikoski

Most likely to end up as the extra forward: Aho, Laine, TT, Korpikoski (not in any specific order)

 

[GranlundMagic]

Laine won't be RW.

 

[agent082]

Laine won't be RW.

I hope this is true. And I hope Barkov don't play with Laine. Barkov looked horrible when he had to carry both Laine and Jokinen. I know Granlund and Koivu played together couple of games and it looked promising but Barkov-Granlund also looked good with limited view in olympics.

 

[Gaps]

I hope this is true. And I hope Barkov don't play with Laine. Barkov looked horrible when he had to carry both Laine and Jokinen. I know Granlund and Koivu played together couple of games and it looked promising but Barkov-Granlund also looked good with limited view in olympics.

Barkov and Granlund played together for like two games, Koivu and Granlund have played together for more than 20. I don't see Barkov and Granlund playing together in this tournament.

 

[BB88]

I hope this is true. And I hope Barkov don't play with Laine. Barkov looked horrible when he had to carry both Laine and Jokinen. I know Granlund and Koivu played together couple of games and it looked promising but Barkov-Granlund also looked good with limited view in olympics.

Barkov was probably the tourney MVP befoe he missed the game.
The tourney is also in Toronto so it suits Barkovs game better.

But would really like to see Jokinen gone from that line or atleast on the right side.
Laine-Barkov-speedster, a bit like potential Winnipeg line Laine-Scheifele-Ehlers.

 

[teravaineSAROS]

I hope Barkov don't play with Laine. Barkov looked horrible when he had to carry both Laine and Jokinen

Sorry but what tournament did you watch?

 

[illone84]

Sorry but what tournament did you watch?

I'd like to see Laine with Barkov and Granny. Let the Juice play with Koivu and Filppula like in WHC 2012.

Laine Barkov Granny
JJ Koivu Filppula
Komarov Lehterä Donskoi
Teräväinen Haula Aho
Korpedo

 

[Tulipunaruusu*]

Absolutely. Couldn't agree more! In regards to the big picture, this tournament will help our future core in so many ways. For instance, Aho, Laine (future stars for Finland) will get some solid experience before their road to the NHL. Our Future D-core will learn the system in a best on best tournament, and hopefully will give rise to Lindell, Pokka, and Jokipakka, not only as Team Finland players but NHL players too.

More likely they will feature as future slalom sticks if your idea is to develop players significantly in a period of couple weeks.

I think now might be time to drop the loser attitude for good and go for gold every single time, small or big match box.

The forward line-up for example is full of players capable of utilizing meidän peli at the highest level and there is 1-2 good goalkeepers in Lehtonen and Rask in sort of always ready mode about to be boosted by meidän peli's defensive feats. Marjamäki has the best playbook in the tournament, no doubt.

 

[illone84]

More likely they will feature as future slalom sticks if your idea is to develop players significantly in a period of couple weeks.

A couple of weeks. Yeah, so are the olympics. This tournament is imperative to the success of our future core. Win or lose.

I think now might be time to drop the loser attitude for good and go for gold every single time, small or big match box.

Agreed.

The forward line-up for example is full of players capable of utilizing meidän peli at the highest level and there is 1-2 good goalkeepers in Lehtonen and Rask in sort of always ready mode about to be boosted by meidän peli's defensive feats. Marjamäki has the best playbook in the tournament, no doubt.

Please, not this meidän pel s$%%.

 

[snipes]

Speaking of playing "your game", it'll be interesting to see if/how Suomi adapts their game plan to best utilize their game breaking talent up front.

Will strategies change? Or will they remain the same and they rely on a collapsing tight D waiting to capitalize in transition off of defensive zone turnovers? I wonder if Suomi will play more aggressive and try to maximize their offensive skill allowing their elite talent more room to be creative, or do they stick to strict systematic game plans? Interesting questions we'll have answered in the coming years.

 

[ijuka]

Speaking of playing "your game", it'll be interesting to see if/how Suomi adapts their game plan to best utilize their game breaking talent up front.

Will strategies change? Or will they remain the same and they rely on a collapsing tight D waiting to capitalize in transition off of defensive zone turnovers? I wonder if Suomi will play more aggressive and try to maximize their offensive skill allowing their elite talent more room to be creative, or do they stick to strict systematic game plans? Interesting questions we'll have answered in the coming years.

It's Lauri Marjamäki.

Basically:

It's extremely boring, extremely slow and safe and extremely dull to watch but extremely effective. Very strict systems. Defense first always. Complete systems for all kinds of offensive. Three lane offense, heavy puck possession, defense with the puck. "Dump and change" or "dump and chase" are ideally never executed. Active puck retrieval into a structured counter attack is common.


By the way, I disagree with "allowing their elite talent more room to be creative" being a good way of coaching. Having a solid, functional offensive system is in my opinion 50000000000000000000000 times better for these super stars. The issues stacked nations like Russia have in international competitions is that their super stars don't have these systems. They don't hinder from stars making creative plays, they greatly assist with it. A true, proper three-lane offense is in my opinion ALWAYS superior for talented players than dump and chase or other similar garbage. Jukka Jalonen is in my opinion not nearly as good of a coach as Lauri Marjamäki is, but we could see how even an inferior well structured system assisted Laine, Puljujärvi and Aho greatly during Finland's u-20 victory. Finland was easily the best coached team in u-20s and the biggest stars(Laine, Aho, Puljujärvi) did benefit the most from it. Only with a true, complete system can the biggest stars truly shine, in my opinion.



Finland has always done well with inferior material. Now Finland will also have by far the best coach in the tournament, for the first time in years. I'm not worried.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Has Finland even had this good team on paper before? If everyone plays on their level, top 2 seems like a good possibility.

 

[FiLe]

Has Finland even had this good team on paper before? If everyone plays on their level, top 2 seems like a good possibility.

On paper, the 2004 World Cup team was easily better than this. And I'd say our squads in Nagano and Turin hold a candle as well. Jonnes can't remember.

 

[BB88]

Has Finland even had this good team on paper before? If everyone plays on their level, top 2 seems like a good possibility.

This isn't that good looking team on paper.'
It screams potential, transition but this is too early.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

This isn't that good looking team on paper.'
It screams potential, transition but this is too early.

Center situation is particularly strong and Finland can actually roll out four offensive lines for once. If only this team had Timonen, Lehtinen and Selänne.

 

[BB88]

Center situation is particularly strong and Finland can actually roll out four offensive lines for once. If only this team had Timonen, Lehtinen and Selänne.

Goaltending is the only place where Finland can compete with others.
Forward group is one of the weakest in this tourney on paper as well as the defense.

Barkov is a top15 C but he's a 2way C, the team doesn't have a offensive game changer.

 

[illone84]

On paper, the 2004 World Cup team was easily better than this. And I'd say our squads in Nagano and Turin hold a candle as well. Jonnes can't remember.

2004 was pretty good save for Teemu who was basically injured that tournament from what I can remember. Also Niiniimaa walked out before the Final against Canada and Hentunen + Eloranta although decent were nothing special on the small ice.

The dcore was good in 2004 though.

Anyways, this forward core looks like one of the better and more balanced ones we've had, with strengths being that so many players are versatile (being able to play wing and centre) and they are bigger than ever before.

If you look at 2006, it was Saku Koivu (5"10), Olli Jokinen (6"3), Niko Kapanen (5"8) and Mikko Koivu (6"2).

Now it's most likely Barkov (6"3), Koivu (6"2) Lehtera (6"2) and Haula (6"0). Not bad.
Plus Filppula, TT, Granny, JJ, can come in for draws and win them.

I'm interested in seeing how are D holds up but I think they will be fine.