WJC: 2017 Finland Roster Talk

[edd1e]

Who's the new head coach?

I have to say it would be miraculous to see laine-aho-puljujärvi line in action at upcoming WJC.

Defense seem to be stronger on paper than this year, am i right? If selected could Vaakanainen have the same impact Juolevi had?

 

[Jussi]

Who's the new head coach?

I have to say it would be miraculous to see laine-aho-puljujärvi line in action at upcoming WJC.

Defense seem to be stronger on paper than this year, am i right? If selected could Vaakanainen have the same impact Juolevi had?

Jukka Rautakorpi. It's old information already.

 

[rduck1]

Defense seem to be stronger on paper than this year, am i right? If selected could Vaakanainen have the same impact Juolevi had?

You are correct, in that '98 generation is quite strong on defense. It will be a fairly young group, however(Saarijärvi might be the only 19 year old defenseman). I think Vaakanainen -- if he's even selected -- will have a fairly small role, unless he really breaks out next season.

 

[edd1e]

I guess we could speculate the lineup without Laine, Puljujärvi and Aho.. maybe even Juolevi. :O

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

- Laine
- Puljujärvi
- Aho
- Saarela
- Nättinen
- Björkqvist
- Juolevi
- Saarijärvi
- Välimäki
- Tolvanen
- Räsänen
- Vesalainen
- Vehviläinen

OMG what a team!

 

[FiLe]

OMG what a team!

Having every eligible player would perhaps give us a squad that's even better on paper than our latest iteration, but it'd be a small miracle if PuLa-Aho line in its entirety would be there.

Although, it'd similarly take things going better than expected if all three would be NHL regulars by then. So going somewhere down the middle and figuring one, maybe even two being available is a plausible outcome.

 

[HockeyHistorian]

What better time to speculate on these matters than July?

This is where I stand at the moment:

Vesalainen - Nättinen - Tolvanen
Kuokkanen - Saarela - Ruotsalainen
Björkqvist - Borgström - Tammela
Somppi - Räsänen - Tuulola
Palmu, Koivula

Juolevi
Saarijärvi
Vaakanainen
Välimäki
Salo
Niemeläinen
Vainio

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Team Finland U20 WJC team right now.

1st Line Palmu Nättinen Borgström
Saarijärvi Juolevi

2nd Line Vesalainen Räsänen Tolvanen
Vainio Välimäki

3rd Line Kuokkanen Saarela Tuulola
Vaakanainen Niemeläinen

4th Line Tavernier Somppi Björkqvist

7th Defenceman Robin Salo
13th Forward Jonne Tammela / Emil Oksanen. (Depends on injuries and regular season performs)

Goalies
Luukkonen
Vehviläinen
Ruusu

 

[Steazy Doo]

What would the Finnish posters here put Tammela's chances on making the team at?

 

[bebl]

What would the Finnish posters here put Tammela's chances on making the team at?

I bet he will play, was a last cut on previous team.

 

[Keke]

Vesalainen - Saarela - Tolvanen
Tammela - Nättinen - Palmu
Kuokkanen - Borgström - Björkqvist
Tuulola - Räsänen - Nurmi
Somppi

Juolevi - Saarijärvi
Välimäki - Vaakanainen
Niemeläinen - Jokiharju
Salo

Luukkonen
Vehviläinen
Heljanko

 

[FiLe]

So now Luukkonen is in some folks' mind the prime candidate for starter. Let's cool those heels a little, by stating that he is still two years underage and most likely will spend the next season entirely in juniors. That's no grounds to be an U20 starter unless things are really down the drain.

Vehviläinen is still the designated starter of this squad, and is in a prime position as part of JYP's Liiga tandem to reinforce that position.

I must add as a personal note though, that I hope someone else establishes himself as a solid challenger for the spot, since Vehviläinen's mental toughness is somewhat suspect, to put it mildly. Fairly certain that it won't be Luukkonen though, given his current position.

 

[JJTT]

Maybe something like this at Plymouth tournament in August:

Roster

http://leijonat.fi/maajoukkueet/u20...i-starttaa-vierumaelta-heinakuun-lopussa.html

Games

http://teamusa.usahockey.com/page/show/2382919-2016-national-junior-evaluation-camp

Tammela - Nättinen - Saarela
Kuokkanen - Borgström - Björkqvist
Vesalainen - Räsänen - Tolvanen
Ruotsalainen - Mattila - Tavernier
Embrich

Juolevi - Saarijärvi
Välimäki - Jokiharju
Niemeläinen - Heiskanen
Leskinen

Vehviläinen
Heljanko

 

[HockeyHistorian]

Maybe something like this at Plymouth tournament in August:

Roster

http://leijonat.fi/maajoukkueet/u20...i-starttaa-vierumaelta-heinakuun-lopussa.html

Games

http://teamusa.usahockey.com/page/show/2382919-2016-national-junior-evaluation-camp

Tammela - Nättinen - Saarela
Kuokkanen - Borgström - Björkqvist
Vesalainen - Räsänen - Tolvanen
Ruotsalainen - Mattila - Tavernier
Embrich

Juolevi - Saarijärvi
Välimäki - Jokiharju
Niemeläinen - Heiskanen
Leskinen

Vehviläinen
Heljanko

I have a hard time believing that Tavernier or Embrich could make the final team. I would rather see Palmu on the team as he has had solid numbers in the OHL an is pretty strong despite his size. I'm also hoping that Koivula has a strong summer and improves his skating which has been holding him back somewhat in the international games.

 

[tade]

There's only small chance for Laine, Puljujarvi and Aho, right?

Anyway, seems like we are going to see another great Finland team. Looking forward to it.

 

[clevelandcane]

I CANNOT WAIT for that Junior camp in MI. There are only 2 teams I've never seen at some level, Canada and Finland.

I bought my tickets for the last day of the tournament and I get to see SWE/FIN and then CAN vs the US.

I am most excited to see your Finnish team. Don't ask me why but I love watching you guys play. Of course I love the US first and foremost but I always root for Finland if the US isn't playing.

If I can see Pul, Aho, Laine... any of them... that would be amazing!

 

[FiLe]

Puljujärvi is in that preliminary group for Plymouth, so it's likely he'll make that cut as well.

It's a whole another question of course if he's gonna feature in the actual WJC team. If he's not in the Show with the Oilers, he likely will. If he is, then he won't. Same goes with Aho and Laine with their respective clubs.

Aho has already stated though that if he doesn't make the Canes final team from the camp, he's coming back home to play one more season in Kärpät. So we'll know what's the deal with him sooner than the other two.

 

[JJTT]

Puljujärvi is in that preliminary group for Plymouth, so it's likely he'll make that cut as well.

It's a whole another question of course if he's gonna feature in the actual WJC team. If he's not in the Show with the Oilers, he likely will. If he is, then he won't. Same goes with Aho and Laine with their respective clubs.

Aho has already stated though that if he doesn't make the Canes final team from the camp, he's coming back home to play one more season in Kärpät. So we'll know what's the deal with him sooner than the other two.

He won't start skating until early August so likely not.

 

[FiLe]

He won't start skating until early August so likely not.

His name's on the list. You'd think the team management would be aware of a player's condition. Guess we'll see.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

There's only small chance for Laine, Puljujarvi and Aho, right?

Anyway, seems like we are going to see another great Finland team. Looking forward to it.

Yes chances for that Finland gets Laine, Aho and Puljujärvi next world juniors are theoretical.
If they all play in NHL they won't be available but we'll see that later.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

I CANNOT WAIT for that Junior camp in MI. There are only 2 teams I've never seen at some level, Canada and Finland.

I bought my tickets for the last day of the tournament and I get to see SWE/FIN and then CAN vs the US.

I am most excited to see your Finnish team. Don't ask me why but I love watching you guys play. Of course I love the US first and foremost but I always root for Finland if the US isn't playing.

If I can see Pul, Aho, Laine... any of them... that would be amazing!

I can make some bet of that Laine and Aho plays entire season in NHL.
If Finland gets either one of those guys to next world juniors in Montreal it's Puljujärvi ( but even he isn't sure and it depends a lot where Jesse will play if he's in AHL he probably is in the team but if he plays in NHL he isn't in the team and if Oilers sent him back to Kärpät then he'll be in the team)

 

[illone84]

Can we already start using the excuse like Canadians do that if we don't win gold it's because Laine, Aho, and Puljujärvi are in the NHL ?

Honestly, I don't think either one will make it.

Hopefully at least Juolevi does though!

 

[FinPanda]

Our D will be good, but goaltending is a questionmark. I have no faith that Vehviläinen could get us anywhere in this tournament. If he is not the 1st goalie, then who knows.. And it is because of his head, not how good he can be.

Our forwards will be good too, but when Laine and Aho at least won't play, it definitely makes the team weaker. Puljujärvi is a possibility, maybe.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

What comes to Finland's goalies to next U20 WJC's in Montreal it's really huge question-mark to Finland's medal chances.
If / when Vehviläinen will be starting goalie i hope Rautakorpi has guts to pull him out and put him sit in the bench if / when he meltdown again like he did in Helsinki.

And that's why i hope Luukkonen or Laakso or Halonen will be Finland's starter.
Yes i don't trust Veini Vehviläinen at all. And if i were Jukka Rautakorpi Vehviläinen would not be in the team at all

Who might be Finland's captain in Montreal
Here's my prediction

C Juuso Välimäki
A Aleksi Saarela
A Olli Juolevi.

 

[FiLe]

Who might be Finland's captain in Montreal
Here's my prediction

C Juuso Välimäki
A Aleksi Saarela
A Olli Juolevi.

If Aho is available, he's going to be the captain.

If not, the C still traditionally goes to a player who's of the oldest class, in this case a 97-born. Saarela is an option, but there's an even better choice. Björkqvist oozes leadership qualities. Looking at this crop, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see the main letter find its way onto his chest. In fact, barring Aho, he is by and far the best choice. Will have an A at least.

If there's an exception to the "no C for younger players" rule, it could be Juolevi. But certainly not Välimäki, who has to wait for his turn to be an option 'til the next year.


In any case, if there's one thing you definitely should learn, it's that not everything that happens in the U18 level directly transitions to U20, both what comes to individual player performance and team dynamics. You're a bit too eager to lift the shiny new toys into the limelight.