WJC: 2017 Finland Roster Talk

[BB88]

Does Tarmo Reunanen have a chance to make this team? He was injured almost all of last season, and I don't think he was invited to the recent camp.

He has said in interviews that there's a chance he starts with TPS Men's Team in Liiga this season. If he's doing that, could he make this team?

I'm no expert but if he plays well I'd expect him to have a good chance.
But at the same time the competition for D-group spots is higher than last year.

 

[JJTT]

Does Tarmo Reunanen have a chance to make this team? He was injured almost all of last season, and I don't think he was invited to the recent camp.

He has said in interviews that there's a chance he starts with TPS Men's Team in Liiga this season. If he's doing that, could he make this team?

Very unlikely that he makes it, even if he plays with the senior club.

Might be 12th or so on the LHD depth chart at the moment.

Juolevi, Välimäki, Niemeläinen, Heiskanen, Vaakanainen, Salo + guys like Leskinen, Mattila, Parikka and Rautanen have played with the national team.

Is it very likely Janne Kuokkanen makes the team?

Should be a lock, unless we somehow get Aho/Laine/Pulju

 

[snipes]

How have Räsänen and Niemeläinen looked so far? What do guys think are the chances one or both of them make the final team?

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

How have Räsänen and Niemeläinen looked so far? What do guys think are the chances one or both of them make the final team?

If / when both are healthy they'll be Finland's final team in world juniors.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

When that Plymouth's U20 tournament starts?

 

[FiLe]

How have Räsänen and Niemeläinen looked so far? What do guys think are the chances one or both of them make the final team?

Niemeläinen is right now part of our best 7 d-men. There are some challengers, but he should also be come December.

Räsänen is more borderline, even with all three of Puljujärvi, Aho and Laine missing. Firmly in the bubble, though.

When that Plymouth's U20 tournament starts?

Tomorrow. Probably today when you read this.

 

[snipes]

If / when both are healthy they'll be Finland's final team in world juniors.

Niemeläinen is right now part of our best 7 d-men. There are some challengers, but he should also be come December.

Räsänen is more borderline, even with all three of Puljujärvi, Aho and Laine missing. Firmly in the bubble, though.

Awesome, thanks for the info . Looks like both have a serious shot of making the team, hopefully they end up on the final squad.

 

[Tormentor]

Finnish roster to Evaluation Camp in Plymouth

1 - Markus Ruusu
31 - Veini Vehviläinen

2 - Miro Heiskanen
3 - Henri Jokiharju
4 - Otto Leskinen
5 - Jarkko Parikka
18 - Vili Saarijärvi
28 - Jesper Mattila
29 - Juuso Välimäki
35 - Kasper Kotkansalo

9 - Janne Kuokkanen
10 - Kasper Björkqvist
12 - Erik Embrich
13 - Topi Piipponen
20 - Julius Mattila
21 - Otto Somppi
22 - Arttu Ruotsalainen
24 - Sami Tavernier
25 - Julius Nättinen
27 - Teemu Väyrynen
32 - Aapeli Räsänen
33 - Eeli Tolvanen
34 - Kristian Vesalainen
37 - Otto Mäkinen

Not a big fan of Parikka or Mattila, but otherwise the D looks decent. Offense looks toothless without Laine, Pulju, Aho, Saarela and Tammela. Don't quite understand why Petrus Palmu doesn't get a look when there's so much mediocrity in that forward group. What happened with Borgström, did Rautakorpi already get tired with his somewhat phlegmatic on ice presence or is there another reason for the absence?

 

[Kyyrii]

Thanks for sharing. D also misses Juolevi and Niemeläinen so maybe absence of Borgström is planned also. I too wonder why we don't see Petrus Palmu in this tournaments. Yes, he is really tiny, but his offense is pretty good. It looks like Rautakorpi chose many NA players now because next time he can really have closer look on them is in last U20 camp in December.

We do seriously lack some goal scoring ability with that roster, my prediction is that Nättinen and Tolvanen are the best goal scorers to us. Välimäki and Saarijärvi is propably our first pairing. It is also nice to see how Heiskanen and Kotkansalo play against bigger and stronger opponents. After them the D core is kinda meh.

 

[Tormentor]

D also misses Juolevi and Niemeläinen so maybe absence of Borgström is planned also.

Guys like Juolevi and Saarela can afford to skip this event since they are established players at this level. I don't think that's the case with Borgström or Niemeläinen.

We do seriously lack some goal scoring ability with that roster, my prediction is that Nättinen and Tolvanen are the best goal scorers to us.

Björkqvist-Nättinen-Tolvanen was our 1st line on Wednesday. Wouldn't surprise me if Rautakorpi continues with that in Plymouth.

It is also nice to see how Heiskanen and Kotkansalo play against bigger and stronger opponents.

There are several smaller D's on that team, but Kotkansalo isn't one of them.

 

[HockeyHistorian]

Björkqvist-Nättinen-Tolvanen was our 1st line on Wednesday. Wouldn't surprise me if Rautakorpi continues with that in Plymouth.

That looks like a pretty balanced and interesting line. Björkqvist grinds, Nättinen makes plays, Tolvanen scores.

 

[kelsier]

So they've broke up Vesalainen and and Tolvanen duo?

I'm not too high about Nättinen. He's been semi-good at best in every tournament I've seen him at. Certainly didn't impress at the last WJC. Just can't see him as an NHL player. Everytime I watch him, it feels like something's missing. Tools but no toolbox?

The heavily touted Vaakanainen out also, while I guess he was unsteady last season in the international ice (missed some of the U18 games)? The games I saw him at FEL didn't look that bad.

What's up with Palmu? I know he has some size issues but he's been one of the more skilled players in his age class.

Was hoping Borgström on the line up and see what the buzz is about. There's much nothing available about him on the Youtube and I haven't seen his jr A games.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Tolvanen will be the new Patrick Kane with a better shot.

 

[FiLe]

I'm not too high about Nättinen. He's been semi-good at best in every tournament I've seen him at. Certainly didn't impress at the last WJC. Just can't see him as an NHL player. Everytime I watch him, it feels like something's missing. Tools but no toolbox?

Nättinen was in a strange place in the WJC. He was actually the 2nd best "pure" centre in that team, and should really have had a far more offensive-minded role if he were to play with his strengths. But the emergence of Aho - who really is a winger - as the leading playmaker threw him off the kilter a bit. No PP time either thanks to the deep offense. (While all this was not ideal for Nättinen, it obviously was ideal for the team, as the results clearly state.)

In the upcoming WJC he's about to form our one-two punch of top line centres along with Saarela (unless Aho miraculously becomes available), so he's in a far more comfortable position which should improve his showings quite a bit, granted that everything else goes well.

 

[kelsier]

Nättinen was in a strange place in the WJC. He was actually the 2nd best "pure" centre in that team, and should really have had a far more offensive-minded role if he were to play with his strengths. But the emergence of Aho - who really is a winger - as the leading playmaker threw him off the kilter a bit. No PP time either thanks to the deep offense. (While all this was not ideal for Nättinen, it obviously was ideal for the team, as the results clearly state.)

In the upcoming WJC he's about to form our one-two punch of top line centres along with Saarela (unless Aho miraculously becomes available), so he's in a far more comfortable position which should improve his showings quite a bit, granted that everything else goes well.

Would have been against throwing Aho into the middle with Pulju and Laine prior to the tournament and especially using them all in one line (all the eggs in one casket). But who'd have guessed, you could say it turned quite alright! One of the most dominating lines in the history of the WJC. The center department was what worried me the most and looks like we are heading towards the same dilemma once again, although have to admit it's too early to tell. The 19 year old Saarela might just fill one void. He had some excellent moments last time around and he's always been quite strong for his age, nevermind the size. Don't have much expectations for Nättinen, but it will be his last chance to show what he's capable of in the young lions and there should be more opportunities this time around as you said. Of course Borgström may be a wild card, but for what I've gathered, he's not exactly a bottom six type of a player. Then again he might not even get the ticket. Some competition for Saarela and Nättinen wouldn't be a bad thing (while Saarela can play wing just as well)

Mostly looking forward to seeing the double underage guys like Tolvanen and Vesalainen (plus the newcomers in the back end). The two are not exactly Laine and Puljujärvi but I'm expecting them to do some damage anyway. Will not be easy to defend the title, but I'm always excited about the WJC and history's proven we can win even with inferior core.

 

[HockeyHistorian]

Tolvanen will be the new Patrick Kane with a better shot.

Keeping your expectations low I see.

 

[JJTT]

We have a better staying at home than playing.

Luukkonen
Heljanko

Juolevi-Vainio
Vaakanainen-Niemeläinen
Almari-Rautanen
Raunanen

Laine-Aho-Puljujärvi
Saarela-Borgström-Tammela
Palmu-Niemelä-Tuulola
Moilanen-Koppanen-Nurmi

Of course Laine/Aho/Puljujärvi/Juolevi aren't available but still some weird omissions there.

 

[Tormentor]

nothing.

 

[Erikfromfin]

 

[HockeyHistorian]

Putting Heiskanen and Jokiharju on the same pairing wouldn't have been my first choice. Interesting. Also, Piipponen has managed his way to that roster as well, although he is now crossed over.

 

[JJTT]

8-1 loss vs USA. Same thing every year.

 

[edd1e]

Annual ass whooping.. but i got to be honest that lineup doesnt look too promising

 

[zakkthebear]

It's a very young team and it looked it last night. Team Blue is a lot of big players and the smaller, younger Finns had a really hard time dealing with the size differential. Ruusu didn't look like he was seeing the puck very well, and not just because of the score. Lots of rebounds.

Somppi after the game mentioned that there were some really good players not on the team right now (quite the understatement) but that there is a lot of talent on the NJEC squad.

 

[illone84]

8-1 loss vs USA. Same thing every year.

Big deal.

 

[FinPanda]

It's clear we have as good team or even better team at home than that.