WC: 2017 Team Finland

[BB88]

IMO so far JMA has outplayed Pulju and I think Pulju could get cut from the final roster. Which would be very disappointing but Pulju has done basicly nothing in 2 games. While JMA has proved he has the abilities to play on this level on limited minutes. I just don't get it since Pulju has abilities to do some highlight reel moves and goals, but then he absolutely is lacking basic IQ and puckhandling skills. He doesn't look any better than last year in Liiga playoffs.

This team has looked absolutely abysmal and no one outside of Korpisalo has done anything.

Scoring is going to be an issue for us, we need Puljus shot, he doesn't have the release of Laine but he has a deadly shot with weight on it.
But he looks still extremely raw, he needs a healthy good offseason to put up weight and get used to his frame.

 

[jonlin]

This Finnish team is really bad. I`d actually pick 3-4 players from Tappara to get this going.

Savinainen - aggressive and good finnisher
Peltola - Very good "do it all"-guy. He never quits and plays all situations. Beats Hännikainen on the 4th line any day.
Lajunen - A very good checker and taking draws. He also can finnish beter than many on the team
Kuusela - Better passer than anyone on the team except Aho. Can also Finnish and got better as the Liiga-playoffs got further. Also does the dirty work

The three latter never quit on the team.

Haapala - would be on the team but injured and cant go.

My team:

Aho - Filppula - Savinainen
Rantanen - Lajunen -Kuusela
Pyörälä - Kemppainen - Palola
Osala - Sallinen - Peltola

Ekstras: Pihlström, Lajunen ( TAP )

J-M Aaltonen is a floater. He should be gone. Puljujärvi is too raw and shown nothing - gone. Hännikäinen hasnt been good. Hintz hasnt been anything ekstra. Kuusela and Hintz actually could switch places but I`d rather have Kuusela for his superb passing on the PP.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Korpisalo is god and the only reason
why we are not going to get relegated

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Something is wrong when 4th line is your best line.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Oh my,we look bad,we are bad.

1 pro : Korpisalo

Korpisalo 2 games 2 wins 58/60 sv% 96.6 gaa 1.00
Korpi is the only reason to watch these upcoming worlds

Marjamäki,other coaches,staff,rest of the players
pretty much trash,..all the way.

 

[LeafChief]

How had Miro Aaltonen looked?

Should Leafs fans be excited about this player?

 

[Caffeine]

He has been very effective goal scorer this season on EHT-level for team Finland. On Leafs roster he would have very similar impact as Nikita Soshnikov but he would he have better goal scoring touch.

 

[FiLe]

Notes:

-Korpisalo. Our starter. At least for now.

-Defense is still adequate as a whole. Unless there're surprise additions, I'd cut Lajunen. Though in part, I'm also hoping certain other names wouldn't have that trusted status that makes me so cynically think they're safe.

-JMA made decent use of the chance he was given, I'd say.

-Pillu as a centre... yeah no. This experiment is done, I hope. They shouldn't consider it even in as the emergency option. Just pick up the phone and call Lajunen.

-If Pulju was anyone other than Pulju, I'd say he has no place in this team. But he's Pulju and he's got massive potential and so... So... *shrug*.

-Palola didn't show much, but it's hard to show much when you've got what's really a gosh darn grinder winger as your supposed playmaking centre. I think he got shafted here, but at the same time I can see it if he ends up being the one deemed too much to solve the right wing logjam.

-Osala, and to some extent Hännikäinen, made it a little more difficult to see them as merely spare parts. Which isn't of course bad. And which again makes me wish some players didn't have so heavy trusted status. Because IMO Pyörälä deserves to go. Not because he's bad, but he doesn't really add much either. He just is there, being what he is. Which is, admittedly, pretty much the entire function of Pyörälä. But right now it feels like other players are bringing even more than that.


So, the final team? Goalies are of course set, and I don't really care which one of the final contestants gets cut from the defense, so I'll just wait for the roster that's released tomorrow. And forwards... well, I believe it'll be these 14:

J.Aaltonen
M.Aaltonen
Aho
Filppula
Hännikäinen
Kemppainen
Lajunen
Osala
Pihlström
Puljujärvi
Pyörälä
Rantanen
Sallinen
Savinainen

Not necessarily the list I'd personally pick (which is why I leave the line-building to others for now), but more what I'd put my money on if I were a betting man.

 

[schmiedi]

Will They Name 2 or 3 goalies tomorrow?

 

[FiLe]

Will They Name 2 or 3 goalies tomorrow?

They'll name Korpisalo, Säteri and Ortio no doubt, but that doesn't mean they're stuck with them. That only happens if they accreditate them all.

So they can name three, accreditate only two when the games begin and still replace one if a more established name comes available.

 

[BennsGonnaGetYou]

Right now it's also possible we could get Jori Lehterä if he's willing to come. That would be a positive reinforcement due to his willingness to battle and play a physical game. Mike Yeo has been giving him a lot of cred lately despite that he's been out quite a bit.

 

[illone84]

Right now it's also possible we could get Jori Lehterä if he's willing to come. That would be a positive reinforcement due to his willingness to battle and play a physical game. Mike Yeo has been giving him a lot of cred lately despite that he's been out quite a bit.

I doubt he'll play if St Louis drops. However, I hope that 1 spot is open for round 2 drop outs.

 

[Sanf]

Will They Name 2 or 3 goalies tomorrow?

Korpisalo keeps proving me wrong all the time, but I´m still not 100% sold on him. Still I would say that definitely select all three goalies tomorrow. Makes no sense to create "we are waiting for a better guy" situation for our starting goalie.

I´m hoping that they won´t cut Vittasmäki. He would be the easiest guy to cut. Not a veteran... Not Marjamäkis guy. I´m not saying that he has been amazing, but i think he has outplayed many of our veterans. Deserves to be in the team.

Has Lepistö actually declined?

I kind of dislike that they are going to select Puljujärvi (well atleast that´s my guess). I truly hoped that he would give reasons to pick him in the team. But on the other hand the other younger guys (Hintz,Manninen) didn´t do much either. And well the reward could be bigger with Jesse. So I guess i need to be OK with his selection. Never been fan of JMA. Kind of frustrating player to watch. But I think that this team need him.

 

[BennsGonnaGetYou]

I doubt he'll play if St Louis drops. However, I hope that 1 spot is open for round 2 drop outs.

Who do you think would come? Vatanen or Raanta? Määttä seems very unlikely as well as both Rinne and Saros. At last maybe Pakarinen, but I'm not sure what his role would be.

 

[BennsGonnaGetYou]

I wonder about Lepistö too.

 

[FiLe]

Vittasmäki has been a staple on these camp rosters, clocking an impressive amount of minutes. That's a sign that Marjamäki likes him, really likes him.

We'll see tomorrow of course, but right now I'd be more worried if I was Lajunen or Järvinen.

---

As for Lepistö, I suppose it's still possible he'll just be given a direct spot to the final team. He definitely has nothing he needs to prove.

And, curiously enough, the news have come out pretty quick when our other high-profile KHLers have revealed they're not available. Kontiola, Koskinen, Koskiranta... we know what's up with them. But there hasn't been a peep from Lepistö. Not a single byline anwhere.

So, who knows. Perhaps we'll be positively surprised tomorrow after all. Although, Lepistö hasn't played a single minute of competitive hockey in two whole months - his last game with his club team was on March 2nd. That is obviously not a good omen.

 

[BB88]

This team just doesn't have talent to hold on to the puck and create anything.

Aho is going to be our best player and he needs to have the puck as much as possible.

Pulju has the most potential to grow during this tourney, he could build his confidence in these 1st few "weaker" games and be a different player at the end. His skating hasn't looked normal yet.

 

[teddy83]

After watching these 3 games i can live with the fact Puljujarvi is left off the team, but why there aren't any critics towards Rantanen? He's been absolutly horrible, he has shown nothing in the offence, and he had at least 5 terrible turnovers in our own zone?

 

[Bloomfield*]

Wow nylander the finnish killer plays for sweden

 

[Mestaruus]

Pulju has the most potential to grow during this tourney, he could build his confidence in these 1st few "weaker" games and be a different player at the end. His skating hasn't looked normal yet.

I think so too. He'd have more time to get adjusted to Euro rink and be good for Finland in the first elimination game as he is a playoff performer in NT.

I just hope that Pulju is either in the active lineup or not selected at all. Don't really want him to be a backup player like Rantanen was last year. Rantanen came back to the playing lineup impressively but in Pulju's case it's just better he trains like hell this summer instead of wasting few weeks before he possibly gets his shot to play.

 

[FiLe]

Final Roster

Goalies
Joonas Korpisalo, Columbus Blue Jackets
Joni Ortio, Skellefteå AIK
Harri Säteri, Vityaz Podolsk

Defensemen
Juuso Hietanen, Dynamo Moscow
Julius Honka, Dallas Stars
Topi Jaakola, Jokerit
Joonas Järvinen, Kunlun Red Star
Lasse Kukkonen, Kärpät
Ville Lajunen, Jokerit
Mikko Lehtonen, HV-71
Atte Ohtamaa, AK Bars Kazan

Forwards
Juhamatti Aaltonen, HIFK
Miro Aaltonen, Vityaz Podolsk
Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes
Valtteri Filppula, Philadelphia Flyers
Markus Hännikäinen, Columbus Blue Jackets
Joonas Kemppainen, Sibir Novosibirsk
Jani Lajunen, Tappara
Oskar Osala, Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Antti Pihlström, Jokerit
Jesse Puljujärvi, Edmonton Oilers
Mika Pyörälä, Kärpät
Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche
Tomi Sallinen, Kunlun Red Star
Veli-Matti Savinainen, Tappara


Nailed the forwards earlier. Also, one left field pick in defense - Mikko Lehtonen.

 

[Mestaruus]

No surprises at all there. Oh well I thought that Vittasmäki would be selected.

 

[jonlin]

If Marjamäki has any braincells left he cant leave out the best tappara-players. They all are good at playing team-defense. If we go out shooting and try to outscore Canada, USA, Sweden, Russia etc. we loose every game 3-6 atleast.

Drop theese:
-JMA if you get kicked out of 2 teams for low effort then Team Finland is NOT your place to be.
-Hintz good on the attack, but not so defending
- Puljujärvi he is of absolutely no use in either zone. turnovermachine lacking confidence
- Pihlström spedd but nothing else
- Hännikäinen he was on the best line in the games played but the chemistry with Osala and Sallinen wasnt there.

Input:

- Peltola. The guy is good on PP, SH and 5on5. Fighter who never gives up and is good wiith or without the puck. Put him on 4th line: Osala-Sallinen-Peltola

- Savinainen. Gritty winger and a good sniper. Put him on 1st with Aho-Filppula-Savinainen and he goes to the dirty areas and leaves more room for Fil and Aho to make plays

- Lajunen. Wins draws at a 55-60% rate. Fisty center who play SH, PP and can do it all.

- Kuusela. Playmaker who also goes to the dirty areas. Would be very useful on PP2 also

 

[jonlin]

Final Roster

Goalies
Joonas Korpisalo, Columbus Blue Jackets
Joni Ortio, Skellefteå AIK
Harri Säteri, Vityaz Podolsk

Defensemen
Juuso Hietanen, Dynamo Moscow
Julius Honka, Dallas Stars
Topi Jaakola, Jokerit
Joonas Järvinen, Kunlun Red Star
Lasse Kukkonen, Kärpät
Ville Lajunen, Jokerit
Mikko Lehtonen, HV-71
Atte Ohtamaa, AK Bars Kazan

Forwards
Juhamatti Aaltonen, HIFK
Miro Aaltonen, Vityaz Podolsk
Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes
Valtteri Filppula, Philadelphia Flyers
Markus Hännikäinen, Columbus Blue Jackets
Joonas Kemppainen, Sibir Novosibirsk
Jani Lajunen, Tappara
Oskar Osala, Metallurg Magnitogorsk
Antti Pihlström, Jokerit
Jesse Puljujärvi, Edmonton Oilers
Mika Pyörälä, Kärpät
Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche
Tomi Sallinen, Kunlun Red Star
Veli-Matti Savinainen, Tappara


Nailed the forwards earlier. Also, one left field pick in defense - Mikko Lehtonen.

Puljujärvi, JMA, Pillu

Where is Peltola playoffs MVP? JMA benched last games in playoffs is in... No wonder the best guys in Finland ( Koivu etc.) wont play for the Oulu-fan behind the bench.

 

[Mestaruus]

I'd prefer Palola over JMA but pretty good selections overall. Can't complain.