2017 U20 WJC Team Finland Roster Talk

[ChicagoBullsFan]

World juniors are 2,9 months away so it's time to start speculating team Finland's roster in Montreal.

Laine, Aho and Puljujärvi are NHL camps at the moment and there's no guarantees is that trio available probably not.
But if at least Puljujärvi gets assigned to AHL he might be Finland's team if Edmonton Oilers release him.

Even without pula-aho line Finland's team is very good especially in defense which should be a lot better than last years tournament.
In goalies Veini Vehviläinen is clear number 1 starter but can he carry Finland's team to gold in Montreal.

Last years tournament in Helsinki Vehviläinen was really unsure and very shaky under the pressure.
Which caused his meltdown and he got pulled out in Quarterfinal games 2nd period against Team Canada.

Kaapo Kähkönen who save gold medal to Finland in Helsinki is gone.
So who will save Finland's tournament if Vehviläinen meltdown again.

Is that savior Christian Heljanko, Niilo Halonen, Leevi Laakso or Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen that's the question.
If all goes perfectly and Finnish players stays healthy and avoid all serious injuries.

Finland has the opportunity to get 16-17 players for North American leagues in U20 WJC team that's really rare situation in Finnish junior hockey.
Here's my first team Finland 2017 world junior prediction lineup.

1st line Palmu Nättinen Koivula
Juolevi Saarijärvi

2nd Line Vesalainen Räsänen Tolvanen
Vaakanainen Heiskanen

3rd Line Saarela Borgström Tuulola
Välimäki Salo

4th Line Tammela Somppi Björkqvist

13 Forward Sami Tavernier / Arttu Ruotsalainen / Juha Jääskä / Emil Oksanen / Janne Kuokkanen / Topi Piipponen ( depending injuries)
7th dman Markus Niemeläinen / Henri Jokiharju / Kasper Kotkansalo / Oliver Felixson / Veeti Vainio / Ville Järvinen / Waltteri Ruuskanen ( depending injuries etc)

Goalies
Vehviläinen
Halonen
Luukkonen

Click to read more...

 

[BB88]

That blueline is something I'm looking forward to seeing this and year and expecting it to be completely different than last year.
Stil very young blueline but lot more talented.

Niemelainen was highly impressive in Oilers pre season.
He skates so damm well for his size, and seemed to play more offensively than I expected.

 

[Petskuta]

Looks balanced, especially on D. This team might lack the high-end gamebreaking talent we saw last year, though. But what about Aleksi Saarela? He's eligible, right?

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Looks balanced, especially on D. This team might lack the high-end gamebreaking talent we saw last year, though. But what about Aleksi Saarela? He's eligible, right?

Depends that where he plays.
If Saarela plays in NHL he isn't necessarily available if he plays AHL he might be in the team if Carolina release him.
And if he plays Rauman Lukko FEL team he's locked for the team.

Edit Saarela added prediction lineup

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Yeah Finland might lack high-end game-breaking talent if Pula-aho line isn't available.
But that first lineup is only prediction lineup not final team.

Of course best situation for Finland is that entire Pula-aho line participates Finland in Montreal.
But right now no-one of Finnish people can't say for sure is Laine, Aho and Puljujärvi available.

Especially Puljujärvi he don't have nothing to prove in world juniors anymore.
He's already double world champion ( U20 and U18 gold medalist).

Yes even i wanna see Puljujärvi one last time playing to world juniors.
But is there any sense to release him even if he plays in AHL.

We don't know yet what lineup plans Finland's coach Jukka Rautakorpi has made.
But i hope Vesalainen Räsänen Tolvanen trio stays together they carried Finland in U18 WJC's Grand Forks.
And everyone knows that Tolvanen has NHL shot with NHL release and he can score lots of goals especially if Räsänen is centering him.

Then there's Otto Koivula not most hyped Finnish winger but he's been really good in Tampereen Ilves FEL team this season.
He's top scorer in FEL rookies ( 5 points in 7 games) in Finnish juniors ( U20 and U18 and U16 teams) Koivula has scored over 20 goals per season.

Koivula has grown and developed behind Laine and Puljujärvi hype that's why he isn't got much attention.
He's 6'3 and 218 lbs LW / RW he has good and quick shot and high hockey IQ but his skating needs work.
Also he was Ny Islanders 4th round selection ( 120th overall) in 2016 NHL draft.

Janne Kuokkanen was Finland's top players in U18 WJC's he's not out of the final world junior team.
But his spot in team depends that how many returning players Finland gets their team and of course is pula-aho line coming to Montreal.
Those are key questions for Janne Kuokkanen and his participation in 2017 world juniors.

Defense will be different than Helsinki and if / when it's well balanced it'll be Finland's greatest strength.
Goalies ( especially Vehviläinen) are question-mark. But if Vehviläinen finally founds his mojo in world juniors who knows how good he can be.

If all goes well for Finland in 2017 world juniors they have medal chances.
Yes Finland is defending world-champion and every team wants beat them.

But this year Finland isn't number one gold-medal favorite they are underdogs and being underdog fits well to Finland.

 

[Wooren]

There is a thread already http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=2008309