World Cup: 4 Nations Tournament - Team Finland (2025)

[Nakawick]

They might need Rantanen to play on every line. They are very thin on the wings.

They may have a secret weapon coming back. Wouldn’t it be cool to see that line from the juniors rip up the tournament?

 

[Nakawick]

Why is team Czech Republic not one of the 4 teams......they are right there with Finland.

Vladimir Putin. Even > Odd numbers.

 

[Regal]

Why is team Czech Republic not one of the 4 teams......they are right there with Finland.

Would be more fun, but they only want NHL players and the Czechs have smaller margins for that with 32 players last year and 25 so far this year, while the Finns had 48 last year and 45 this year. They only have 4 defensemen who’ve played an NHL game since the start of last year.

 

[FinPanda]

Jokiharju not being there is very odd, especially since there is no guarantee Hakanpää can even play. Must have been about the roles on defence probably.

 

[Albatros]

Jokiharju is a non-factor in good and bad, not that the alternatives are any better but questioning his omission comes across as desperately looking for controversy where there's none.

 

[Plural]

Jokiharju is a non-factor in good and bad, not that the alternatives are any better but questioning his omission comes across as desperately looking for controversy where there's none.

I think most fans just like him since he's always been available for the NT and guys like Ristolainen have not.

I probably would have picked him but you have a point. This team won't win or lose because of this decision. Also, he might get in anyways.

 

[Mestaruus]

Ristolainen is making the team

Hell no for choosing Ristolainen. The NHL player who least cares about team Finland might as well go golfing during that tournament.

I'm not a big Haula fan either.

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Some comments from Ristolainen (in Finnish originally, so I'll provide google translation as well):

– Mikään ei ole muuttunut, en vain ole aina päässyt mukaan. Mun puolelta maajoukkueasiassa ei ole koskaan mitään ongelmaa. Mukaan lähtee nuori ja nälkäinen Ristolainen, puolustaja totesi turnauksen pressitilaisuudessa.
– Jääkiekko on ollut viime vuoden kivaa, turkulainen lisäsi.

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– Nothing has changed, I just haven't always been able to get in. There is never any problem from my side when it comes to the national team. The young and hungry Ristolainen is going to join, the defenseman said at the tournament press conference.
– Hockey has been fun last year, the Turku native added.

 

[JabbaJabba]

Why is team Czech Republic not one of the 4 teams......they are right there with Finland.

No they are not. They don't even have enough NHL defensemen to complete the roster.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Why is team Czech Republic not one of the 4 teams......they are right there with Finland.

The Finns have 16 players with 10+ points in the NHL this season, Czechs have 4.

 

[illone84]

The Finns have 16 players with 10+ points in the NHL this season, Czechs have 4.

All good. This is just an appetizer. The main course will be served in Milano Feb 5-22, 2026. Czechs will have their chance to shine and I hope they come with a big chip on their shoulder. Makes things more spicy

 

[illone84]

So is their confirmation that if Jani Hakanpää is still injured in February (let's say on IR list for the leafs) he can be replaced for another damn such as Jokiharju/Heinola?

 

[FiLe]

So is their confirmation that if Jani Hakanpää is still injured in February (let's say on IR list for the leafs) he can be replaced for another damn such as Jokiharju/Heinola?

Yes, they can replace any injured player before the tournament, including the damn d-men. Why wouldn't they? Nobody wins if everybody had to just cross their hands and pray no one gets sidelined during the hockey being played between now and then.

 

[mattihp]

Hell no for choosing Ristolainen. The NHL player who least cares about team Finland might as well go golfing during that tournament.

I'm not a big Haula fan either.

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Some comments from Ristolainen (in Finnish originally, so I'll provide google translation as well):

– Mikään ei ole muuttunut, en vain ole aina päässyt mukaan. Mun puolelta maajoukkueasiassa ei ole koskaan mitään ongelmaa. Mukaan lähtee nuori ja nälkäinen Ristolainen, puolustaja totesi turnauksen pressitilaisuudessa.
– Jääkiekko on ollut viime vuoden kivaa, turkulainen lisäsi.

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– Nothing has changed, I just haven't always been able to get in. There is never any problem from my side when it comes to the national team. The young and hungry Ristolainen is going to join, the defenseman said at the tournament press conference.
– Hockey has been fun last year, the Turku native added.

At least he is big on Rasmus Ristolainen

 

[MMANumminen]

I like the team. no one will be able to beat us. I also hope we will score more than 1 goal this time

 

[illone84]

I like the team. no one will be able to beat us. I also hope we will score more than 1 goal this time

Pennanen is light years ahead of Lauri Marjamäki. We will score at least 3

 

[Mestaruus]

Lehkonen-Barkov-Rantanen
Teräväinen-Aho-Laine
Lundell-Hintz-Granlund
Luostarinen-Haula-Armia

13th forward: Kakko

Not 100% on who should be 4th line's center. I could swap Lundy into that line and put him there.

So I want to keep some pairs together who are currently or have been in same team for a long time, thus Teräväinen is with Aho and Lehkonen with Rantanen. Heiskanen & Lindell is also quite obvious one. I don't know if Määttä and Välimäki have played together much, but the motivation is probably there between the two to make it work. Ristolainen can do what ever, like enjoy the game from the bench. I really don't care if he's been good/better this season or not.

Heiskanen-Lindell
Määttä-Välimäki
Mikkola-Hakanpää
Ristolainen

PP: Hintz would be with 1st line's PP unit. Granlund would be with 2nd lines's PP unit.

PK: Lundell & Luostarinen, Haula & Armia

 

[karhukissa]

Let's be honest, Laine's shot is still top 5 in the league. PP will be lethal.

 

[Fantast100]

Lehkonen-Barkov-Rantanen
Teräväinen-Aho-Laine
Lundell-Hintz-Granlund
Luostarinen-Haula-Armia

13th forward: Kakko

Not 100% on who should be 4th line's center. I could swap Lundy into that line and put him there.

Lehkonen - Barkov - Rantanen
Teräväinen - Aho - Laine
Haula - Hintz - Kakko
Luostarinen - Granlund - Armia

13th forward: Kotkaniemi

This could be our team.

Is the team complete?

 

[mattihp]

Hintz will likely play wing with the convent or Haula as the fourth center.

 

[karhukissa]

There's been a lot of talk about our defense, but is it really as bad as people say? Sure, it's the weakest in this tournament but 5/7 players have at least 20 minutes ice time per game. They are really solid defensively with good size and toughness, i think it's enough to get wins against any team.

Our power play could be even the second best in this tournament, which also might give us great chance to pull upsets.

 

[mattihp]

There's been a lot of talk about our defense, but is it really as bad as people say? Sure, it's the weakest in this tournament but 5/7 players have at least 20 minutes ice time per game. They are really solid defensively with good size and toughness, i think it's enough to get wins against any team.

Our power play could be even the second best in this tournament, which also might give us great chance to pull upsets.

It has Ristolainen poised for too many minutes. He is prone to laying eggs. With Hakanpää just recently recovering they might think about playing Ristolainen in a more defensive role which would be a mistake.

Otherwise it looks alright. Especially considering how great Heiskanen usually is.

 

[karhukissa]

It has Ristolainen poised for too many minutes. He is prone to laying eggs. With Hakanpää just recently recovering they might think about playing Ristolainen in a more defensive role which would be a mistake.

Otherwise it looks alright. Especially considering how great Heiskanen usually is.

Mikkola and Määttä, especially Mikkola are also playing great. He's got 14 points and clocking over 20mins per game in the best team of the world. Lindell also super solid and big minutes.

Many seem to think it's just Miro and then trash.