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

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therocket9 said:
Why is team Czech Republic not one of the 4 teams......they are right there with Finland.
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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.
 
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.
 
Albatros said:
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.
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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.
 
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king89 said:
Ristolainen is making the team
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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.
 
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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?
 
illone84 said:
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?
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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.
 
Mestaruus said:
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.
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At least he is big on Rasmus Ristolainen
 
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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
 
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Mestaruus said:
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.
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Lehkonen - Barkov - Rantanen
Teräväinen - Aho - Laine
Haula - Hintz - Kakko
Luostarinen - Granlund - Armia

13th forward: Kotkaniemi

This could be our team.

Is the team complete?
 
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.
 
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karhukissa said:
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.
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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.
 
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mattihp said:
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.
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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.
 
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Hakanpää and Haula are injured so that could result in openings for others?

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

Kiviranta-Kupari-Tolvanen
Pärssinen-Kotkaniemi-Maccelli
Puljujärvi-Helenius-Kapanen

I do believe Kakkos strengths could give some good balance to those two with known chemistry, high IQ and skill. First line no thoughts or questions.
Third line, Hintz balances it with his needed speed. Granlund as a playmaker for two players who can score. Fourth line like second with known chemistry.
This roster lacks speed. But with a good system I don't doubt the IQ of these players nor their competitive mindset.

Kupari has like Helenius become a decent fourth center. Has size and great skating ability. I would prefer him as a fifth center before both Kotkaniemi and Pärssinen.
Watching the Kraken sometimes I can't help but think that both finns look pretty slow. But Kakko has other interesting qualities. Tolvanen does have a mind for the net and a very good shot. I just don't see him as a bottom line winger and therefor he's not close for me. I would probably pick Kiviranta before him.
Perhaps: 1. Kiviranta. 2. Kupari. 3. Kotkaniemi. If we were to pick a single player as the 13th forward.

Heiskanen-Lindell
Mikkola-Vaakanainen
Välimäki-Määttä
Ristolainen
Jokiharju, Heinola.

Yep, some people could think Vaakanainen is a hot take but I trust him more than both Risto and Väli in D. I've always liked his skating ability and especially his actual defending ability. People tend to underestimate those things amongst D's and just stat watch their production. Rangers fans have somewhat praised him as a bottom D as well. I would prefer him before Jokiharju if Hakanpää is gone. I could see him, Määttä and Lindell contributing with the needed defensive balance. Määttä or Vaaka as the second doesn't matter that much. But Mikkola is clearly before Välimäki in my books.

Saros
Lankinen
UPL

Powerplay... I have a hard time not picking four forwards because TT, Lehkonen and Granlund are good options as well. But I could be very off here.
PP1: Laine, Barkov, Rantanen, Heiskanen, Granlund.
PP2: Lehkonen, Aho, TT, Hintz, Välimäki or Mikkola.
Is this completely mental?

PK1: Barkov, Armia, Lindell, Määttä
PK2: Lundell, Luostarinen, Mikkola, Vaakanainen
Question if Barkov should play PK and and in which unit. Lots of ice time.
 
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