Very quiet here compared to other participating countries threads.
I don't know how other finns feel but to me, this just looks like a practice tournament. Sure it's best-on-best but only 4 countries, in my eyes this is like super charged "EHT". And i just don't see that there is anything to actually win here, this tournament doesn't have the prestige of Canada/World Cup or the Olympics.
But the positive sides are that Pennanen gets to drive his system in, a little jump start towards the Olympics, that will work in our favor in a long run. I don't care if we lose every game in this tournament but the guys will be much more prepared in Italy. Second thing, no all-star week. I hate that shit, this is much much better than extremely boring all-star week.
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I would go with these lines
Hintz - Barkov(C) - Laine
Lehkonen - Aho - Rantanen(A)
Teräväinen - Granlund(A) - Kakko
Luostarinen - Lundell - Armia
Haula
Heiskanen - Lindell
Mikkola - Ristolainen
Määttä - Välimäki
Hakanpää
1st line takes the hardest match ups, Hintz adds there much needed speed. Brand new "caro-line", spiced up with Mikko's Avs connection. 3rd line secondary scoring and 4th is shutdown line.