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

[FinPanda]

Kakko is 10x the player Laine is. Weird decision to play Laine over him.

Laine might be the first guy out of the lineup after 1st game lol

 

[BullLund]

Laine might be the first guy out of the lineup after 1st game lol

I think they just need to see what he has. Kakko is a dependable guy that they can use to replace anyone that isn't performing up to the expected standard. I'm almost certain that he'll be seeing minutes eventually.

Laine is a complete wild card. They're probably hoping he can re-create some of the magic with Aho. If not, well, you just put Kakko in.

Laine can't really fill 3rd and 4th line roles. Either you have faith in him being able to produce in the top 6 or you just don't play him at all.

 

[ursus maritimus]

So, the lines:

Artturi Lehkonen–Aleksander Barkov–Mikko Rantanen

Patrik Laine–Sebastian Aho–Roope Hintz

Mikael Granlund–Anton Lundell–Eetu Luostarinen


Joel Armia–Erik Haula–Teuvo Teräväinen

Defend

Esa Lindell–Niko Mikkola

Nikolas Matinpalo–Urho Vaakanainen

Olli Määttä–Henri Jokiharju/Juuso Välimäki
pp:
1)

Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, Roope Hintz, Patrik Laine, Aleksander Barkov (linemen)

2)

Mikael Granlund, Teuvo Teräväinen, Anton Lundell, Artturi Lehkonen

 

[behemolari]

just let Barkov do Barkov things and everything is fine

 

[king89]

Heart says Canada, but Finland will win it this year

Not possible any longer due to our injuries I will be happy and satisfied if we just win against Sweden

 

[elmaco]

Not possible any longer due to our injuries I will be happy and satisfied if we just win against Sweden

I wouldn't rule them out just yet, they seemed motivated. If everybody else plays like it's an allstar game Finland has a real chance.

 

[Aurinko]

So, the lines:

Artturi Lehkonen–Aleksander Barkov–Mikko Rantanen

Patrik Laine–Sebastian Aho–Roope Hintz

Mikael Granlund–Anton Lundell–Eetu Luostarinen


Joel Armia–Erik Haula–Teuvo Teräväinen

Defend

Esa Lindell–Niko Mikkola

Nikolas Matinpalo–Urho Vaakanainen

Olli Määttä–Henri Jokiharju/Juuso Välimäki
pp:
1)

Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, Roope Hintz, Patrik Laine, Aleksander Barkov (linemen)

2)

Mikael Granlund, Teuvo Teräväinen, Anton Lundell, Artturi Lehkonen

I will die alone with this thought, but Haula should be netfront in the 2nd or even 1st PP. Using him in checking role is fine, but he really does well netfront.

 

[BusQuets]

I wouldn't rule them out just yet, they seemed motivated. If everybody else plays like it's an allstar game Finland has a real chance.

I doubt this is the case. This generation of Finnish players don't really seem to care about national games. Canada and Sweden are much more patriotic and we all know how crazy americans are when it comes to patriotism.

I wouldn't be surprised if Finns are just lazily skating around trying not to get injured. Well outside of Barkov that is.

 

[Mestaruus]

Didn't he score a gold medal-winning goal in overtime in a Finnish uniform?

That was the good old Ristolainen with a Finnish heart. Once he stepped into the NHL, he got rotten. Well one of our head coaches burnt bridges with him back in the day, but RR never got his passion for the national team back.

He was playing so many years for Buffalo, which never got into playoffs back then and he still always found an excuse not to play in the national team during spring time, in the WHC tournaments. Year after year a lot of Finnish ice hockey fans have been annoyed by him, because he rejects those national invitations more than any other legit Finnish NHL player. It's more of a guessing game, what kind of excuse he finds each time.

I do understand and realize that this kind of behavior is more normal in something like team Canada or USA, but it's actually quite rare for Finnish players to reject the honor of representing one's own country. I don't believe he's fully there anymore when it comes to the Finnish national team, so he should stay out. He has more heart to play in the NHL and he will perform better there, I'm quite sure about that.

 

[Mestaruus]

pp:
1)

Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, Roope Hintz, Patrik Laine, Aleksander Barkov (linemen)

2)

Mikael Granlund, Teuvo Teräväinen, Anton Lundell, Artturi Lehkonen

The first PP unit is INSANE. All big guns in the same unit and the second unit is capable of creating something as well, but it's of course nothing compared to the first unit. I love that Pennanen had enough balls to do that. Though, perhaps it had to be done after the Heiskanen injury.

Just give the first unit almost full 2 minutes almost each time, unless there are consecutive power plays.

 

[FinPanda]

The first PP unit is INSANE. All big guns in the same unit and the second unit is capable of creating something as well, but it's of course nothing compared to the first unit. I love that Pennanen had enough balls to do that. Though, perhaps it had to be done after the Heiskanen injury.

Just give the first unit almost full 2 minutes almost each time, unless there are consecutive power plays.

I quite like the 2nd unit. Lehkonen is an amazing PP player on his own.

 

[Mestaruus]

I quite like the 2nd unit. Lehkonen is an amazing PP player on his own.

I think that I suggested Lehkonen in the first unit as well some days ago, and also in a 5 forward setup. Having him create havoc in front of the net would be effective.

 

[FinPanda]

I think that I suggested Lehkonen in the first unit as well some days ago, and also in a 5 forward setup. Having him create havoc in front of the net would be effective.

I agree if Laine doesn't work out for first unit, Lehkonen should imo take his spot.

 

[Mestaruus]

I agree if Laine doesn't work out for first unit, Lehkonen should imo take his spot.

Granny's not that bad option either if there comes a need for replacing someone. Many good options. Hintz could be perhaps moved out as well if needed, but I don't know if Pennanen does something like that in a short tournament like this.

If this PP performs magically all tournament, maybe we can equalize our weakness a bit, which is of course the level of our defenders.

That PP unit has so many good players that opponent defenders focusing too much on guarding Laine would open a lot of space for other beasts. Laine is not too bad of a passer. Rantanen would then put in one timers from the other side. Then not guarding Laine would be a mistake as well, so what do you do...

 

[Aurinko]

I agree if Laine doesn't work out for first unit, Lehkonen should imo take his spot.

It's not a bad idea. I would prefer Haula as a solid netfront guy taking Laine's spot, but Lehkonen might be even better choice. Both bring lot of pressure and tempo, which could be valuable addition if Laine doesn't find his spots.

 

[elmaco]

I doubt this is the case. This generation of Finnish players don't really seem to care about national games. Canada and Sweden are much more patriotic and we all know how crazy americans are when it comes to patriotism.

I wouldn't be surprised if Finns are just lazily skating around trying not to get injured. Well outside of Barkov that is.

Lol, i have the exact feeling but reversed.

 

[Ratsreign]

I agree if Laine doesn't work out for first unit, Lehkonen should imo take his spot.

Barky tees it up, and Laine shoots the one timer.
That could work

 

[BusQuets]

Lol, i have the exact feeling but reversed.

I'm not basing this on feeling but on the fact how often players have joined their National teams. Finland is getting rejected by their best euro players let alone NHLers.