Finland's status and reputation in the hockey world (merged)
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hitmen19
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- Jan 21, 2013
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lets see. semi finals in nagano finland has a chance to go to the finals, loses 7-4 to Russia.
salt lake lost to Canada in qf, so no opportunity to go to final
Torino, beat both the usa and Russia on way to final, but got beat by Sweden, had an outstanding tournament, but couldn't win the final against big brother Sweden
Vancouver, lost to the usa in the semi finals 6-1
Sochi, lost to big brother Sweden in the semi finals 2-1
So, to recap, they had 4 chances in the semi finals to advance to gold medal game and lost 3, two they got destroyed convincingly by the Russians and the usa. The one team they had that made people take notice, with an outstanding round robin, they couldn't close the deal and beat big brother Sweden to close out a most memorable tournament that puts them in the winners club.
This year they played a lack lustre game where the only goal they scored was a fluke goal on the goal line, and played like they were scared of big brother Sweden.
1 win in mens world championships in 2000's
1 junior championships in 2000's
yeah, finland is plucky, they have great goaltending that steals them one game in the Olympics in the quarterfinals. They get smoked in the semi finals. Then they go out a do an admirable job of winning bronze
Guess what, besides finland, no other major country would be pounding their chests about winning those bronzes.
The usa has two silvers, you never hear of them once boosting about it, because they want to win gold
The Russians are living off the soviet era teams and have themselves one silver, one bronze, you never hear of them boosting about it.
Finland is the only team that is boosting about finishing in third. You value it, congrats. its just no one else does
hitmen19
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- Jan 21, 2013
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like it or not, you can ask every Canadian or Swedish fan who they would want to play in the gold medal final between Russia, finland or the usa, finland as the opposition would win in a landslide. its just what the perception is. finland would need a great goaltender performance to win. They don't have the firepower the other two countries are capable of.
What a joke
Finland was also missing Koivus, Filppula, Barkov, Pitkanen, Rinne (who might not have helped but is still a great goalie and likely a little upgrade on Kari)
Seriously if Finland has a healthy lineup… Lookout. Granted other teams like Sweden and Canada had major cogs missing, but with all due respect to the talent, Canada missing Stamkos is not a huge deal. Sweden without Zetterberg is nowhere Finland without M.Koivu.
They are quite easily better than Czechs and Slovaks, I would say on par with US/Russia, maybe not as good but definitely pretty close when healthy. Sweden is a bit better
Also, ranking Finland so low due to the fact that they only have good goaltending is like saying the Broncos aren't actually good because they have Peyton Manning. Goaltending is easily the most important position in the league, and to punish a team for being MILES ahead of every other country in that department is just stupid
Of course you can't underestimate goaltending, but there's only one goalie per game. And as good as Rask is I would say that Lundqvist, Miller, Price, Bobrovsky etc are are the same level/not that far off.
And I really think you should take a look at the roster of team Finland one more time if you think they are pretty close to Russia and USA when healthy. Mikko Koivu is the only forward I would even consider having on the Leafs, which really says it all. I mean, we've been searching for a centre since Sundin
On Team USA or team Russia I would take whatever's offered.No, I'm telling ya, you'll need better forwards (and better defensemen) to be considered top 5.
Sabane
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- Feb 16, 2014
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Of course Canada and Sweden are ahead of us, but we were speaking why on earth would u rank USA and Russia above us? OK Finland has been 5 times at SF best-on best tournaments in the last 20 years. We have won 2 out of 5... How has USA or Russia been on these situations for example? USA 2/4 (still one lessSF spots than Finland) and Russia 1/3 (two less SF spots and 1 less W than us)...
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hitmen19
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- Jan 21, 2013
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maybe you didn't read what it was in response to. it was in response to the guy that said he wouldn't trade the 3 bronzes for the gold in torino. I find that amazing finnish fans would value those bronzes more then having had the opportunity to win an Olympic gold
turkulad
Registered User
So Finland doesn't quit no matter what the situation? Sounds a darn good characteristic for a national team to have. No guts no glory.
I'll take a winning team with above-average talent level over a losing team with great talent 10/10 times.
Of course you can't underestimate goaltending, but there's only one goalie per game. And as good as Rask is I would say that Lundqvist, Miller, Price, Bobrovsky etc are are the same level/not that far off.
And I really think you should take a look at the roster of team Finland one more time if you think they are pretty close to Russia and USA when healthy. Mikko Koivu is the only forward I would even consider having on the Leafs, which really says it all. I mean, we've been searching for a centre since Sundin
No, I'm telling ya, you'll need better forwards (and better defensemen) to be considered top 5.
Right, you wouldn't take Filppula. Ok…
And yeah Lundqvist and the gang are all in the ballpark of Rask, but who was Swedens backup? ENROTH?!?!?
Finland has Rask, Rinne, Niemi, Lehtonen. I'd wager any of those guys would start for Russia or Canada. So when Rask gets the flu, he has Kari to back him up and do a good job. When Lundqvist has the flu, what happens? Enroth? Yikes
Depth at goaltending shouldn't be undervalued, though they are almost too deep haha. They should trade Niemi for a winger :p
Yes and that is a complete loser explanation mentality. An athlete competes until there is nothing to compete for. They are out there representing their country. If you don't even try because things did not go exactly your way, then you are mentally weaker than your opponent who does try. Quitting or claiming to not care is NOT more valuable than doing the best you can. Not in any walk of life and definitely not in sports.
But the myth that Finland cares more than say USA is just ******** based on people spewing this crap. When Finnish players are interviewed after a lost semifinal game, they are of course very upset and they get asked about the bronze medal game, they always say something along the lines of "of course it's not at all what we came here for..." or "I can't think of that right now" or "we just have to find motivation for it"....Nobody has ever said "YAY! We got to play for bronze!".
It's just that you might not have understood what they say because the language is different. They are no happier after a lost semifinal than the players of U.S or Canada, they say the exact same things about how hard it is to find motivation but we will do our best for our country anyway. That's what they all say. They all have the same problem, the same mentality.
Kharkov
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- Jun 28, 2013
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Because Russia goes for the gold! Because these games are played on paper! Goaltending (and coaching) aint part of the game!
Sabane
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- Feb 16, 2014
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Also because we haven't won any Olympic Gold medals we are at the same level as Botswana and Uruguay, actually Great Britan is ahead of us
Also because we haven't won any Olympic Gold medals we are at the same level as Botswana and Uruguay, actually Great Britan is ahead of us
Funny enough, neither has Russia.
Sabane
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- Feb 16, 2014
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Funny enough, neither has Russia.
In the minds of people their accomplishments are still considered the same as USSR
Arne
Registered User
Russian's arent the same super power they once were. I think there are a handful of teams better than them
Wow. Much hate. Why so angry about someone wanting the bronze? What's so bad about it? Not happy with 5-0? Go and get a bronze yourself if it is not worth pounding your chest.
Why does people seem to have a problem in Finland being top-4 hockey nation? heck, they're top-3.
Only Canada and Sweden should be above, Finland is the clear number 3 currently IMO.
And Bronze is cool, way better than gold and silver combined.
Only Canada and Sweden should be above, Finland is the clear number 3 currently IMO.
And Bronze is cool, way better than gold and silver combined.
You gotta be joking, right? Member since 2004 and doesn't have a better clue about ice hockey and it seems like you are not the only one. I've been a registered user on these forums for 2 days and that is 2 days too many. End of rant, I'm out ->Of course you can't underestimate goaltending, but there's only one goalie per game. And as good as Rask is I would say that Lundqvist, Miller, Price, Bobrovsky etc are are the same level/not that far off.
And I really think you should take a look at the roster of team Finland one more time if you think they are pretty close to Russia and USA when healthy. Mikko Koivu is the only forward I would even consider having on the Leafs, which really says it all. I mean, we've been searching for a centre since Sundin
No, I'm telling ya, you'll need better forwards (and better defensemen) to be considered top 5.
You wouldn't take Barkov for your leafs? Olympic all-star Granlund would not fit in your leafs? Excuse me, are you the same guy who decided to go with Justin Pogge and let Rask go for nothing?
The thing is, nobody from Finnish team wants to be in the leafs. It took Komarov 42 games and he got sick of them.
