Finnish roster in a best-on-best an absolute favorite together with the US and Canada?

[jj cale]

What's the format for that dumb NHL tournament? If it's a single round robin followed by single-game knockout, any of the four teams could win.

Me, I'm hoping for a Sweden-Finland final, which, at 0-0, goes into quadruple over time and ends with the two teams alternating icing the puck and laughing at Gary Bettman.

This 4 nation thing is nothing but a dress rehearsal for the big four to see where they stand going into 2026.

 

[Svedu]

Sweden is much better. Their every defenceman is on Heiskanen's level or near it

Well if that's the case? I believe UPL is just as good as any Swedish goalie and he proved it this year with a shitty defense in front of him the most nights.
And you probably think every roster should contain 6 flashy D's, newsflash, I don't. That's why I'm mentioning one of Finlands big strengths that I consider a lot stronger than both Russias and also a bit stronger than Sweden and it's the center position.

Did you even read what I wrote? Finland have players who can buy roles but still maintain a high level. Määttä, Lindell, Hakanpää, Kakko, Lundell and Lehkonen are some of them. And yeah, that together with the elite players and Jalonens coaching? I consider Finland a bigger threat than both Sweden and Russia as a team. Sweden is close, Russia isn't.

You forgot about Russia

No I actually didn't. Malkin, Panarin, Kucherov, Svech, Ovechkin and others aren't enough for the lack of depth anymore. I consider Sweden and Finland as better and more complete teams. Easily.

 

[Svedu]

And that is without Russia in the mix. Otherwise something like this:
Canada/USA
Sweden

Russia


Finland

Finland has 4 maximum 5 skaters that would take a spot on team Sweden. They have like 3 skaters making the USA or Canadian roster. Laughable thread.


Canada with Finns:
Thomas-McDavid-Marner
Bedard-MacKinnon-Rantanen
Verhaege-Crosby-Point
Marchand-Barkov-Barzal

Toews-Makar
Morrisey-Dobson
Heiskanen-Pietrangelo


USA with Finns:
Tkachuk-Matthews-Tkachuk
Eichel-Hughes-Rantanen
Robertson-Barkov-Guentzel
Connor-Aho-Miller

Hughes-McAvoy
Slavin-Fox
Heiskanen-Hanifin


Sweden with Finns:
Forsberg - Pettersson - Rantanen
Bratt - Barkov - Nylander
Hintz - Eriksson Ek - Raymond
Karlsson - Aho - Kempe

Hedman - Karlsson
Brodin - Dahlin
Heiskanen - Lindholm

You are actually showing how silly you are. That's not how the games will be played isn't it? Also, when you put Heiskanen on your third pair and Aho behind E.EK? Lol! Barkov behind Pettersson isn't sure either. I would pick both Aho and Barkov before Pettersson but that's rather subjective. I rather pick Hintz than Forsberg too. Also, I'd pick Jalonen before a swedish coach. And... I have a strong feeling UPL is the best goalie from Sweden and Finland right now. If you've watched how lousy the Sabres has been in defense this year you would never believe UPL was able to bring good stats and those SO.

"
Luukkonen started a career-high 54 games for Buffalo and tied for fifth in the NHL with five shutouts and ninth among qualified goaltenders with a 2.57 goals-against average. His .910 save percentage ranked ninth among goaltenders with at least 50 games played.

His goals-against average was the lowest by a Sabres goaltender with at least 50 games played since Ryan Miller – another name Ruff is familiar with – in 2011-12. His 27 wins and five shutouts were also the most for a Sabres goaltender in a single season since Miller."

 

[Eye of Ra]

Sweden-Finland is very even, 0n paper

Well if that's the case? I believe UPL is just as good as any Swedish goalie and he proved it this year with a shitty defense in front of him the most nights.
And you probably think every roster should contain 6 flashy D's, newsflash, I don't. That's why I'm mentioning one of Finlands big strengths that I consider a lot stronger than both Russias and also a bit stronger than Sweden and it's the center position.

Did you even read what I wrote? Finland have players who can buy roles but still maintain a high level. Määttä, Lindell, Hakanpää, Kakko, Lundell and Lehkonen are some of them. And yeah, that together with the elite players and Jalonens coaching? I consider Finland a bigger threat than both Sweden and Russia as a team. Sweden is close, Russia isn't.


No I actually didn't. Malkin, Panarin, Kucherov, Svech, Ovechkin and others aren't enough for the lack of depth anymore. I consider Sweden and Finland as better and more complete teams. Easily.

Marcus Pettersson
Jonas Brodin
Adam Larsson
Hampus Lindholm
Mattias Ekholm

are not flashy. They are swedish versions of Lindell and Määtta.

 

[Svedu]

Sweden-Finland is very even, 0n paper


Marcus Pettersson
Jonas Brodin
Adam Larsson
Hampus Lindholm
Mattias Ekholm

are not flashy. They are swedish versions of Lindell and Määtta.

Yeah, but half of them will not get to play for you in the end, or? Also, I really, really trust Hakanpää and Määttä in their defending ability. I would choose them before half of those players you mentioned. Especially under the Finnish system and if Jalonen is managing them.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Lehkonen - Barkov - Rantanen
Teräväinen - Aho - Laine
Tolvanen - Hintz - Kakko
Kotkaniemi - Granlund - Haula

Heiskanen - Hakanpää
Lindell - Jokiharju
Välimäki - Määttä
Mikkola

Saros
Lankinen
Luukkonen

Yeah, but half of them will not get to play for you in the end, or? Also, I really, really trust Hakanpää and Määttä in their defending ability. I would choose them before half of those players you mentioned. Especially under the Finnish system and if Jalonen is managing them.

No idea. We will see. Also the ongoing WC is Jalonens last tournament. Pennanen is the coach in the 4 nations.

 

[Svedu]

Lehkonen - Barkov - Rantanen
Teräväinen - Aho - Laine
Tolvanen - Hintz - Kakko
Kotkaniemi - Granlund - Haula

Heiskanen - Hakanpää
Lindell - Jokiharju
Välimäkii - Määttä
Mikkola

Saros
Lankinen
Luukkonen

Lehkonen-Aho-Rantanen
Teräväinen-Barkov-Kakko
Maccelli-Hintz-Laine
Tolvanen-Lundell-Granlund

Haula-Luostarinen-Lambert
Very well balanced.

Mentionable players: Kotkaniemi is unsure for now. Lambert has some serious potential. Aatu Räty could rise soon. Luostarinen is worth mentioning. Haula. Oliver Kapanen could be there in 2-3 years. Hyry, Kemell for the future and Tuomaala as well.

Heiskanen-Lindell
Välimäki- Hakanpää
Määttä-Mikkola
Vaakanainen-Jokiharju
Heinola (will bloom out soon I believe)- Niemelä (same as Heinola).
Defensively very sound.

1.UPL
2.Saros

Annunen, Blomqvist, Lankinen etc.

 

[namttebih]

Well if that's the case? I believe UPL is just as good as any Swedish goalie and he proved it this year with a shitty defense in front of him the most nights.
And you probably think every roster should contain 6 flashy D's, newsflash, I don't. That's why I'm mentioning one of Finlands big strengths that I consider a lot stronger than both Russias and also a bit stronger than Sweden and it's the center position.

Did you even read what I wrote? Finland have players who can buy roles but still maintain a high level. Määttä, Lindell, Hakanpää, Kakko, Lundell and Lehkonen are some of them. And yeah, that together with the elite players and Jalonens coaching? I consider Finland a bigger threat than both Sweden and Russia as a team. Sweden is close, Russia isn't.


No I actually didn't. Malkin, Panarin, Kucherov, Svech, Ovechkin and others aren't enough for the lack of depth anymore. I consider Sweden and Finland as better and more complete teams. Easily.

Ok. Conveniently leaving out Kaprizov, Nichushkin and Kuzmenko up front.

Sergachev, Orlov, Provorov, Zadorov and Gavrikov on the back end.

Vasilevski, Shesterkin, Sorokin and Bobrovski in net.

Not to mention the KHL additions.

While they are always a crap shoot as to whether they will gel, that's a makeup of a good team on paper.

Goal scoring ability up front, toughness and puck moving on the back end, as well as the best goaltending in the tournament.

Put your biases behind you.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Russia do have a good team

Panarin - Malkin - Kucherov
Kaprizov - Barbashev - Svechnikov
Ovechkin - Voronkov - Nichushkin
Buchnevich - Namestnikov - Tarasenko

Sergachyov - Zub
Provorov - Orlov
Romanov - Gavrikov

Bob/Sorokin/Vasilevsky/Kochetkov/Shestyorkin/Varlamov/Georgiyev

Not to mention the KHL additions.

Which?

 

[namttebih]

Russia do have a good team

Panarin - Malkin - Kucherov
Kaprizov - Barbashev - Svechnikov
Ovechkin - Voronkov - Nichushkin
Buchnevich - Namestnikov - Tarasenko

Sergachyov - Zub
Provorov - Orlov
Romanov - Gavrikov

Bob/Sorokin/Vasilevsky/Kochetkov/Shestyorkin/Varlamov/Georgiyev


Which?

If I knew the insides and outs of the KHL, I would have listed them. Not exaxtly in my scope of expertise. They seem to always ice a few regardless.

As you proved earlier in your post, they would have a good team without additions from abroad.

Do you have any that you can contribute, or are you just testing my knowledge of the KHL?

 

[SwissFan12]

Switzerland will spank you all

We will take over Milan in 2026

And if we don't, I hope Italian beer is good

(yeah Finland could win it all on a best on best, no one would be shocked)

 

[WarriorofTime]

No I actually didn't. Malkin, Panarin, Kucherov, Svech, Ovechkin and others aren't enough for the lack of depth anymore. I consider Sweden and Finland as better and more complete teams. Easily.

If you completely ignore goaltending.

Russia doesn't really lack depth, they have a full roster and then some of pretty quality NHL players even without needing to dip into KHL.

 

[Ben White]

You are actually showing how silly you are. That's not how the games will be played isn't it? Also, when you put Heiskanen on your third pair and Aho behind E.EK? Lol! Barkov behind Pettersson isn't sure either. I would pick both Aho and Barkov before Pettersson but that's rather subjective. I rather pick Hintz than Forsberg too. Also, I'd pick Jalonen before a swedish coach. And... I have a strong feeling UPL is the best goalie from Sweden and Finland right now. If you've watched how lousy the Sabres has been in defense this year you would never believe UPL was able to bring good stats and those SO.

"
Luukkonen started a career-high 54 games for Buffalo and tied for fifth in the NHL with five shutouts and ninth among qualified goaltenders with a 2.57 goals-against average. His .910 save percentage ranked ninth among goaltenders with at least 50 games played.

His goals-against average was the lowest by a Sabres goaltender with at least 50 games played since Ryan Miller – another name Ruff is familiar with – in 2011-12. His 27 wins and five shutouts were also the most for a Sabres goaltender in a single season since Miller."

Even if your notes here would stand correct that doesn’t change my point one bit

 

[centipede2233]

In a one game elimination finland absolutely could win gold. Upsets happen quite often in international hockey just because the skill of players can be neutralized because of the game. Finland on paper would have the 4th best roster but the game isn’t played on paper.

 

[Oilslick941611]

Why not? They are an excellent hockey country.

Russia hasn't done squat in years ( notwithstanding current political environment) and chokes in the big game.

 

[Eye of Ra]

Russia hasn't done squat in years ( notwithstanding current political environment) and chokes in the big game.

true

 

[Leaf Fans]

Russia hasn't done squat in years ( notwithstanding current political environment) and chokes in the big game.

The have produced and continue to produce excellent players.

 

[Oilslick941611]

The have produced and continue to produce excellent players.

that can't play as a team.

 

[Eye of Ra]

The have produced and continue to produce excellent players.

Last russian gold in best on best is 1981

 

[Leaf Fans]

that can't play as a team.

Sure they can.

 

[NyQuil]

Russia did beat Canada in a close elimination best on best situation in 2006.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Last russian gold in best on best is 1981

Maybe, I don't think Finland has ever won a gold best on best - outside of the junior level. Yet, they have excellent teams.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

We'd have our best forward group ever right now, but at the same time, the defense would be the weakest of the big nations by far.

Even if they do a good job plugging in guys for the right roles, it doesn't change the fact that other nations can ice all-star caliber d-cores while we're sending out multiple #4-6 guys.

And yeah goaltending can make up for it, but since it's best on best, other countries have a good #1 guy as well.

Finland is obviously in the group of the best teams, but I wouldn't say they're one of the favorites.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Last russian gold in best on best is 1981

If it is best on best, nobody but Canada has won in twenty years and nobody has won anything in about ten because there hasn’t been any

 

[ViD]

Finland has like 4-5 good players

You are delusional