Well, Rinne has made his career in small rink league where size is very much appreciated behind Nashville's either heavy defense-focused or heavy puck possession team. He is a first-choice NHL goalie. Maybe he is worth seven million dollars or not to you but certainly he isn't the best Finnish goalie out there based on these two latest tournaments.
This shutout record (which is longer if you include the name Saros also) was made mostly in walkover games behind a defence-first team. Nice record but that didn't help very much yesterday against Czech Republic where you would have wanted a performance out of him. Not so much in the rather meaningless group stage games against Norway, Denmark or Slovenia...
I don't know or very much remember if Rinne had anything to do with it but both Russia's and Czech Republic's powerplays have seemed to be world class against Finland in games where you wouldn't want the opponent suddenly play very effective, game-winning powerplay. So open has Rinne left his net.
For Saros I think it was very clear in WJC who was/is the most promising Finnish goalie prospect. No reason to start shuffling in rather meaningless games when you have the best goalie in the whole age group.
I would have liked to see Saros, Rask or Koskinen there since unlike Rinne, they at least haven't been yet proven to miss that little something that steals you victories in games like these. Not that it was all his fault but heavy loss still for such a defensive side.
This view of favouring Saros isn't so much based on this tournament alone since of course it's understandable that the guy with the biggest contract will get the job. Rinne doesn't even hardly get any blame from the media so it's easy to see why for a head coach it's quite easy to stick with the big name. Or even tie himself tighly around him like in this tournament which in my mind should be criticised.
Rinne didn't play a fantastic tournament. He isn't the only goalie in Finland. Nice guy and nice contract but one day Saros will end his reign.
