Is Finland a Top 3 Hockey Nation

[TheKule]

Small sample size internaional tournaments are a poor metric to evaluate the quality of a nation's hockey program. I'd rather look at the quanitity and quality of NHL talent they produce. Gives you a much larger sample size to work with.

Given this view, I'd say Finland is easily #3, based mostly on their ability to produce elite goal tenders. Rinne, Rask, Backstrom, Niemi, Lehtonen etc etc

 

[TheFeistyFinn]

There's a reason your top players come to the NHL. And there's a reason that when NHL players' careers start to fizzle out they move to the European leagues.

ofcourse but if a country with so many NHL stars got nothing to show for it how can you call them better than someone who has hardware and results to show?
"i don't win but i know im better" it's only cocky attitude, not facing the facts and being humble about it.

 

[Sabane]

There's a reason your top players come to the NHL. And there's a reason that when NHL players' careers start to fizzle out they move to the European leagues.

There's also a reason why Finns are almost every time at medals best-on-best tournaments.

 

[trick9]

On paper? No.

Overally? Definitely.

 

[ottawa]

In my opinion they are 4th...they beat the Americans in the bronze medal game, but that is too small of a sample size to rank one above the other.

Realistically speaking, does anyone here believe Finland could beat either one of Canada, Sweden or the USA in a 7 game series?

 

[Sabane]

In my opinion they are 4th...they beat the Americans in the bronze medal game, but that is too small of a sample size to rank one above the other.

Realistically speaking, does anyone here believe Finland could beat either one of Canada, Sweden or the USA in a 7 game series?

Not Sweden or Canada. USA, sure! Last 5 games (best-on-best) 3-2 for us so why not?

 

[jnt88]

There's a reason your top players come to the NHL. And there's a reason that when NHL players' careers start to fizzle out they move to the European leagues.

I hope you know that european leagues are filled with players that are much better than NHL bottom 6 players. Finland has KHL players like Kontiola and Lehterä among others that are better at hockey than over 50% of NHL.

 

[nanzenkills]

I absolutely think that Finland deserves a top 3 hockey ranking. You can't argue with their results. They always step it up in international competitions.

 

[Mombius]

In my opinion they are 4th...they beat the Americans in the bronze medal game, but that is too small of a sample size to rank one above the other.

So, where is the sample that proves USA being better?

 

[psycho_dad*]

In my opinion they are 4th...they beat the Americans in the bronze medal game, but that is too small of a sample size to rank one above the other.

Realistically speaking, does anyone here believe Finland could beat either one of Canada, Sweden or the USA in a 7 game series?

Yes I believe Finland would beat USA in a 7 game series and COULD beat Sweden. Not Canada though.

 

[psycho_dad*]

So, where is the sample that proves USA being better?

Finland vs. USA in this time period:

Finland 0-1-3 and finalists in world cup
USA 0-2-0 and semifinalists in world cup

2002 Usa wins (group stage)
2004 Finland wins (semi-final)
2006 Finland wins (quarter final)
2010 USA wins (quarter final)
2014 Finland wins (Bronze medal game)


Oh ****, that did not do it either!

 

[Sabane]

Finland vs. USA in this time period:

Finland 0-1-3 and finalists in world cup
USA 0-2-0 and semifinalists in world cup

2002 Usa wins (group stage)
2004 Finland wins (semi-final)
2006 Finland wins (quarter final)
2010 USA wins (quarter final)
2014 Finland wins (Bronze medal game)


Oh ****, that did not do it either!

Actually we are tied for 2-2 because USA didn't want to win that bronze...

 

[psycho_dad*]

Actually we are tied for 2-2 because USA didn't want to win that bronze...

True dat. I forgot the argument that "not caring" is better than an actual win in a hockey game. I should have remembered that from the other thread.

I think they should award the Stanley cup to the team who has the most russians or europeans in their lineup. I always hear that "russians don't care about the stanley cup" or "euros have no heart and don't care about the cup". Judging by this idea of "not caring is winning", they should get the cup.

 

[TheFeistyFinn]

On paper? No.

Overally? Definitely.

this pretty much sums it up for me. paper doesn't play the game and win medals.

 

[Davebo*]

No. Finland is not top 3. Asked and answered.

 

[member 151739]

No. I'd put them 4th or 5th.

 

[Phrazer]

I personally don't define rankings as "hockey nations" purely on performance in tournaments alone. There are other factors to consider such as, development of top end talent, quantity of players at a high level (NHL), popularity of the sport, level of minor and local hockey. Does Finland perform well as a team in these short tournaments, based on the talent that they have? Absolutely. But are they a superior hockey nation to two of Sweden, USA and Russia? Personally I don't think so.

 

[sharks9]

Nope, I'd probably put them 4th or 5th

 

[Sabane]

I personally don't define rankings as "hockey nations" purely on performance in tournaments alone. There are other factors to consider such as, development of top end talent, quantity of players at a high level (NHL), popularity of the sport, level of minor and local hockey. Does Finland perform well as a team in these short tournaments, based on the talent that they have? Absolutely. But are they a superior hockey nation to two of Sweden, USA and Russia, personally I don't think so.

I agree. Potato poteito. IMO there is no superior hockey nations at all today. Sure Canada is the best, but superior no way (tight games and poor results WHC&WJH). Team USA at the basketball is superior. Canada is the easy vote for hockey nation #1 but all the rest is how an individual prefers these other meters.

But if we speak about national hockey TEAMS, then I don't understand how anybody could rank USA/Czech/Russia above us. Results speak themselves.

 

[Cawz]

The last 3 times I checked, the results were tied 19-19-, 21-21 and 30-30. So I guess it’s debatable since the results are pretty evenly split.

 

[f1nn]

I personally don't define rankings as "hockey nations" purely on performance in tournaments alone. There are other factors to consider such as, development of top end talent, quantity of players at a high level (NHL), popularity of the sport, level of minor and local hockey. Does Finland perform well as a team in these short tournaments, based on the talent that they have? Absolutely. But are they a superior hockey nation to two of Sweden, USA and Russia? Personally I don't think so.

these three factors are ones where population must be taken into account. We're one of only 2 (or 3? latvia?) where hockey is the bar none number one sport. quanitity of players in the NHL is at a low but we're developing some great prospects (won the WJC this year), the level of minor and local hockey is great when considering population restrictions (I'd rank Liiga behind NHL, KHL, SHL, and maybe Swiss)

So personally, those factors combined with the consistent success we've had in best on best, junior, and world championships, I would say we definitely are 3rd

 

[Yakushev72]

The last 3 times I checked, the results were tied 19-19-, 21-21 and 30-30. So I guess it’s debatable since the results are pretty evenly split.

What results? What the hell are you talking about?

 

[Sabane]

What results? What the hell are you talking about?

The vote above

 

[pld459666]

Since NO OTHER COUNTRY HAS DONE THIS.

I'd say 6 medals in the last 8 Olympics CLEARLY cements them as a top three Hockey Nation.

No gold medals and that's a shame, but 6 medals in the last 8

that's quite an accomplishment.

 

[simplysincere*]

No worse than 4th, no better than 3rd.