Sorry to say, but I think you’re a bit lost with this. I mean don’t you seriously realize that national team hockey is not really about playing for yourself, but for your country and trying to help your national team to win gold.Why Puljujarvi should play in world juniors and what he has to prove in junior world championships.
He's already won U20 and U18 gold medals so Jesse doesn't have nothing to prove anymore in U20 WJC's.
And how playing in upcoming world juniors helps Jesse's development and makes him NHL player.
I know this hurt and you probably don't like this.
But the fact is that Puljujarvi is ''graduated'' from Finland's U20 team so try deal with it.
Sorry to say, but I think you’re a bit lost with this. I mean don’t you seriously realize that national team hockey is not really about playing for yourself, but for your country and trying to help your national team to win gold.
Pulju has already clearly shown that national teams are really important for him and I’m in fact pretty sure that if he will be released by his pro teams, he will take part in the U20 WJC tournament. But what I do still doubt quite much is that his teams would really release him. Anyway, we should know about this pretty soon.
Sorry to say, but I think you’re a bit lost with this. I mean don’t you seriously realize that national team hockey is not really about playing for yourself, but for your country and trying to help your national team to win gold.
Pulju has already clearly shown that national teams are really important for him and I’m in fact pretty sure that if he will be released by his pro teams, he will take part in the U20 WJC tournament. But what I do still doubt quite much is that his teams would really release him. Anyway, we should know about this pretty soon.
Koivula could be a surprise cut. He lacks speed for a fast paced junior tournament. Hasn't been all that impressive in the FEL either. Also worth noting that Ahokas didn't select him to the 2016 u18 team.In the team if available. Specific roles in parentheses.
Offense:
Tolvanen (PP)
Kuokkanen (PP)
Turkulainen (PP/PK)
Koivula (PP)
Vesalainen (PP)
Heponiemi (PP)
Kotkaniemi (PP)
Competing for a spot:
Ikonen (top 9/PP)
Koppanen (PK)
Tuulola (bottom 6, PP)
Jääskä (PK)
Kupari (top 9)
Nurmi (PP)
Talvitie (PK)
Moilanen (PK)
A. Räsänen (PK)
Oksanen (top 9)
Defense:
The best:
Heiskanen
Välimäki
Juolevi
Jokiharju
Vaakanainen
Salo
E. Räsänen
The rest:
Reunanen
Kotkansalo
Niemeläinen
Almari
Utunen
Goalies:
Luukkonen
Halonen
Piece of cardboard
Koivula could be a surprise cut. He lacks speed for a fast paced junior tournament. Hasn't been all that impressive in the FEL either. Also worth noting that Ahokas didn't select him to the 2016 u18 team.
Yeah I know. That situation could repeat, highly unlikely tho. But I don't think he is a lock for the team anyways. He is useful on the PP, but I don't think he will be that in the bottom 6 on even strength. Ahokas probably sees him as a top 6 player too. Kuokkanen, Tolvanen and Vesalainen will most likely fill 3/4 of top 6: that leaves a one spot open and there is some high competition for that. Don't get me wrong, I think he will make it. Could be a surprise cut still due to the aforementioned reasoning.Koivula would have been U18 gold medal winning team in Grand Forks.
But Ahokas cut him only because he made space for Puljujarvi.
Yeah I know. That situation could repeat, highly unlikely tho. But I don't think he is a lock for the team anyways. He is useful on the PP, but I don't think he will be that in the bottom 6 on even strength. Ahokas probably sees him as a top 6 player too. Kuokkanen, Tolvanen and Vesalainen will most likely fill 3/4 of top 6: that leaves a one spot open and there is some high competition for that. Don't get me wrong, I think he will make it. Could be a surprise cut still due to the aforementioned reasoning.
Last time Finland dont have a liiga goalie was 2012(saved in relegation) and if You look at the Junior Liiga stats, Who is Vilho Heikkinen ?
2012 world juniors Finland lost Bronze game for Canada.
2013 was last time before 2017 when Finland saved for relegation.
No way that Kotkansalo should be ahead of Jokiharju, and neither should Salo. Jokiharju has been excellent this season and should be a surefire top 4 defenceman for team Finland. Otherwise I do pretty much agree with your choices.-----------------NHL/AHL------------------------
Patrik Laine (-98) - Janne Kuokkanen (-98) - Jesse Puljujärvi (-98)
-----------------1st Team------------------------
Kristian Vesalainen (-99) - Joni Ikonen (-99) - Eeli Tolvanen (-99)
Jesperi Kotkaniemi (-00) - Aarne Talvitie (-99) - Jerry Turkulainen (-98)
Aleksi Heponiemi (-99) - Rasmus Kupari (-00) - Otto Koivula (-98)
Markus Nurmi (-98) - Aapeli Räsänen (-98) - Eetu Tuulola (-98)
Sami Moilanen (-99)
Miro Heiskanen (-99) - Urho Vaakanainen (-99)
Kasper Kotkansalo (-98) - Juuso Välimäki (-98)
Olli Juolevi (-98) - Eemeli Räsänen (-99)
Robin Salo (-98)
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (-99)
Lassi Lehtinen (-99)
Eetu Mäkiniemi (-99)
-----------------2nd Team------------------------
Juha Jääskä (-98) - Otto Somppi (-98) - Niklas Nordgren (-00)
Emil Oksanen (-98) - Eetu Luostarinen (-98) - Kaapo Kakko (-01)
Severi Lahtinen (-98) - Joona Koppanen (-98) - Jere Innala (-98)
Linus Nyman (-99) - Santeri Virtanen (-99) - Jesse Ylönen (-99)
Otto Mäkinen (-98)
Tarmo Reunanen (-98) - Henri Jokiharju (-99)
Niclas Almari (-98) - Roope Laavainen (-98)
Markus Niemeläinen (-98) - Anttoni Honka (-00)
Santeri Suistio (-98)
Vilho Heikkinen (-98)
Niilo Halonen (-98)
Justus Annunen (-00)
-----------------3rd Team------------------------
Samuli Ratinen (-98) - Jesse Koskenkorva (-99) - Joona Ikonen (-98)
Topias Haapanen (-98) - Roope Mäkitalo (-98) - Lauri Pajuniemi (-99)
Oskari Uomala (-98) - Artturi Toivola (-98) - Sampo Ranta (-00)
Aleksi Klemetti (-99) - Anton Stråka (-98) - Aatu Luusuaniemi (-99)
Niko Kuiri (-98)
Toni Utunen (-00) - Oskari Laaksonen (-99)
Santeri Salmela (-00) - Saku Vesterinen (-99)
Eero Teräväinen (-99) - Otto Latvala (-99)
Roni Allen (-98)
Sami Suni (-98)
Leevi Laakso (-98)
Oskar Autio (-99)
I love Talvitie as a player and especially his leader mentality, but I don't think he should be in the top 6 and ahead of Somppi.-----------------NHL/AHL------------------------
Patrik Laine (-98) - Janne Kuokkanen (-98) - Jesse Puljujärvi (-98)
-----------------1st Team------------------------
Kristian Vesalainen (-99) - Joni Ikonen (-99) - Eeli Tolvanen (-99)
Jesperi Kotkaniemi (-00) - Aarne Talvitie (-99) - Jerry Turkulainen (-98)
Aleksi Heponiemi (-99) - Rasmus Kupari (-00) - Otto Koivula (-98)
Markus Nurmi (-98) - Aapeli Räsänen (-98) - Eetu Tuulola (-98)
Sami Moilanen (-99)
Miro Heiskanen (-99) - Urho Vaakanainen (-99)
Kasper Kotkansalo (-98) - Juuso Välimäki (-98)
Olli Juolevi (-98) - Eemeli Räsänen (-99)
Robin Salo (-98)
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (-99)
Lassi Lehtinen (-99)
Eetu Mäkiniemi (-99)
-----------------2nd Team------------------------
Juha Jääskä (-98) - Otto Somppi (-98) - Niklas Nordgren (-00)
Emil Oksanen (-98) - Eetu Luostarinen (-98) - Kaapo Kakko (-01)
Severi Lahtinen (-98) - Joona Koppanen (-98) - Jere Innala (-98)
Linus Nyman (-99) - Santeri Virtanen (-99) - Jesse Ylönen (-99)
Otto Mäkinen (-98)
Tarmo Reunanen (-98) - Henri Jokiharju (-99)
Niclas Almari (-98) - Roope Laavainen (-98)
Markus Niemeläinen (-98) - Anttoni Honka (-00)
Santeri Suistio (-98)
Vilho Heikkinen (-98)
Niilo Halonen (-98)
Justus Annunen (-00)
-----------------3rd Team------------------------
Samuli Ratinen (-98) - Jesse Koskenkorva (-99) - Joona Ikonen (-98)
Topias Haapanen (-98) - Roope Mäkitalo (-98) - Lauri Pajuniemi (-99)
Oskari Uomala (-98) - Artturi Toivola (-98) - Sampo Ranta (-00)
Aleksi Klemetti (-99) - Anton Stråka (-98) - Aatu Luusuaniemi (-99)
Niko Kuiri (-98)
Toni Utunen (-00) - Oskari Laaksonen (-99)
Santeri Salmela (-00) - Saku Vesterinen (-99)
Eero Teräväinen (-99) - Otto Latvala (-99)
Roni Allen (-98)
Sami Suni (-98)
Leevi Laakso (-98)
Oskar Autio (-99)
The top 9 wingers: Laine, Pulju, Tolvanen, Vesalainen, Heponiemi and Kuokkanen... that would be almost unfair hahaIts kinda hard to imagine that Finland is in a place right now where they COULD have had a top sniper from KHL and NHL in the same u20 team (age wise) and to go with that 3 defenders that play 20+ minutes in liiga (well juolevi will do it soon ^^) well, and pulju.
Are the Rasanen's brothers?
Its kinda hard to imagine that Finland is in a place right now where they COULD have had a top sniper from KHL and NHL in the same u20 team (age wise) and to go with that 3 defenders that play 20+ minutes in liiga (well juolevi will do it soon ^^) well, and pulju.
Anyone else who thinks turkulainen should be a lock?